I never became involved with any community within Northwestern. I neither lament this nor celebrate it; it is simply a fact. I cannot give you a convincing explanation for why I have not. I am not completely apathetic, but I genuinely do not hold strong convictions regarding many of the issues that have emerged on campus recently.
I resent attempts to make me feel guilty because I have chosen not to become more involved at NU. I do not appreciate walking by The Rock and having a petition for something shoved in my face only to be looked at like some heartless bastard when I say that I do not support a particular cause.
Although I hesitate to associate myself with Republicanism or the Far Right (for one thing, those boys don’t know how to dress!), I am unabashedly a capitalistic pig. I do not support Leftist causes or beliefs — and let’s be honest here: Many of these protests have a decidedly Leftist slant to them.
Substance aside, what is to me most remarkable here is that if you criticize someone with Leftist leanings you get read the riot act with a vengeance more customarily associated with the Far Right. I’m sorry to say it, but some activists on the Left are no less zealots than their opponents. Memo to file here, folks: Not everyone will agree with you; get used to it.
People who do not agree with activist views are not necessarily blowing off what seems like the cause of the month. We have done our research and believe what we believe. Our country is great that way; we are allowed to believe what we want — one person’s ignorance is another’s well-informed contrary opinion.
I try to avoid the middle-class guilt syndrome that seems to underlie a good deal of activism not only on this campus, but also in the larger culture.
For example, not to knock the recent surge of Native American activism on campus (I think raising awareness is great), but how many of the 10 or so Natives on campus actually are involved in those activities? According to my source, there are none. What does that suggest? Either the outreach is lacking or the issues chosen are not important to the Native Americans on campus.
Just because I do not go to campus meetings or events does not mean I am uninformed or uncaring. It may mean simply that I have thought something through and reached a different conclusion. At which point I am allowed to express my opinion. And when someone is called an ignorant moron simply because of a contrary point of view — like a Forum cartoon — you have to wonder who the inconsiderate one really is.
Do I wish I had become more involved with campus activities? Perhaps. The sad state of BGALA, the increased awareness of Native issues and what I see as the hypersensitivity of certain minority groups all have given me pause. But my involvement would need to have been because I believed in what they were promoting or attempting to do. That would not be the case.
My mother always encouraged me to choose my battles wisely. I didn’t come to college to get an education in activism. I don’t need issues thrown in my face to make an informed decision. And propaganda is propaganda, regardless of which side it comes from.
