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Proyecto Visión 21

Time to take a closer look at Kopimism

How long can you handle a frustrating situation before reacting in a way you do not want to react? And what alternatives exist to avoid an inappropriate reaction?

Let me share two recent frustrations. Last week, I spoke with a young Latina, mother of little girl. The young mother, born in the United States, was attending a certain university in Denver. One of the professors gave her on purpose an undeserved failing grade, because, according to the professor, young Latina mothers do not finish college.

Because of the failing grade, the young mother had to change colleges to continue with her career. After a hiatus of a few months to focus on her daughter, the young mother went back to college and, contrary to what her professor told her, she will graduate later this year.

I could see in her face and feel in her voice the frustration of this young mother, not only because of the bad experience of “being humiliated in front of the class, but also for not being able to confront her professor, showing the professor how wrong she was.

This is just one of the many similar stories happening every day at schools, colleges, offices, factories, organizations, and agencies all over the country. At all those places, there is always a certain person in position of “authority” who decides about what others can or cannot do on the basis of the stereotypes accepted by that “expert.”

Another example: My son is about to graduate from high school. Therefore, he had to complete some vocational tests and interviews with counselors.

My son’s grades are not perfect, but they are not bad either. After reviewing my son’s grades, and realizing we are Spanish-speaking immigrants, the counselor suggested to my son that he should become a motorcycle mechanic, because, in his opinion, that is what “we” (Latinos) like to do. (My son wants to be a musician and creative writer.)

There is nothing wrong with being a mechanic. That is not the issue. In fact, in spite of my studies and experience, my life would be significantly more complicated without mechanics. The problem arises when somebody believes that because of person or the parents of that person belong to a certain group, then that person should be able to do only a few things already decided by the “experts.”

How much frustration, discrimination, and stereotyping can we accept before reacting in a way we do not want to react? How many times we will accept doors being slammed in our faces just because we are who we are?

Such is my frustration I am thinking about converting to Kopimism, new religion formally recognized as such earlier this month by the Swedish government.  Kopimism believes information is holy and sharing information is a holy act. According to Kopimists, sharing information is worshiping, because it increases the value of information.

Perhaps Kopimism can teach us how to share information with those who still see us through obsolete and unacceptable prejudices.

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