Being a freethinker and an ally in today’s ever-changing world

In my blog entry I wanted to give a bit more of my personal insight into a conversation which inevitably ignited my feelings, questioned values, and fueled the valuable and important subsequent discussions on how the Black Lives Matter movement and asylum seeking system in Austria affect our generation.

It’s undeniable that these are two topics are at the forefront of political, cultural, and international discussion and warrant different opinions and emotions for all. I was taken aback by the negativity and pessimism of some arguments towards these two topics. To me, being faced with the very black-and-white blatant truth of what politics entails and what government interests and ideologies are was a hard pill to swallow. It was also particularly difficult for me to accept some remarks about asylum bringing nothing beneficial to Austria and critiques of the immigration systems in Canada and Sweden, given my Canadian upbringing and current residence in Sweden. These two countries are internationally recognized for their liberal and successful stances on immigration, which I think in turn has undoubtedly led to a stronger workforce and thriving economies, alongside fueling overarching open-minded perspectives on racism and privilege from a large majority of citizens. As a grandchild of immigrants who were able to blend almost seamlessly into Canadian life, as a niece of an Egyptian uncle who was given permission to work while waiting for his Permanent Resident status decision and currently works in a bank whilst still speaking broken English, and as a current immigrant and researcher in Sweden, one of the few countries in the European Union which has allowed me to work, I simply disagree with the thinking that Canada and Sweden have only created more problems with their liberal immigration and asylum policies, and particularly the illusion that Sweden has only ruined its social system and seen its demise by allowing refugees to work. This is in my opinion a biased and potentially dangerous outlook to spread that people will believe blindly, when in reality, a Bloomberg analysis from 2018 revealed that Sweden’s GDP rose 3% in the first two quarters of the year compared to the eurozone’s 2% growth, and 82% of immigrants have labour participation, which is 4% higher than the EU average. Naturally, any country that opens its doors to those in need is going to be burdened financially, but there are a multitude of countless socioeconomic and diversity-related benefits whose absence from Austrian culture is apparent.

I think we scholarship holders undoubtedly represent a more internationally-minded group of people and our generation is naturally more exposed to global affairs due to the ease with which we can travel internationally, observe the political discussions in different countries, and stay informed via technology on local and worldwide injustices, which has confronted us with issues that we wouldn’t have necessarily been exposed to before. Naturally, with youth comes hope and drive for a better future, which those from an older generation, may refer to as naivety. Nevertheless, especially amongst a highly-educated, open-minded, and internationally-interested group of students and young professionals, our ideologies tend to veer more towards those that are progressive, inclusive, and that benefit people in need.

Some of my personal beliefs have been questioned during my time living in Austria and during discussions such as these. I’ve learned that although some people may not share the same views, it is very important to recognize that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, be it based on personal experiences or ingrown biases which you are not able to change. Even if you think it is a morally wrong opinion to have, the best that you can sometimes do is introduce them to a new perspective, hold your ground, and agree to disagree on issues, so as to not burden yourself unnecessarily with being unable to open the mind of someone who does not want to change their stance. A few major points can be taken away as my personal conclusion from this discussion and the ensuing conversations amongst participants, no matter at what part of the spectrum you stand on these issues:

1. Racism, systemic racism, discrimination, and ignorance is everywhere

No matter what country, age group, or socioeconomic standing, these issues are present everywhere and no group of people is immune to it. Just because you or your circle of friends and family haven’t experienced it, doesn’t mean that others haven’t. It’s easy to compare our situation to that in the United States and assume that we are so much better off, but this only closes the door on discussing what these issues look like in our own countries and how we can better shape our societies to minimize this as much as possible.

