get high with eli: taben azad
Posted on 27. Apr, 2011 by Carrie in op-ed
words > ELI PAGE
photo > HARPER BOTTORF
In our culture, we can be exposed to racism and hate in all forms, from many different sources. Taben was unfortunately subject to it at a young age. He shared a story from when he was in fourth grade, right after the 9/11 attacks. A kid on the bus told him he had to “apologize for bombing the country,” as if he specifically had something to do with it. Taben told me he wasn’t particularly hurt or offended because he was very young. Since the attacks, racism towards Muslims has been, and still is, very present in our society. As a Muslim, Taben has been personally impacted by the negativity towards them. Taben is a senior at East High and is the leader of our school’s Students Against Prejudice, or SAP. As a group, they work to rid the student body of intolerance, hate, and of course, prejudice. Since I first met Taben earlier this year, he he’s been incredibly friendly and accepting. Always greeting people with a smile, he’s very polite and has a wonderful and very charming pleasantness about him. Taben joined SAP his freshman year because he felt the group had a great initiative and that joining would “help [him] overcome [his] issues with racism, and help [him] act upon it and help others deal with racism as well.” This year, Taben became the President of the club, which also includes four other student officers. English teacher Steve Maack is the sponsor for the club. Mr. Maack takes some part in running the meetings, but for the most part lets the officers take charge. SAP meets every week, and each meeting generally focuses on one topic, something in current events either nationally or locally. Discussions are normally very serious and sometimes personal to members, but the meetings always have a nice calm atmosphere, due to the respect students give one another. SAP and other East High clubs recently joined together under the ‘Use Another Word, Please’ campaign, which educates students about using hateful or ignorant language, like ‘fag’, ‘retarded’, or ‘that’s so gay’. Taben is in the IB program, and is on the Debate and Forensics team, as well as lots of other clubs at school. When I sat down to talk with Taben, I could tell that he is very passionate about his involvement with the club. I asked about his plans after leaving East High this spring, and he assured me that promoting awareness and tolerance will be a life-long endeavor. And although this is his last year as a member of SAP, he wants the club to be something that will grow and develop, to reach even more people and promote peace and tolerance. I said it once, but I have no problem saying it again: Taben is without a doubt one of the nicest guys I know, and no one you could ask would have a bad word to say about him. As a peer, I look up to Taben, and know that he sets a great example for fellow teenagers.
