Opinion
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
4 — Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Alanna Berger
Zack Blumberg
Brittany Bowman
Emily Considine
Cheryn Hong
Krystal Hur
Ethan Kessler
Mary Rolfes
Michael Russo
Timothy Spurlin
Miles Stephenson
Joel Weiner
Erin White
Lola Yang
ERIN WHITE
Managing Editor
Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
tothedaily@michigandaily.com
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890.
ELIZABETH LAWRENCE
Editor in Chief
EMILY CONSIDINE AND
MILES STEPHENSON
Editorial Page Editors
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of The Daily’s Editorial Board.
All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
OWEN STECCO | COLUMN
A need for local action on employment discrimination
W
ith
the
Equality
Act (H.R.5) stalled
in
Congress
and
a combined lack of political
will, local action on LGBTQ+
employment
discrimination
is
imperative. Currently, 44 percent
of
the
LGBTQ+
population
lives in states without LGBTQ+
protection
policies
despite
exclusionary workplaces holding
economies back. The Judiciary
has shifted to the ideological right
under President Donald Trump,
resulting in the elimination of a
route for employment protections.
In lieu of federal action on the issue
of employment discrimination,
state
and
local
governments
must act to safeguard LGBTQ+
individuals and promote economic
development.
The federal government and
26 states do not have employment
protections
for
LGBTQ+
individuals, resulting in second-
class status for LGBTQ+ citizens.
One in four LGBTQ+-identifying
persons reported experiencing
workplace
discrimination
in
2016 and too often they stand
unprotected and vulnerable. The
community feels vulnerable due
to the frequent targeting from
majority groups and a lack of
protection under the law. With
nearly one-third of transgender
individuals living in poverty,
40 percent of homeless youth
identifying as LGBTQ+ and one
in five members of the community
falling victim to hate crimes, the
national government is failing.
Local protections for LGBTQ+
individuals are the best route
toward safety and equality in the
absence of federal action. With
protections in place, everyone
benefits from a healthy and
productive workforce.
The
push
for
LGBTQ+
employment
protections
in
Michigan for state employees
was progressed by Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer
after
signing
an
executive order, but it did not
extend
to
all
employees
in
Michigan. With a Republican
majority
in
the
Michigan
Legislature, Whitmer is limited
in her ability to enact policies.
Therefore,
local
governments
must step up or a massive recall
must take place in the coming
elections to supplement the lack of
unilateral power Whitmer holds.
In either scenario, the conversation
for
protections
of
LGBTQ+
individuals
in
the
workplace
must take place in neighborhoods
and over the dinner table to be
reflected across the state.
Currently,
20
Michigan
cities
have
added
LGBTQ+-
identifying individuals to the
list of protected groups in cases
of employment discrimination.
This group of Michigan cities
sits alongside the less than 300
other cities and counties with
ordinances protecting LGBTQ+
individuals
from
workplace
discrimination.
This
coalition
is largely concentrated in states
with existing protections but
provides safe environments for
LGBTQ+
individuals.
Despite
the progress made, many of the
cities
with
local
protections
have religious exclusions and
allow
for
discrimination
by
religious organizations. Religious
exemptions create hierarchical
structures
where
LGBTQ+
individuals feel vulnerable and
ostracized by spaces traditionally
deemed safe and welcoming.
Critics often cite moral and
religious
arguments
against
inclusion in the workplace for
LGBTQ+ individuals but ignore
the
economic
benefits.
The
exclusion of LGBTQ+ people in
the workplace causes harm to
economies; The addition of legal
rights for LGBTQ+ individuals is
associated with higher levels of
economic development. On top
of economic benefits, visibility
and familiarity with the LGBTQ+
community in the workplace leads
to acceptance, supporting work
communities.
As the Equality Act remains
untouched by Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell, the
protections
that
LGBTQ+-
identifying
individuals
rely
on in the workplace must be
implemented from the bottom-
up. This bottom-up strategy relies
on voters to focus on down-ballot
races and pay attention to the
candidates that have committed
to
protecting
and
uplifting
at-risk groups like the LGBTQ+
community. It is imperative for
voters to exercise empathy and
protect their neighbors from
discrimination in the workplace
to ensure equal opportunity under
the law.
In addition to all the races
voters must pay attention to, the
focus also must shift to the courts
and how the Senate and White
House dictate the makeup of the
Judiciary across the country.
Many ignore the power that
the Executive has in appointing
judges and justices from Appellate
to Supreme Courts. Trump has
now nominated and received
confirmation by the Senate on
over 187 lifetime judges resulting
in one in every five circuit judges
being Trump-nominated. In line
with the need for employment
protections,
the
conservative
majority Supreme Court of the
United States is in the process
of deciding on a trio of cases
pertaining
to
employment
protections
for
LGBTQ+
individuals at the federal level.
