I took part in the NION (Not in our Name) march around campus and there were several people who shouted at our “parade.” Instead of just yelling obscenities. Why do they not organize? I mean, why don’t we see them having a Pro-Bush rally? A little opposition is a good thing. There was one person yelling at us saying how this country was great because it gives us our freedom of speech.
I say to him that we are using that right for what it was intended to be used, to voice political opposition. Big record companies tout freedom of speech as little more than something to justify songs that are little more than curse words set to music. We should all remember freedom of speech is our greatest asset because it allows political dissent. Take a stand; research U.S. foreign policy; educate yourself on this conflict. In saying that you should educate yourself on this issue, I have to stress that people need to read opinions from both sides of this dispute in order to understand the other side’s point of view better and come to a greater understanding; this is called democracy.
Finally, to quote Dante: “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.” So I say to all students of OSU: take a stand and get involved, because the greatest danger this nation faces is not from overseas, the left or the right – the true danger is political apathy.
Jason Hurdfreshman in anthropology
