Podcast Proposal: Elephant in the Room

Elephant in the Room EPISODE 1

By Emily Diaz

PODCAST PROPOSAL

You know that one topic you bring up, the one that causes someone to suddenly give you wide eyes, indicating that you should have not opened your mouth? Well, those are the topics of discussion for this podcast. As more and more people become desensitized or even more sensitized, it’s important to not sweep topics under the rug, even if they cause discomfort. This podcast will include multiple episodes of discussions between individuals who are polar opposite in opinion. These conversations will range from politics to philanthropy, and there is no limit or boundary on the topic of discussion. His Holiness The Dalai Lama once said, "The best way to solve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk." The purpose of this limitless conversation is to hear two sides of one issue or topic. Many sources of information only provide one side of a story, and often the other side is never heard. It’s so valuable to listen to others, even if you don’t agree with what they say. Just by talking and listening to one another, humans can grow more empathetic of people that differ in views, whether it be political or emotional. So, tune in to the first episode:

INT. STUDIO - DAY EMILY

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and thanks for joining us tonight for the first ever Elephant in the Room. I’m your host, Emily Diaz. Here’s a little background about who I am. I’m a first generation Mexican-American. I grew up a little outside of Atlanta, and now I am an undergraduate at Emory University. I want to talk more about the most important thing I have learned from my undergraduate experience, and that would be to question everything. Literally everything, the questions, the opinions, the facts, etc. No matter if it is a professor or a peer, don’t be afraid to question it. I think questioning is an important pathway to learning. If we don’t ask questions, then how will we receive true answers? At first, this questioning concept was difficult for me to practice. Throughout grade school there were certain questions or topics that were to be avoided by all means. Billy is a republican. Why? I don’t know, I never found out because it was rude to ask. I think that this way of thinking, the don’t ask, don’t tell concept, is quite dangerous. Children grow up in a bubble. A bubble where everyone is like them, and those who were different, were just that, different. I found this especially true in the region where I grew up in: the suburbs. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful to have lived in a place where I didn’t have to fear for my safety, and I’m even more thankful to have attended a school system that gave me the resources to be where I am today. However, now that I am a little older I realize the faults in the way I was taught. Questioning something was seen as rude, especially if it had to do with the characteristics of another person.I grew up being one of the only Hispanics in my friend group and even my classes. Whenever the subject of Mexicans came up, it would make me a little nervous. The word "Mexican" was almost always associated with the words "illegal immigrant". My peers thought they had an idea of what a Mexican looked like, usually an incorrect stereotypical description. I found myself getting so annoyed when people would act surprised to learn that I was Mexican. "Wow. You’re so smart for a Mexican," or "Oh my gosh, I would have never guessed you were Mexican. You’re so different," they would say. To this day, I still get these comments, but it wasn’t until college that I began to question these statements. In high school I would usually reply to those comments in a flattering manner, taking them as compliments. Now, I question these comments. I’m curious to know more about why people find me different. Is it because I’m educated? Is it because I speak English so well? Is it because of the way I look? Or the way I act? I often use this question as a means of teaching the questioner a timeless lesson: don’t judge a book by its cover. You may say that I’m a little sensitive for being bothered by comments like these, but I’m not bothered by it. I simply want to educate others in the way they generalize one person that is supposed to represent an entire population, and discuss how micro-aggressions serve as cushion for discriminatory acts. People have an idea of what a person from a certain population looks like, and this information comes from the media, family, or school, but the most effective and humbling source of information is in fact the person you are trying to describe. One person may contain qualities that categorizes them into a group, whether it’s race or gender. However, one must always remember that the individual is still just a human being, like you and I. We have a tendency to overlook this human connection and start jumping to judging the person based on their appearance. Based on me telling you the color of my skin or my ethnic background, you probably already have an idea about what I would look like or act like. The accuracy of your conclusions about me have no validity until you interact with me and get to know me as a person. This holds true for so many other people. What I want this podcast to focus on is bringing people of different backgrounds together, in order for them to learn a little more about each other. Putting aside our cultural differences, we will come together to intellectually discuss our views on certain topics. Next week, I will sit down with an individual that doesn’t think too highly of "illegal immigrants". We are going to sit down and discuss the topic of immigration. Tune in next week to hear how it turns out. I’m hoping we both go home understanding each others backgrounds and perspectives a little more. Thanks for tuning in, and remember, don’t be afraid to discuss the elephant in the room.