![]() ![]() ![]() Through his work as a psychoanalyst, Freud came to understand that the human mind resembles an iceberg, with our conscious thoughts reflecting only the small piece of ice above the water while a large body of unconscious urges, memories, and motivation remain hidden beneath the surface. In this essay we explore the importance of learning from the past, at both an individual and a systems level, to avoid stepping into the same traps over and over again.Ī historical milestone in psychiatry was Sigmund Freud’s development of the theory of the unconscious. Over one hundred years on, his warning remains relevant to the profession of psychiatry. Writing in the “Life of Reason”, Santayana warns that, unless we learn from history, we will be destined to repeat it. Yet as any student of history will tell you, some of our most profound learnings can come from the past. In today’s fast paced world, it is easy to always be looking for what is novel and upcoming. But don’t forget to take care of those around you.Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Always remember to take care of yourself. You helped to replace a moment of violence with a moment of support and safely, reducing the number of red dots in the world. Whatever the situation, you can be certain of one thing: you weren’t a bystander. Or remind someone that they’re not alone. Maybe your green dot will make someone smile. The chain of events it will set in place. Or you can complete the “What Would You Do?” survey online ( ).Īnd you never know what your green dot will do. You can watch the Green Dot video and be inspired by students who care ( ). You can start by learning more about how to be an active bystander and stay safe through Green Dot talks and training ( ). Like the people rallying in India, we too must rally even in the day-to-day acts of kindness. Whatever our reason, we have to realize that if we don’t do anything, nothing will change. Is it because we’re scared for our safety? Perhaps. Why do we hesitate to take a stand? Is it because we don’t care? I find that hard to believe. A lot of what is happening is actually preventable. What’s more, Cheryl says that in those instances of violence, when asked how often there was a bystander, someone who could have actually done something to prevent violence, more than 50% of students raise their hands. She says that in every group or classroom that she has talked to about the Green Dot Program anywhere from 40-90% of students in the room have experienced violence or have known someone who has. But Cheryl Champagne, the Assault Counsellor and Co-ordinator of the Green Dot strategy at UofT, disagrees. We tend to think that this only happens to other people. Or asking someone who appears to be in trouble if they’re okay. It can be as simple as spilling a drink if you believe it’s drugged. A green dot is any behaviour, action, word, or attitude that promotes safety for us all. The Green Dot Program encourages everyone to focus on reducing the risk of violence in the moment, even if the threat of violence isn’t imminent ( ). And most of all, it’s about believing that we all have a responsibility to create a safer campus and world. It’s about refusing to passively accept that so many people are getting hurt. The Green Dot Program at UofT is about caring. Must we wait for something bad to happen in order to marvel at the state of world and its affairs? Is there anything we can do? But we often forget that violence occurs everyday, even on UofT’s relatively safe campus. Somehow we can rationalize sitting back and doing nothing because these events have occurred across the world in other countries. It makes me question why the objections and intolerance of injustice die down once time has passed and the cries of the fallen have faded away. There’s something so powerful about the entangled voices of complete strangers, fighting for the common good. The anger and sense of justice that seem to awaken in the general public following a tragedy is strangely uplifting. In times of adversity, the masses always seem to demand strict enforcement of laws by authorities. Posters are plastered across a city hours after a young child is kidnapped. Days after a high-profile rape is reported, the world seems to be calling for an end to sexual harassment and assault. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - PlatoĬases of extreme violence, like the gang-rape of a 23-year old medical student in New Delhi, India ( ), always seem to cause waves of public outrage and protest around the world. ![]()
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