The Weight of Progress

Progress is a concept that I have written about in my last blog post and in light of recent news and our modern society, I feel that it is appropriate to discuss it once again. In Discourse on the Arts and Sciences, Rousseau writes that progress is detrimental to the well-being of humanity. According to him, progress, defined as development towards an improved or more advanced condition, is movement towards the "decay of the human species." The presidential election this past Tuesday and the subsequent events since then, however, have proved otherwise.

Growing up in California, a place that is racially diverse and open-minded to people of all cultures and identities, I have adopted a very liberal mindset. Surrounded by many accepting and progressive thinking people, I have begun to believe the same existed in those around the country, though I have remained blind to the racism and sexism that is still embedded into our human nature. When the results of the election were announced, I was sitting down in silence, surrounded by people who lived in my hall. I sat and listened to my roommate call her mother and ask her not to wear her saree because it is no longer safe, I listened to my friend say she is no longer comfortable with expressing her sexuality, I listened as my friend express her worry for her undocumented parents. This election, the first one I was able to vote in, has made me aware of where we are as a society and as people.

With the election of Donald Trump as the president of the United States, reports of speech and hate crimes have emerged across the country. Minorities, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are expressing their fear as they are greeted by discrimination and bigotry from Trump supporters. Women are being assaulted, hijabs and traditional garments are being pulled off, and people of color and immigrants are being harassed; people all over the United States are fearing for their safety and their civil rights. Where we have made immense progress with the passage of Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized gay marriage, members of the LGBTQ+ community now have a vice president who supports conversion therapy and shock treatment. Where the civil rights movement worked tirelessly through the 50's and 60's to end racial segregation and discrimination, African Americans are now, yet again, being told to move to the back of the bus. Where women have constantly fought for gender equality through many feminist movements, hashtags such as #repealthe19th now become trending topics on social media sites, calling to repeal the constitutional amendment that gave women the right to vote. In every way possible it seems, society had taken a few drastic steps forwards but now has taken an even grander step back. While significant advancements have been made granting civil rights to marginalized people over the course of our history, the sudden hateful acts and discriminatory beliefs that people express hint at a society still intolerant and quite primitive. While progress exists on paper, it ceases to exist in the minds of the majority of our people.

In a world ridden with racism, sexism, xenophobia and homophobia, we must be able to use reason and think rationally rather than rely on predisposed convictions. By infringing on the rights of others and instilling fear and intimidation, corruption and hatred will be the only things that arise.

Addition: Our humanity begins and ends with forward thinking. Only by being progressive and understanding and accepting of those of different cultures that live in our same home can we truly be deemed as rightful and ethical beings. Only by employing reason and logic, the same mechanisms that Rousseau undermines, rather than relying on ancient convictions can we reach the equality that is needed to make a betterment in our society.