Dear readers,
Before you read this, maybe you had better sit down. I have some terrible news. This is my last issue as your beloved editorials editor. That’s right, I’ve been….er…promoted to news editor.
We’ve had a great run and I’ve received my fair share of negative and positive feedback from you this quarter.
In both cases, I have appreciated the fact that you are reading and reacting to what has been written, and hope that you will continue to in the future. I just wanted to leave you with some advice that I hope will bring cheery stories to this page instead of the same old harsh criticisms.
One of my major problems this quarter was that, when I sat down to write an editorial, the Internet, newspaper, and even just campus conversations were always overflowing with bad news.
Once a week, daily even, I would read a story that would either turn my stomach, insult my sense of justice, or just plain infuriate me.
I know it’s been a running theme on the page this quarter, but I think we must change the way humans treat humans in this world. Disrespect and hostility are so rampant in our day-to-day lives that many of us, myself included, find ourselves becoming desensitized to it.
Folks, it is not normal to walk down the street with your head down, afraid of eye contact with other people.
Humans were not made that way. Whatever you believe in, Creationism or evolution, humans are made to interact with each other.
We were made to love each other, live side by side with each other, and learn how to cooperate with each other.
I wonder how our cold indifference to humanity and our inherent mistrust of others because of race, class, or religious difference would look to our ancestors. What has happened to us that living in harmony with others has become such an ancient idea?
When did we decide to retreat into ourselves, only trusting and interacting with those who we feel are the same? It may sound like a battle that can’t be won, an ideal too ingrained to turn around, but I don’t believe that.
Being something of an optimist, I think that by just doing the little things, our generation can show the world how to treat each other again.
Next time you’re thinking of making fun of someone less fortunate than you in any way, compliment them instead.
Next time you’re thinking of excluding someone from your peer group because they are different than you are, welcome them in with open arms.
I am not saying that a few people need to change their ways, I’m saying that all of us do. We can at least give it a shot, can’t we? Once again, though, thank you for your readership and support throughout the quarter.
Continue to read the newspaper and take an active interest in your world, because knowing is half the battle. GI JOE!
Sincerely,
Dan Martin
