Opinion
Reflections on ‘real world’
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Also by Rob Deters:
- SUVs and Earth Day do not mix (April 24, 2003)
- Reflections on 'real world' (April 27, 2005)
- Lessons gathered while in Madison (May 5, 2005)
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I’ll be leaving these pages soon, and I have to tell you, I’m going to miss it.
For nearly five years now I’ve been writing for the Badger Herald in some capacity. Whether it was tearing “Cruel Intentions” a new one as a movie critic or writing opinion for the last two and a half years, I’ve really enjoyed being a part of the Badger Herald family. As conservative as this paper’s reputation is, I’ve found its opinion editors to be universally supportive of dissenting voices. I’ve been proud to write for this paper, and proud of the Badger Herald’s independent stature for a long time.
As I leave and go join the “real world,” I’d like to reflect on what sort of messages I’ve been imparting as an opinion columnist.
First, the “real world,” as many alumni will refer to it, is only as real as you want it to be. Do not ever let anyone older than you fool you into thinking a few years in the work place makes you older, wiser or more versed in the ways of the world. Sure, experience is helpful, but your youthful idealism and ability to think for yourself are not replaced with something “better” once you get a job.
Second, most jobs suck. If you’re lucky enough to do something you like, cherish it. If not (as the majority of you will not), then make sure you do something that makes your time feel worthwhile. Volunteer for something, create something, make things around you better; do anything besides earn a wage, go home, turn on TV and tune out.
Third, your elders are worth your respect, until they’re not. As I’m getting on a bit (closer to 30 than my 21st birthday by a long shot) I’ve realized that most of the “adults” in my world are as big of jackasses as I can be. And when I hear the pontificating of people in authority, either on the left or the right, I realize that age makes no difference in terms of authority. If you only listened to your betters, you’d be deaf, because just about everyone thinks they’re better than you anyway.
If only I could publish the exchange I got in with David Limbaugh … ha! His sanctimonious, patronizing email to me was priceless and a lesson learned that just because someone is older, makes more money or has a national column doesn’t mean that they deserve an ounce of respect.
Fourth, care about others. This is a tough one. America hates caring. We only want the easy fix and think that taking care of ourselves will inevitably lead to taking care of others (that’s called market-based compassion).
This simply doesn’t work, but it’s sold to you every day by the right. It doesn’t work because for evil to prevail, all it takes is for good people to do nothing. I’m paraphrasing there, but anyone who tells you the world can be made a better place without effort is lying.
Self-sacrifice, even if it’s in the pocketbook, is part and parcel of making things better. Whether it’s your time, your money, your knowledge or your effort, if you want the world to improve, you can’t do it from your couch (unless you donate a lot of money from there).
I’ve tried to make it clear in column after column that change is part of improving the American landscape. Those who want stasis, complacency and the “same-old same-old” have no vision, or fear progress. I don’t fear progress, only regress. This country has come a long way in the last 50 years, and I’d hate to see a backslide.
Unfortunately, I see one coming if members of our generation aren’t on their toes.
Fear dominates so many discussions in politics today. Fear of outsiders (terrorists, immigrants, Asian birds), fear of insiders (lobbyists, political handlers) and fear of fear itself all does us a bad turn.
Fear not, young America. We’ve got the smarts, the tools and the ability to make change. Let’s show them what we’re made of.
Rob Deters (rvdeters@wisc.edu) is a third year law student.
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Deters, you are such a fruit. I mean seriously, you should at least proof this garbage.
Your ramblings shall serve as evidence of Wisconsin's need to terminate the absurd "diploma privilege."
Good riddance! Good luck finding a job in Madison's saturated, affirmative-action market.
In 5 years you'll have a mortgage, 2 car payments, student loan payments, a screaming baby, and a nagging wife.
I've got $5 says you'll be bitching about your property taxes going up, gas taxes going up, and your income taxes going up.
You don't know everything you'll ever know once you step out of college. You'll see that people tend to be nearly impossible to help because they'll accept your help and then just keep doing what they're doing, ending up in the same predicament (it's why so many social workers burn out).
Churchill said, a man who isn't liberal when he's young doesn't have heart; a man who isn't conservative when he's old doesn't have a brain. While many "older" folks still remain slightly liberal, for good reason, they've pretty much all lost their young, wild-eyed and naive idealistic dreams that they can change the world, and also for good reason.
I'm out of college and have a job and that didn't become a giant douche bag. And by that I mean I haven't turned into some conservative tax hating republican.
"While many "older" folks still remain slightly liberal, for good reason, they've pretty much all lost their young, wild-eyed and naive idealistic dreams that they can change the world, and also for good reason."
So I guess all the residents of Mass., Illinois, New York, and California are all college students huh? Surely no working adult would vote Democratic! The blasphemy of such thinking!
"I've got $5 says you'll be bitching about your property taxes going up, gas taxes going up, and your income taxes going up."
