OPINION & EDITORIAL
Despite worthy causes, activism lacking
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by Letters to the Editor
Monday, April 30, 2007
Walking to class today I saw a group students crossing the street at probably the worst possible moment. Cars from both lanes had to hit their brakes and began honking their horns loudly. This barely seemed to register with the group, all of whom were wearing headphones. A few managed a brief glance up before returning to their slow trudge to class. While they were nearly struck by multiple moving vehicles, I was struck by an epiphany; that was the perfect representation of today's UW student. Allow me to explain.
Some time ago Madison was described as "30 square miles surrounded by reality" and that rings true even today, though not quite as it was intended at the time. At the time it was meant to be an insult directed at the out of touch and liberal nature of the student body as well as certain members of Madison's general population. I, however, use this phrase to describe a new way in which our student body has become out of touch with reality, a way that is arguably much worse. Rather than being too involved with politics and other worldly affairs my colleagues have become completely self-obsessed and seem to have rejected the very notion of student activism. Facebook, beer pong and iPods have taken precedence over just about any form of reality on campus. Aside from simply bruising our university's storied history of activism we are running the risk of hurting ourselves in the long run. I know those are two words few students like to hear together, but it's the truth.
Consider last semester, our one great recent moment of effort, the student body was out in full force for one brief, shining moment to rally against the civil union ban and then after a setback, nothing. Not only was there little to no outrage or response, but the issue seems to have completely disappeared; no discussions, nothing. The Iraqi invasion is another prime example of fleeting interest before we as a whole submit to the wishes of the government, as well as the media, and actively forget the whole thing ever existed. It is a very disheartening thing to see and it only serves to allow the rest of the country to walk all over our rights and the rights of those without a voice nearly as powerful as ours.
To be clear, I am not claiming to have any answers, nor am I saying that you as an individual should. Rather, I truly believe that we students can figure it out together. We have some of the best minds in the world gathered all in one place but we aren't using them on anything but ourselves. If we can't figure it out, I bet we can at least yell loud enough to make our politicians work for our money and figure it out for us. Do not be fooled by those that tell you there aren't any serious issues or that there isn't anything out there that matters to you today like in the 60s or any other period. Homosexual rights are our civil rights, global warming is our ozone hole and Iraq is our Vietnam. All of the problems are there, waitisng to be fixed. Will you help or will your headphones drown them out?
Chris White UW Sophomore
Anonymous (April 29, 2007 @ 11:51pm):
the massacre at Virgina Tech was quiet bad because of all the people that died because of one crazy dude who went around shooting people. i liked proffesor Librescu because he gave up his life to save his students
Anonymous
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 12:05am):
Chris White you're an elitist. First of all, students vote more at this campus than on the national level. Second, they are in college and have numerous other issues they should deal with. They should care more about facebook and ipods. Most of the campus political hacks/activists on this campus are self-promoting fucks, or heavily out-of-touch with even the vast majority on the left. You say, "I bet we can at least yell loud enough to make our politicians work for our money and figure it out for us." I'd rather have people who study hard and learn the economic policies to go on to graduate school and become the next founders of social policy, rather than the polarizing SLAC movement. Hell, even interning at the capitol is a better option. You have a one-way view of political activism and you just ooze with that typical "I am holier than thou" liberal that exists, thankfully, in the minority on this campus.
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 12:07am):
"If we can't figure it out, I bet we can at least yell loud enough to make our politicians work for our money and figure it out for us."
Fat chance that'll ever happen.
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 2:11am):
What have you done on campus Chris? You wrote a story - good job! now go and lead a political group, or better yet, realize that the present is not tied to the past. This isn't the 1960s; nostalgias a bitch.
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 5:46am):
@ 12:05am:
Yeah, fuck activism. Work for the man, that's the only way to change things.
