We’ve all heard awful jokes and insulting stereotypes about Muslims being people who blow up planes, marry young children, or behead innocent people.
Smart people know the logical response: “Nope. Sorry. The actions of a very, very small number of people are not representative of an entire group.”
Common sense, right?
Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t understand that basic point. Then they say stupid things that show just how little they understand. And it’s up to the people who do get it to stop them.
We disempower bullies and people who perpetuate stereotypes (and racists and sexists and homophobes and xenophobes) when we stand up to them.
Stacey Eden, an Australian news personality, set a pretty good example for putting her foot down on a bully. Figuratively, of course. There’s a short clip of the exchange below, but here’s what happened:
Stacey was on a train when a stranger began saying some pretty awful things to a Muslim couple.
She didn’t just stand by while they were berated, though. She spoke up.
The bully was unrelenting.
But so was Stacey.
She brought it home at the end with the simplest of words that we all heard as kids — and should remember as adults.
“If you’ve got nothing nice to say, don’t say anything. It’s simple.”
Before the video began, the woman was already harassing the couple, who was on the train with their 3-year-old child. The man calmly tried to educate the bully, but she wouldn’t let up. That’s when Stacey stepped up.
And that’s how it’s done.
