All too often, when we see injustices, both great and small, we think, That's terrible, but we do nothing. We say nothing. We let other people fight their own battles. We remain silent because silence is easier. Qui tacet consentire videtur is Latin for Silence gives consent. When we say nothing, when we do nothing, we are consenting to these trespasses against us.
Roxane Gay’s book "Bad Feminist" emphasizes the danger of silence in the face of injustice. Often, people witness wrongdoing yet choose apathy over action, thinking that it is not their place to intervene. This inaction stems from the uncomfortable truth that speaking up can be difficult, leading many to remain silent in challenging situations.
Gay argues that our silence can be interpreted as consent, suggesting that by failing to voice our concerns, we inadvertently allow injustices to persist. This idea, encapsulated in the Latin phrase "Qui tacet consentire videtur," serves as a powerful reminder that passivity, in itself, supports the status quo of oppression and discrimination. We must remember that taking a stand, however uncomfortable, is essential in fighting against societal wrongs.
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