/rolls eyes
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 9:18am):
12:05--
I'm not quite sure exactly who you're referring to, but most College Dems and College Repubs are exactly those arrogant, out of state ladder-climbers and resume-builders, who are extremely out of touch with their own bases. This is why Dems and Repubs in Congress now are so horribly out of touch. I think most people are genuinely concerned with social issues of one stripe or another, but become disillusioned or turned off by the system, and by the total disregard of politicians for what really matters to people. Thus some students with the drive and motivation turn to activism, while others shut themselves out.
Yes, SLAC and other groups may be "polarizing", but without them there would be no pressure on elected officials to even address poverty, gay marriage, workers' rights, etc. But by your logic, any group that presents claims to power-holders (instead of voting for one of two candidates who won't address the concerns to begin with) is some kind of extremist. Polarization itself is a tool to reneg on promises and avoid real issues. You wouldn't know it from the press or politicians, but inner-city unemployed African-Americans and Confederate flag-waving trailer-park rednecks have more in common with each other than with the leaders of the parties that supposedly represent their interests. So with that in mind, it is easy to see why most people have abandoned this failed system, and instead turn to abstention or activism.
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 10:00am):
there was no civil union ban last fall
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 10:11am):
"30 square miles surrounded by reality"
BH,never print this phrase again
I am banning this tired phrase as of now. Please adhere to this ban. Cliche and lame do not begin the contempt I have for this phrase. Every friggin town in the U.S, has this ascribed to it. Do you breathe? Do you live?..then it's reality folks and living in Madison doesn't make it any less "real" than in Plover. Convesley, Plover is not more real than Madison.
Thank for your cooperation
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 10:57am):
Folks, the reason activism is so passe in Madison nowadays is because everyone is still reeling from the stupid little anarchist punks that made life in Madison a living hell for the rest of us. Every day of every week there was a protest here, a rally there. All they did was annoy everyone else.
Most of the participants at the time weren't even serious about whatever issue they were protesting. They were just looking for something to do. they couldn't even remember what the last week's protest was even about!
Look, if you want to change things, it'll take more than just sitting down in the middle of University Avenue or the mayor's office. First, you need to grow up. Then, you need to identify what you're supposed to be protesting against. (Hint: It ain't always the white male. Don't even think of starting that bullshit again!)
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 12:20pm):
"Dems and Repubs in Congress now are so horribly out of touch"
Then how did they get elected? Have things changed that much in a few months?
What?
"out of touch" = "doesn't agree with me"
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 12:38pm):
"To be clear, I am not claiming to have any answers, nor am I saying that you as an individual should. Rather, I truly believe that we students can figure it out together."
Right, so the answer is just suppost to magically appear from the collective purple haze? The activism to which you refer died on this campus with the New Year's Gang's bombing of Sterling Hall in 1970. And thank God it did. It was naive, it was self-righteous, and it was polarized the community. It was an embarrassment. But, the city's and university's response to it was worse. Dow Day was ridiculous.
So, the best solution: be the change that we want to see in the world (Ghandi's famous saying).
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 2:59pm):
Protest by making money then buy a congressmen for your own ends.
- Germain E. Stemme
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 4:35pm):
Germain E. Stemme really needs to get a job writing for The 1/2 Hour News Hour.
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 6:06pm):
12:20--
Well considering that 98% of Senators are multi-millionaires, that begins to separate them from the rest of society. We're fortunate to live in a two-party state that puts up the richest of their cohort for election, and average Joe Schmo will neither be elected nor truly have his best interests represented.
Ever heard of the phrase "lesser of two evils?" We're merely voting for the rich white man that'll screw us over the least.
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 8:20pm):
Regardless of a person's view of political activism, there's one point of this editorial that rings true regardless of political beliefs: Madison students are increasingly self-absorbed and unwilling to be involved in the activities of civil society. Madison used to have a respected reputation as a place where students engaged in politics, civil rights, and culture, and everyone who does or has attended the university bears a loss as that tradition and reputation dies. To hear a Madison student say that other students should care more about facebook and iPods is disappointing and embarassing.
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 10:57pm):
I really wish I knew who Germain E. Stemme is.
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