ESTELA'S 2 ESSAY / YALE

If you were given unlimited resources to help solve one problem in your community, what would it be and how would you accomplish it? 

Now, in Spain, as in so much of the Western world, we are seeing a rise in anti-Semiticism. People are misinformed about  religion and traditions. I come from a Jewish family, which in the current climate can sometime leave us with a feeling of isolation. I don't like to reveal my background because I usually suffer from negative responses. Television’s fake news and social media only make it worse. 

In my country, the response to a problem is often a protest. This usually brings big crowds of people, cutting off the streets and making citizens even more frustrated than they were before.

My solution for this issue would be an educational approach. I would like to see the Spanish schools address the current situation, beginning in primary schools. Then they should provide teachers readings of historical books, and non-fiction movies where the subject of Semitism and other non-Christian religions are honestly dealt with. In high school, when children get older, it would be interesting to teach religious classes where kids get to learn, listen and debate with their “compañeros” perspective.

Much of the prejudice starts in families, and if the school becomes a part of this solution, children can determine their own mindset based on educated opinion.