To generalize about a racial or ethnic group is probably the most narrow-minded, ignorant thing a person can do – let alone a journalist to write about.A column last week expressed a very generalized opinion about Arabs and recent bombings, which, to say the least, was pretty short-sighted.Now, to make things clear to readers, the opinion page is a forum for student opinion, and by no means would there be any attempt to suppress ideas or to change them.But, there comes a time when things need to be made clear, or clearer, as to what these columns infer.The columnist’s opinion was a valid one, in the sense that he is an American and is entitled to express his viewpoints without being censored.Any journalist who believes the First Amendment is a pretty good idea would stand behind that principle.However, the idea of associating one ethnic group with a series of calamities which killed dozens of innocent people is like holding all Central Americans responsible for drug smuggling into the United States.It’s a stereotype – something that a journalist should avoid at all costs, even if it is written as an opinion for an editorial page.It’s true that an opinion – even if it is a stereotype – is still an opinion, and a person has a right to express that, without having to back it up or offer any alternate sides to the story.However, there must be a line drawn which distinguishes between an opinion and a blanket statement which categorizes a group of people as fanatical bombers who take pleasure in killing people for a cause of self-importance.As journalists, and citizens who believe in the right to a free press, there is no question that such a column – like the one published last week – would, and should, be printed. It would go against everything we stand for not to print it.However, on issues such as ethnic groups, to categorize them as non-thinking terrorists who relish in irrational bombings with little concern for human life, people need to proceed cautiously in their writing and be very sure in the stereotypes they are reinforcing (at least in their own minds.)True, directly following the Oklahoma City bombing, many news stations were reporting that the most likely suspects were probably of Middle Eastern descent. How’s that for reaffirming in American’s minds an irresponsible stereotype?In the field of journalism it is the responsibility of the press to encourage free expression, and to deliver to its readers ideas from which they might then formulate their own informed opinions.As a newspaper, it is our job to disseminate these opinions without censoring the context in which they are expressed.Still, as human beings, it is our job to be as non-judgmental as possible, because we hold in our hands a weapon which can do the most destruction – the pen.
Nicole Pankuch is a senior majoring in journalism from Stow, Ohio who believes that columnists are the most under appreciated writers on the paper.
