Over the past two semesters, I have concentrated my columns on current events and politics, usually assuming a stance associated with liberal views. Columnists such as Christopher Flook, Alex Carroll, Jonathan Sanders and others write about similar subjects. Under these topics we receive about five or six comments on the Internet forum and maybe just about as many e-mails.
About three weeks ago, Joanna Lees wrote a column offering a very unfavorable view of Harry Potter, a fictional boy wizard attempting to save the wizard community from the tyranny of evil. Within a day, Lees' column had earned nearly 70 posts, mostly of dissenting opinions. Some of the posts were more than 100 words and quite intricate and analytical about the development of the character and struggles he has overcome through the series.
My opinion about the apathy and insular attitude of the majority of the Ball State University student body was instantly reaffirmed with iron clarity.
Recently, Charles Argo, assistant professor of history, hosted a series of guided discussions about post-September 11 America that were open to the student body. Another Marine and I were involved in one such discussion, and there were approximately 25 students in the audience, the majority I later learned had been bribed with extra credit.
During the discussion we were asked what would make the campus shake its passive attitude about the Iraq War, to which my fellow Marine replied, "If an IED went off on McKinley Avenue." I was initially shocked at such a thought, but then I realized that is the extreme it would take for people to again take notice of the situation in Iraq.
As the situation in Iraq deteriorates daily, the military is expanding to fill its ranks to shoulder the extra burden. This means the recruiters will be working hard to get new men and women into basic training to assume these duties. If this fails, this country has proved that it is not above conscription to fill military ranks. A sect of America society that is ignored except when either politically or fashionably feasible will then become the topic of Harry Potter-like debate as Uncle Sam reaches into college classrooms to pluck out men - and probably women - to place a rifle in their hands.
When war comes around, the phrase, "There are men and women in the military so we can be free," becomes fashionable. The truth is, since there has been a standing volunteer military, the men and women serving have been preserving your freedom, because if they did not serve, you would be forced to.
The Iraq War is one topic among so many that have a deep and lasting effect on America and the entire world. With debate raging about global warming, the Darfur conflict in western Sudan, poverty and starvation in Africa, bigotry against minorities and homosexuals in America and so many other topics, the webmaster should be overwhelmed with comments when a columnist speaks out about these subjects.
After I wrote a column about impeaching President George Bush, one of my readers posted a response that suggested we just "let it go" and let the Bush legacy to run the course. With all the dissenting opinions regarding the impeachment of Bush available, that of just "standing by" rose to the top.
This is a convenient metaphor for the attitude of the Ball State student body when confronted with important topics that do not immediately effect them. Although it is impossible to know enough about every important topic to form a thorough opinion, the typical response is not "I don't know" but rather "I don't want to care."
This is a sad state for the future national and global leaders who are supposed to be developing on this campus and others. Now is the time to begin developing a passion for something truly important, taking a stand and initiating some sort of conversation about something more important than the sainthood of Harry Potter.
Write to Jason at jlhodson@bsu.edu
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