2. Engage in discussion

Talk to your friends. Talk to your visible minority friends. Talk to people who work with refugees. Talk to NGOs and volunteer-based organizations. If you are a minority or from an immigrant background yourself, talk to your white friends and let them know some of the struggles that you face. Get as much information as you can from a wide variety of sources before you even begin to shape an opinion on these issues. Do not let individual opinions dictate your perspective but instead gain as much perspective as possible. Someone indicated that Caritas only coordinated the prevention of the mass deportation of refugees in Austria for the financial benefit they would gain from government money that would flow into integration programs and projects that Caritas provides. Is this the only arguable reason for Caritas, an organization whose mandate it is to aid in long-term development and self-sustainability in vulnerable communities, to support refugees who have fled from war-torn countries to Austria? That is for you to decide.

3. Your reality is not the only reality

Just because you experience something, does not mean this is everyone’s perception and reality. Listen to the experiences of others and learn how individual realities can differ. When giving an example of an experience, realize that you may have experienced it differently than others. My experiences in Austria as a white Canadian immigrant clearly differ from a gender fluid Austrian person, a Muslim Austrian man, a Black Austrian woman, an immigrant from Bosnia, a white Austrian man, a refugee from Syria, etc. Our individual experiences are not something to be ashamed of, rather something that can help others understand that there are always more valid sides to a story.

4. Normalize changing your opinion when presented with new information

It’s okay to change your view on something. Get comfortable saying, “you know I didn’t think about that before, but I see your point.” “thanks for correcting me, I didn’t realize that,” “I was wrong about that, and I’ve changed my mind,” and “I should do some more research before I argue this point.” It’s okay to have spent years believing one thing and then realize the opposite may be valid too. Everyone should have evolving, malleable mindsets that adapt to the information around us. There’s no shame in being wrong, only in refusing to learn.

5. Freedom of speech and freedom of opinion is everyone’s right

No matter how different someone else’s opinion can be, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and entitled to never change their opinion. Although this can be a difficult thing to accept, it is better to go into emotional conversations with people who have very different ideologies by challenging their ideas and forcing a productive conversation where both parties can hopefully see more of the other’s viewpoint, rather than completely disregarding their opinion as false and balling up the anger inside of you. This also helps to actually reach the person you are engaging with and helps you accept that you can’t change people and move on from situations that would otherwise lead to personal frustration.

6. Have the difficult conversations

This can be a difficult issue to face, particularly when dealing with different generations, ingrown cultural biases, or various work and immigration backgrounds. Nevertheless, the acceptance of these issues is always changing. In 2020, it’s okay to question why those around us may be biased towards a group of people. It’s okay to start a conversation about why racist dessert names, such as “Mohr im Hemd” or “Tête-de-nègre,” still exist. It’s good to challenge people with the argument that, just because something is traditional and cultural, doesn’t mean it morally right. These conversations bring us further. Previously named “negerboll” desserts in Sweden are now referred to as “chokladbollar.” Zwarte Piet, the black-faced Santa Claus helper in Belgium and the Netherlands, is being protested against by the masses and is currently banned from Facebook and Instagram posts. We can’t make change unless we’re willing to initiate the conversation.

7. Recognize your privilege

If you don’t think you have privilege, it’s time for a reality check. Tired of hearing about the Black Lives Matter movement and supporting asylum seekers in Austria? Imagine being someone who deals with structural racism and discrimination every day and can’t escape it. Instead focus on how you can use your privilege for good to help people who need it and have none. Call people out on their biases and racial gaslighting. “It was just a joke, calm down,” “if they protested peacefully maybe others would listen,” “just to play the devil’s advocate here…,” and “I wasn’t being racist because…” are things to look out for and call people on. Stand up for those in need, affirm victims’ feelings, and uplift the voices of marginalized groups to spread awareness.

8. Vote

Self-explanatory. You want a progressive government that holds your values? You need to vote and ensure your friends and family do too.

Suggested readings:

Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
Dreams From My Father – Barack Obama
Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
So You Want To Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo
White Fragility – Robin Deangelo
The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You – Dina Nayeri
How to be an antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi

Resources for Austrians:

News articles:

von Emma Persad