Get your own Free Home PageRespect and common courtesy are important aspects of etiquette that people should know. Obviously some members of the Smith community and students have not learned about them based on their behavior during the International Day Program March 23-24.
People were rude and obnoxious during both performances. The program is a privilege and opportunity for involvement from the whole student body and community. Many do not understand that it is a privilege not a right to attend these programs. It is a privilege because students are given the opportunity to share with others their cultural dances, songs, clothing, etc. ... Because of rude members of the audience, the program practically defeats its purpose, which is showing people that America is a rainbow of diversity. Ironically, many in attendance failed to understand and respect the program’s main message, which is that a diverse society requires a knowledgeable and tolerant citizenry.
The evening program was the most appalling and it has been that way for several years. I think the community does not realize the importance of the show because if it did, it wouldn’t have behaved the way it did. Many in the audience were talking and snickering during the whole show. The worst part was that the majority of the audience walked out when the program had not even concluded. The performers also played a major role in rudeness. They too were talking during the show and many left after they performed. You just don’t do these kinds of things; it’s common knowledge.
Even some members of the faculty sometimes fail to appreciate the significance of International Day. With war being waged by the U.S. and its allies in Yugoslavia, some teachers failed to even watch the Wednesday morning show. While the speakers addressed the issue of world peace -- on a day when President Clinton began bombing Kosovo -- several teachers either nodded off or read the newspaper. Why should we expect our students to be interested when their role models are not? The performances of most of the acts on stage were anything but low-performing, but the teachers who didn’t pay attention are qualified as low-performing.
Another criticism of the community is that it should not bring its problems onto our campus and let us suffer the consequences. About 30 minutes before the show ended, a fight took place outside.
As a result of outsiders’ bringing their problems to our campus, Smith may not have social gatherings such as International Day in the future. Already, student dances have all but been outlawed because of past misbehavior. The message is clear: the administration does not believe students are mature enough for such activities since the only dance is at homecoming. It’s bad enough when students can’t behave at these events, but it’s even worse when adults from the outside act like juvenile delinquents. The next time you want to fight, take your desire elsewhere and prepare yourself for the consequences.
Rudeness should never be tolerated at Smith, people in this community should improve their manners. One of the main themes of International Day is attaining peace and learning to accept one another. We won’t have peace and understanding until we start respecting one another.
The shame of International Day is that people do not respect the struggles that the families of all our students have faced when they came to America, whether it be the descendants of African slaves, the children of Cambodian citizens who escaped genocide at the hands of Pol Pot, the children who fled war-torn Yugoslavia or those who escaped civil war in Liberia. We must understand one another’s history and culture, or we are doomed to repeat all of the mistakes of the past.
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