Prejudice is an attitude but
discrimination is an act. This
difference in definition was discovered by seven juniors on Nov. 5 at the
Prejudice Elimination Workshop.
Every year the
Anti-Defamation League of Omaha sponsors a workshop with the goal of educating
the public on eliminating prejudices.
This year, the workshop took
place at the Westside Community Center, where a large sign is hanging up on the
wall. The sign is meant to express all
the goals the league wants to reach. It
reads: “To stop the defamation of the Jewish people… to secure justice and fair
treatment to all citizens alike.”
This year, on Nov. 5, seven
juniors from Marian went to the Prejudice Elimination Workshop. Teachers along with guidance counselor Ms.
Kathy Janata chose them based on who would do a good job of representing
Marian’s diverse population.
The seven girls were:
Whitney Heiman, Aly Peeler, Joan Smith, Grace Rudersdorf, Megan Sundermeier,
and Jessica Warren.
Megan Sundermeier explained,
“The point of the workshop was to teach us about prejudices and overcome
stereotypes.”
The approximately 150
juniors that went were divided into small groups, with no one in each group
being from the same school. Professors
facilitated the groups. They played games and listened to speakers throughout
the day on prejudices and discrimination.
A speaker at the workshop,
Debbi Zweibeck, shared the definition on the difference between prejudice and
discrimination.
“We are so good at
hating. We are not so good at loving,”
she said.
Sundermeier said, “The most important thing I learned was that
people could surprise you and you shouldn’t judge on first appearances.”