Open your eyes and make the difference
Ubiq Editor
Mark Buchanan, Editor
Take a look at the guy over your left shoulder, the girls to your right, your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. These people are from different ethnic backgrounds, beliefs, heights, genders, and monetary standings.
Nevertheless, these people have one very unique thing in common; they are each individuals, they're human beings just like anyone else.
This past semester, there was a flurry of information being passed on the Internet regarding one particular topic amongst our youth: same-sex marriages and civil unions. These e-mails started to become so ferocious that the campus had to issue a warning that the e-mails were meant for academic purposes, not broadcasting petty arguments as you would on a chat forum.
While there was a difference of opinion on the e-mails, it stemmed from a recent controversial topic concerning our state laws and equal rights.
Through the recent amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, we found the state's youth were taking action for their political beliefs and trying to make a difference. While the majority of the youth vote (not all) voted against the amendment, it was still approved primarily by the elderly community.
Wisconsin isn't ready to vote on such an amendment again, but it will be in a few years to come. It isn't too late to bring about change and grant everyone equal opportunity to life, liberty, and "the pursuit of happiness."
The first step is finding tolerance and helping others understand we've held many common misconceptions. Have tolerance not just for people who find themselves attracted toward members of the same gender, but for all people that are different from yourself.
Give another person the same consideration you would expect to receive on your beliefs, thoughts, interests, and relationships. You're not being asked to engage in acts against your nature, but to simply be altruistic to others.
Currently overseas, we have Americans fighting a battle for another country's freedom in which its religion is a minority here in the United States. Yet, our soldiers are over there because they're trying to make a difference.
We've fought battles on our home front against tyranny, slavery, segregation and gender superiority amongst other conflicts; however, we are still fighting an uphill battle against prejudice towards our fellow men and women.
Sociology tells us that we're making changes - making changes every day. We're the ones to have to step up and stand against the misconceptions in society. America is often viewed as a bigoted country because we once stood and still stand on opinionated values. We shout equal rights when we're the ones under the fire, but then put restrictions on others' lives as if they were meaningless to our own existence.
While you alone aren't able to change American values, you're able to help fan the fire and facilitate progress.
In college we're not just learning about the academic values in science and literature, but lifelong values that help dictate our presence and lead us into the future. We're the ones who decide who we are and who we will become after we graduate with our esteemed diplomas.
Those who choose to become lemmings to the traditional values will remain followers for the rest of their lives. Our country doesn't need more conformist and followers. Think about the last election; we need leaders.
Become someone who can help make a difference. Become aware of others' differences and tolerant of the social gaps we see in our society. Choose to be an advocate of the future and light the way for others. Otherwise, you will eventually find yourself standing alone in the dark. Don't be satisfied by being another Oedipus, open your eyes and make the difference.
