2008 Woodie Awards
The Brazen Word
Apathy Over Activism
Stephen Pasqualina, Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 10/18/06 Section: Editor Columns
With the November elections fast approaching, I have a suggestion for many young people looking to "rock the vote": stay at home.
A recent incident at Columbia University gets at the heart of the internal logic behind what I'm saying.
Members of the Minutemen, the group that reports illegal crossings across the Mexico-U.S. border, were recently invited to speak at a forum on illegal immigration. According to the New York Sun, as Minutemen founder Jim Gilchrist spoke, students stormed the stage and unfurled a banner that read "No one is ever illegal." The Columbia Spectator reported that one student protester explained that "The Minutemen are not a legitimate part of the debate on immigration."
That very line is representative of the problem with political discourse in 21st century America. It's not that political discourse is ineffective, it's virtually non-existent. I think a little soul searching is in order.
The student protesters at Columbia remind me of people that complain about President George W. Bush's close-minded, "Nazi" politics. They say he ignores intelligence that contradicts his pre-conceived notions, that he makes decisions based on his own special interests, that he often discredits his opponents.
It's becoming increasingly na've to think that tunnel-vision politics is solely synonymous with the political right. The protesters at Columbia proved as much.
In a conversation I recently had with a professor, he spoke about radical political ideologues. "People criticize individuals for their ways of thinking about things," he said. "It's so easy to do, but what happens when they look at themselves?"
So what do these kids see when they look in the mirror?
We've been programmed to repeat democratic mantras that often permit hypocrisy and promote shallow thinking: "They're entitled to their opinion," people say. "They have a constitutional right to vote."
By forfeiting opportunities to take part in political discourse, to come to understand one's opponents, to practice the ideals promoted in a democracy, people like those protestors at Columbia have forfeited their constitutional right to think freely. They're not enlightened. They're not even different.
A recent incident at Columbia University gets at the heart of the internal logic behind what I'm saying.
Members of the Minutemen, the group that reports illegal crossings across the Mexico-U.S. border, were recently invited to speak at a forum on illegal immigration. According to the New York Sun, as Minutemen founder Jim Gilchrist spoke, students stormed the stage and unfurled a banner that read "No one is ever illegal." The Columbia Spectator reported that one student protester explained that "The Minutemen are not a legitimate part of the debate on immigration."
That very line is representative of the problem with political discourse in 21st century America. It's not that political discourse is ineffective, it's virtually non-existent. I think a little soul searching is in order.
The student protesters at Columbia remind me of people that complain about President George W. Bush's close-minded, "Nazi" politics. They say he ignores intelligence that contradicts his pre-conceived notions, that he makes decisions based on his own special interests, that he often discredits his opponents.
It's becoming increasingly na've to think that tunnel-vision politics is solely synonymous with the political right. The protesters at Columbia proved as much.
In a conversation I recently had with a professor, he spoke about radical political ideologues. "People criticize individuals for their ways of thinking about things," he said. "It's so easy to do, but what happens when they look at themselves?"
So what do these kids see when they look in the mirror?
We've been programmed to repeat democratic mantras that often permit hypocrisy and promote shallow thinking: "They're entitled to their opinion," people say. "They have a constitutional right to vote."
By forfeiting opportunities to take part in political discourse, to come to understand one's opponents, to practice the ideals promoted in a democracy, people like those protestors at Columbia have forfeited their constitutional right to think freely. They're not enlightened. They're not even different.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Joseph Staszewski
posted 10/18/06 @ 10:32 PM NA
Give 'em hell Steve. The column was very well thought out and well executed and makes you thing. At least we can all hope it does.
Joseph Staszewski
posted 6/13/08 @ 8:36 PM NA
Hmmm
Truth is all just words
Truth is not all just words
Truth is ...
AndrewK
Andrew K.
posted 9/04/08 @ 3:26 PM NA
All of it is the fault of the media - but the state of the educational system is also very problematic in regards to what is emphasized to kids/young adults. (Continued…)
Post a Comment