The lineup of lifetime appointed
conservative-leaning judges and
justices across the country is a
cause for concern for employment
activists due to the closing of the
avenue so often used for minority
groups. Voters must recognize
that up and down the ballot, they
have responsibilities to vote for
values and vote for their LGBTQ+
neighbors, friends and families
while the war on the community
wages on. It is important to be
educated on the severity and
responsibility of every office on
the ballot but to also vote for your
principles rather than focusing
on candidates at face value. Many
voters are trapped in the mindset
that candidates matter more than
their politics, but those threatened
by a lack of action aren’t afforded
this privilege. LGBTQ+ individuals
feel the effects of political inaction
everyday inside and outside the
workplace as their day-to-day lives
are threatened.
Local
ordinances
and
protections are just the starting
point for LGBTQ+ individuals,
rather than the destination. With
integrated workplaces and stronger
coalitions at the local and state level,
pressure in the form of advocacy
will implore the federal government
to act. While Congress remains in
gridlock, LGBTQ+ lives and careers
must be protected at local levels
to ensure equal opportunity and
economic prosperity.
Owen Stecco can be reached
at ostecco@umich.edu.
ISABELLE SCHINDLER | COLUMN
Using education to combat hate
A
s we grapple with a
divided
nation
and
increasing
instances
of hate and tribalism, we need
to increase our commitment
to education about the past to
create a more compassionate
future. On Jan. 27, the world
marked International Holocaust
Remembrance Day. This year
was especially poignant as it
was the 75th anniversary of the
liberation of the Auschwitz-
Birkenau concentration camp
and the end of one of the
darkest
periods
in
modern
history. In honor of this day
and as a reaction to recent acts
of anti-Semitism, the House
of Representatives passed a
bipartisan bill called the “Never
Again Education Act” to help
encourage
schools
to
teach
Holocaust education. This bill
grants $10 million to the U.S.
Holocaust Memorial Museum
over a five year period. The
museum must provide educators
with resources and materials
in the hopes of counteracting
the rising tide of anti-Semitic
violence around the world by
teaching students. This bill is an
important first step that should
serve as a launching point
for larger efforts to integrate
teachings about the Holocaust
and other genocides, such as
the Armenian genocide, the
genocide in Darfur and the
current situation with Rohingya
Muslims in Myanmar.
The decision about whether
to teach about these events is
largely up to individual teachers
or school districts. Only 11 states,
Michigan included, have any
requirement that information
about the Holocaust be taught
in schools, and only 15 states
require some education on the
Armenian genocide.
Failing to effectively teach
youth about these issues can
lead to a shocking lack of
knowledge about these events.
In the case of the Holocaust,
recent research has proven
this to be frighteningly the
case. A study from 2019 found
that 41 percent of millennials
believe around four million
Jews were murdered in the
Holocaust,
drastically
less
than the six million actually
killed. Additionally, 66 percent
of millennials cannot explain
what
Auschwitz
was
nor
what it did. This is extremely
concerning because, without an
accurate understanding of what
happened in the past, people
cannot work to avoid the same
mistakes in the future. How
can we say “never again” with
confidence if many people do
not know what happened in the
first place? As the years since the
Holocaust and other genocides
pass, it can be easy to get
complacent. We begin to forget
the true horror of these events,
and we slip back into certain “us
versus them” mentalities that lie
at the root of these tragedies.
Over the past few years, we
have seen a rapid increase in
hate crimes, whether it is anti-
Semitic attacks, anti-LGBTQ+
community attacks or increases
in white nationalism. For many
University of Michigan students,
these issues are personal. We are
an extremely diverse community
with students of different races,
religions,
backgrounds
and
sexual orientations.
It
is
undeniable
that
education is not a foolproof
solution to these problems.
The visceral hate and anger
that
fuels
attacks
such
as
these cannot be solved simply
through education. However,
education
about
genocides
and other tragic events where
hate led to conflict help us to
understand the fragility of
society and the importance of
constantly cultivating a culture
of inclusiveness and respect.
Through learning, we can see
the danger of fear, prejudice
and hate and we can recognize
how
everyday
people
can
choose to stand up to forces of
hate and bigotry.
I was fortunate to grow up in
a community and attend a school
where
education
about
the
Holocaust and other atrocities
was extremely comprehensive.
My school tried to integrate this
education into multiple facets
of our educational experience.
Not only did we learn the facts
in history class, but we read
first-hand accounts, such as the
book “Night,” in English class
and had discussions about hate
and discrimination in various
settings. This teaching style
was so effective because it
allowed us to see these events
not simply as a piece of history
but as something that needed
to be constantly addressed and
understood. This is especially
important for young people
for whom the events of past
tragedies feel far removed from
many of their lives.
As students, we have an
obligation to continue to try to
foster a culture of tolerance on
campus and beyond. Whether it
is by accepting the differences
of others or voicing support for
legislation similar to the Never
Again Education Act, we all have
a duty to do our part to create
a compassionate community.
We should also commit to
increasing our understanding
of these events. Whether it is
reading about past genocides or
raising awareness about current
atrocities, we all have a part to
play in becoming more educated
and contributing to a more
inclusive environment.
Isabelle Schindler can be reached
at ischind@umich.edu.
