Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
Insidious Discrimination
RECEIVED Sat., July 16, 2016
Dear Editor,
I am a member of the Austin Film Society, and not only does Holly Herrick and the other great female programmers she mentions in her comment [“Killer Lineup,” Screens, July 8] do fantastic work, but she also illustrates the insidious nature of marginalization as a form of discrimination. I am a recreation therapist and as such I am often required to be an advocate for marginalized groups such as women, children, and people with disabilities. Although great progress has been made in recognizing the needs of these groups, there is still a tendency in some quarters of our society to act like these groups "are rumored not to exist" (to quote Ms. Herrick's letter). This form of discrimination is far more insidious than the more overt forms of racism we have watched on the news the past few years, months, weeks, and days because we cannot feel empathy or even sympathy for people we can't see or hear or touch or feel. These people deserve our attention, our mercy, and our justice.
I am a member of the Austin Film Society, and not only does Holly Herrick and the other great female programmers she mentions in her comment [“Killer Lineup,” Screens, July 8] do fantastic work, but she also illustrates the insidious nature of marginalization as a form of discrimination. I am a recreation therapist and as such I am often required to be an advocate for marginalized groups such as women, children, and people with disabilities. Although great progress has been made in recognizing the needs of these groups, there is still a tendency in some quarters of our society to act like these groups "are rumored not to exist" (to quote Ms. Herrick's letter). This form of discrimination is far more insidious than the more overt forms of racism we have watched on the news the past few years, months, weeks, and days because we cannot feel empathy or even sympathy for people we can't see or hear or touch or feel. These people deserve our attention, our mercy, and our justice.
Philip Drexler
