NOCTILUCA December 2016

OPINIONS Appleton, Wisconsin December 2016 Vol. XXII

Issue III

Page 3

Noctiluca Editorial

Post-election unity is mandatory for societal progression Navigating through election ideologies requires unity

With urgency, the Amer- ican people must unite. We must unite in order to preserve the equality of all current and future citizens, to ensure economic secu- rity for all, to foster healthy relations with foreign countries, and to uphold the precedents established by the Constitution of the United States. Following the recent presidential elec- tion, hopelessness and fear have crept into the lives of many. If we fail to cre- ate an environment where the American people can prosper, this fear and hope- lessness will diminish the potential construction of a progressive society. There- fore, developing unitymust become a priority of the American people, an act which can most effectively be accomplished through generosity and empower- ing others—particularly the disillusioned. Revoking rights held by minority groups or de- meaning the legitimacy of individuals based off of gender precedents contrib- utes to the deterioration of equality, a pillar of Ameri- can values. When liberty and justice do not amount to equality, we have strayed from the guidelines

the alt-right movement, yet his comments have allowed opportunities for their ide- ologies to become legiti- mized. But this racism and sexism threaten the ever- progressing idea of equal- ity that has been gruelingly sought after for centuries; it was only 1964—52 years ago—when the Civil Rights Act was passed and increas- ingly more legislation has been pushed through Con- gress to render all individu- als equal under the Ameri- can government. We cannot allow polar movements to reconstruct our understand- ing of liberty and justice and therefore the definition of equality, a definition that encompasses all individu- als. Because equality is a non-partisan ideal, we must objectively and unhesitat- ingly protect the rights of theAmerican people. Insuring the rights of individuals must not be the only issue we stand unified in; as foreign relations expe- rience potentially hazardous transformations, the econo- my fluctuates, and the safety of refugees and immigrants is in peril. Utilizing tools of generosity and inspira- tion will provide a manner in which we can empower people within America to

CNN reports exits polls from the 2016 election with an emphasis on gender and area type voting representations. Infographic by Kate Bennett

for America established within our Constitution. With the normalization of Trump’s campaign rheto- ric, many racist and sexist movements have flour- ished and have done so without regard to partisan boundaries. For example, Trump is not amember of Related article News: Kindness is always the answer, Page 1 Thanksgiving brought food, family and acknowledgement of sacrifices mobilize behind these ideals and fight for the well- being of all who find residence in the U.S. With- out a doubt, unification will provide the American people with a vehicle for constructing a progressive and secure country.

Thanksgiving. It’s a time of food, family, and friendship. It’s a time when people dust off their extra silverware, pull out their fancy tablecloths, and fill their dining rooms over capacity. It’s very easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of preparations, invitations and turkey creations. But please do not forget to step aside for a moment and evaluate what is being celebrated. The spirit of Thanksgiving calls for taking some time to honor not only good fortune and prosper- ity, but also sacrifices made. So often, time is taken to acknowledge the Pilgrim’s struggle. Their crowded, long

ride aboard the Mayflower, the harsh, cold winters, the lack of food, while all totally valid, do not tell the whole story. They may even acknowledge that the Pilgrims and Native Ameri- cans ate together on the day now known as Thanksgiving. Yet, frequently swept under the rug is the fact that without help from the Wampanoags, most of the Pilgrims wouldn’t have even survived; the vast majority would have starved to death or succumbed to the frigid winter elements. Worse yet, this peaceful day of eating and treaty signing was the precursor to a time of extreme

detriment for the Native popula- tion. Between a raging outbreak of illnesses and warfare with Europeans, it is estimated that the Native Americans lost over 90 percent of their population. In other words, only about one in ten Native Americans survived the immigration of Europeans. North America encompassed an entirely separate, diverse world of its own, with a complex his- tory that few are qualified to speak about. When considering the magnitude of this death toll, it is necessary to keep in per- spective that while the people who died are grouped under the category of Native Americans,

they really should be recognized for coming from distinct tribes with unique cultural values and identities. These deaths were not just the deaths of one people, but rather the deaths of many. So, next Thanksgiving when, and the turkey is being passed around the table, take a moment to recognize and mourn for this incredible loss of life. And take a moment to give thanks for the free will that allows us to learn from the actions of our ancestors so they are never repeated. The United States did not come to be without sacrifice, and it is the very least we can do to acknowl- edge and appreciate that reality.

Remembering the vital role of Native Americans By Carl Zuleger

Carl Zuleger reminds the stu- dent body to reflect upon the history of Thanksgiving. Photo by Nora Ptacek