REID DIAMOND | COLUMN
Boyan Slat’s work needs media coverage
T
he conversation around the
climate crisis in the United
States lacks substance and
instead focuses on sensationalized
activism.
Social
activists
are
receiving
more
coverage
and
popularity than the engineers and
innovators designing real solutions
to the existential problems we face.
While Greta Thunberg was named
Time Magazine’s Person of the Year
in 2019 for her social activism, Boyan
Slat is receiving little recognition
for single-handedly taking on the
responsibility of cleaning up 90
percent of the plastic pollution in
the Pacific Ocean. Slat designed
the world’s first maritime plastic
cleanup system, The Ocean Cleanup,
yet Thunberg and her celebrity
activism take center stage in the
realms of media and politics. Real
innovators should be championed
and celebrated. Boyan Slat is solving
one of the most complex problems of
our generation despite few knowing
about him.
Plastics
and
derivative
microplastics have accumulated in
dangerous quantities throughout
the ocean, having an adverse impact
on the health of complex marine
ecosystems,
and
consequently,
humans. Most of this plastic
pollution is concentrated in the Great
Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive
area now twice the size of Texas.
Undoubtedly the consequence of
human negligence, the monstrous
rate of world pollution is only getting
worse. Higher-income countries
have successful waste management
systems and therefore contribute less
to the pollution in the oceans. Ninety
percent of ocean plastic pollution
comes from just 10 rivers, eight of
which run through Asia, bordering
poorer villages that lack the proper
waste management infrastructure.
Many countries are at a stage
in development where people
are wealthy enough to consume
plastic goods or goods wrapped
in plastic, but there isn’t sufficient
waste infrastructure to deal with
the situation effectively. People
dump their waste into the local
rivers because it’s the easiest
method of disposal. With high
densities of people around major
rivers, trash accumulates and
flows
through
these
arteries
into the ocean, where the plastic
ultimately remains. Importantly,
it isn’t that people don’t care about
the environment or are somehow
less civilized. The reality is
there is a large number of people
consuming plastic goods while
there is no infrastructure for
effective disposal.
Little has been done to address
plastic waste in the Pacific
Ocean or the efficacy of waste
management until recently; few
know of its existence. Boyan
Slat is taking the issue head-on
and plans to permanently end
plastic pollution in the oceans.
Slat’s approach is two-sided.
While Slat is working to clean
up the existing plastic pollution
in the ocean, he is also working
to address the issue at the source
with
“interceptor”
systems
that catch plastic at the river
source. Currently, with working
prototype systems, Slat plans
on expanding his fleet of ocean
cleanup systems to 60 in order
to reach his goal of reducing the
amount of plastic in the Great
Pacific Garbage Patch in half by
2025. Slat’s company, the Ocean
Cleanup Project, is saving the
ocean, and can’t even gain an
audience.
In
such
a
dysfunctional
political climate — where little
environmental legislation has
any chance of enactment —
such technological innovations
should be championed and
celebrated, but they aren’t.
Climate change is a political
issue and it attracts a lot of
media and political attention.
But this attention is focused
around
superficial
ideas
and moral activism instead
of coverage of the practical
solutions
to
the
very
real
problems we face. Slat’s lack of
fame isn’t a fluke; It’s a symptom
of sensationalized news and
token climate activists getting
more coverage than those on
the ground fixing the problems
of our generation.
This is not to say that
celebrity climate activists such
as Leonardo DiCaprio or Greta
Thunberg don’t play a critical
role in enacting change. In fact,
Thunberg addressed heads of
state at the United Nations and
inspired four million people to
participate in the largest climate
demonstration in history. She
captured the frustration and
anger of the millions of young
people who carry the burden
of
inheriting
dysfunctional
governments in the face of the
global climate crisis. That being
said, Thunberg’s activism has
made little substantive change
in international climate policy
as many governments still don’t
care enough, especially the U.S.
Rather than being seen as
a climate activist pushing for
rapid reform, Thunberg has
become adopted as a political
lightning rod. The political left
uses her as an anti-Trump totem
while the political right uses her
to support their “crazy socialist”
narrative. The result of all this
sensationalized
coverage
is
that token activists get more
coverage than those on the front
lines treating the symptoms of
the climate crisis. Slat, and many
like him, need media coverage
to promote investment. This is
precisely where social activism
and innovative problem-solving
overlap. To promote innovative
solutions, we need to start
championing the designers and
the engineers just as much, if
not more than the lead social
activists.
The climate crisis needs real
solutions. Activism has a key
role to play in saving the climate
and protecting human well-
being, but it won’t get anything
done
unless
it’s
targeted
towards
concrete
solutions.
Instead of carrying a sign that
claims the world is burning —
even though it is — carry a sign
that points to a solution. “Invest
in Boyan Slat” is tangible and
can be echoed by the media
or addressed by politicians. It
would also look great on a picket
sign.
Reid Diamond can be reached at
reiddiam@umich.edu.
ANNA GETZINGER | CONTACT CARTOONIST AT GETZINGA@UMICH.EDU
We all have a duty
to do our part and
create a passionate
community.