MELISSA MARTINEZ
STAFF WRITER

YouTube, the home of humor, music, film and artistic talent, as well as the original place of the “It Gets Better” campaign against bullying is now the home of the most offensive video to go viral that I have ever seen.

On Jan. 6, 2012, three teenage girls from Arizona uploaded a video demonstrating their hate for the Mexican Race. As a Mexican woman, I am infuriated that these girls hate one culture so profoundly that they made this video. As an American, I am embarrassed to live in the same country as these women as I see their views are tolerated. As a woman, I am offended. Their ludicrous behavior isn’t helping us gain the respect so many deserve.

I understand that everyone has his or her own opinions. However, not even the First Amendment of Free Speech can justify the hate speech and racial slurs in this video.

I had many questions when a friend showed me this video. First, where are their parents? You’d figure someone would have taught them manners at some point in their lives. Also, they’re from Arizona. If I’m not mistaken, Arizona, like California, New Mexico and Texas, is heavily populated by the Mexican culture. It saddens me that a place so diverse could produce such ignorant ideologies. Instead of celebrating diversity, we are discouraging people because of their differences.

It infuriates me that one day, if these girls have children, their distorted ideals may be passed onto our country’s next generation. I’m livid that these girls, when they turn 18, can vote on the lives of my people, and that they may deny my family the right to live in this country and dismiss their attempt at their promise of “the American dream,” as empty as it may be.

Why is it that these views are tolerated? Why do we live in a country that segregates cultures so much? The progress we’ve made seems minimal to the credo of racism, sexism and homophobia that has become a “norm” within our society; instead of promoting this notion of being “colorblind,” we should be embracing our diversity, rather than blatantly condoning the ignorant racism and hate we can’t seem to extinguish.

I am however, extremely proud of the video responses from people of different genders, races and religions who made it clear that though these girls are extremely intolerable, they do not represent the opinions and views of those similar to them. Though the three girls have publicly apologized, this incident shouldn’t have occurred at all.