The theme of oppression and privilege were my take away from the articles assigned to us this week, but most importantly, their impact on those who are oppressed. In “Oppression,” Marilyn Fyre defines oppression as living a life that is not only restricted but molded by forces and barricades, much so like a bird in a cage. Although many individuals experience some form of suffering or limitation throughout their life, there is a stark difference between oppression and plain suffering. I for one feel that I have witnessed the consequences of oppression in situations and one example I have is at a department store where a minority who could not speak English was told to “go back to where you come from” by an angry Caucasian man. It made me think about whether I have ever really been in a situation where I felt personally oppressed, because I have certainly witnessed situations like the aforementioned one. Interestingly enough, Peggy McIntosh’s article delves into what it means to be on the other end of the spectrum: privileged. In the article Peggy lists of examples of how far her privilege goes, acknowledging it and no longer taking them for granted. Her understanding of the depths of her privilege is the difference between awareness and oblivion. She poses a powerful question that is the foundation for changing the systems that have resulted in a world where privilege and oppressions are prevalent sides to the same coin.