I'm a recent college grad and if anything I've become an even bigger liberal while traveling around the country for my job. My mother is 46 years old and ownes her own business. Sure in a perfect world we wouldn't have to pay any taxes. But the fact of the matter is we have to pay to keep the country working. So my mother finds it more appropriate to bitch about a war being fought in our name, equal rights being denied to citizens, the White House creating propaganda for our news, ect. Nobody wants to pay taxes but we kind of have to if we want to drive on roads, go to schools, or have a healthy base of citizens. But we don't really have to let our government walk all over us and kill people in our name. That's what I have learned while being out of school.
Meh. I like the sentiment Deters even if I don't agree with some of the particulars. Good Luck in whatever you might be doing and ignore all the conservative fuckers that will doubtless post shit about you.
"You'll see that people tend to be nearly impossible to help because they'll accept your help and then just keep doing what they're doing, ending up in the same predicament."
Yes, but they keep electing Republicans anyway, don't they?
Yes, there are still many "liberals" in many states, and I myself vote for Democrats on occasion.
But, the older you get, the more you realize that pouring money into programs and smoking pot won't change the world.
Or at least you should.
Read "Running on Empty" by Pete Peterson. BOTH parties are fooling most people, BIG TIME.
Good luck to you! I've enjoyed the truths that you've relayed. (and I still think you're hot)
"As conservative as this paper's reputation is,..."
Please Deters. Only you could call the badger herald conservative.
The Badger Herald is conservative.
Yeah dumbass, it was started for the stated purpose of being a conservative paper. You must either be a freshman or know absolutely no UW history.
The reasons for its inception may not represent its present form. Unless your are a retard, you should understand that things change.
Compared to the average Socialist Workers' Party UW student, it's conservative.
Compared to mainstream America, it's liberal.
No major paper in the U.S. has as a columnist some shaved-head Engineering student who roots for the terrorists and thinks all whites are racist.
What am I going to do at work now!?! Mark, Zuckerman, AND Deters leaving at the semester's end? Please say it ain't so! Without the presence of the aforementioned unholy triumvirate the message boards will remain largely silent until Fayyad (please tell me he's staying, pretty please)unleashes his inane rantings once a week. The Badger Herald needs to begin recruiting replacements who are up to task of filling these large shoes immediately, otherwise I may have to become productive.
The Daily Cardinal is liberal. Of that there really is no question. Just look at the balance of liberal vs. conservative opinion writers.
The Badger Herald has a damned solid balance if you ask me: (Listed as one end of the spectrum to the other
CONSERVATIVE:
Baumgartner (Christian Right)
VerStandig (Rep. Party Rhetoric)
Smith (Policy Through Economics)
Stern
Pauly
Cullen (Right/Center)
FLIP FLOPPING NUT-JOB
Hoff
IRRELEVANT FRAT PIECES
Zuckerman
LIBERAL
Daglas
Leonard (Policy Through Baseball)
Hunter
That gal with the shorter hair who wrote yesterday
Deters (Dem. Party Rhetoric)
Dols (Socialist & Green)
Madison is a very blue town compared to the center and east of the state. Somewhere like Appleton or Green Bay, the Herald would seem quite moderate. It's just the local climate that makes it seem raving conservative.
Think about it this way...in a vegan co-op, a hamburger is a sin against nature. In a dorm cafeteria, it's just lunch.
Godspeed, Deters. I'll miss your showdowns against Mac. Be well.
-William Northend
I, too, have loved your column Rob. Thanks and good luck.
I look forward to Deters getting old and transforming into the new "David Horowitz". He was even more liberal that Deters when younger.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/
There is nothing about growing old that makes one more conservative. Many now liberals grew up conservative until they saw the light. Just like many soldiers are now outspoken protesters of the war.
LOL Since when do conservatives become spanky liberals.
No, it's true. I was conservative before attending Madison. Then I was liberal until I graduated and got a job and starting paying taxes - that re-conservatived me pretty fast.
I think most Americans are somewhere in the middle.
However, when leaving college, they are more likely to be idealistically and unrealistically liberal than a reactionary conservative. That's what happens when for 4-7 years you're not really that worried about showing up on time and your biggest problems are finding beer and rubbers. Therefore, it's probably more common to slide from the left to the center than from the right.
Frankly extremists from both sides are welcome to slide into Lake Mendota.
Taxes are your patriotic duty you treasonous scumbags.
Where does Moskowitz fit in?
what does rob mean by 'asian birds' in the penultimate para?
He means the bird flu that the Asian continent is dealing with.
Moskowitz? Well, let's take a look...
Democrat...against Arafat before his death...favors taser experiments & ridicules PETA....stands up for Larry Summers....against Delay, Novak, and neo-conservatism in general....
Good Lord, I think VerStandig took my advice...
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...WE HAVE A MODERATE COLUMNIST!!!!! (wild applause)
-WN
Deters Rules! The rest of you conservative fucks are asshats!