Welcome to Ball State and to the beginning of this column, a one-sided commentary about drugs, sex, rock and roll and, of course, politics. The format is simple: I will start the discussion with facts and my opinions, and then the rest is up to you. Here is what you can do to make it better and help me develop a two-sided discussion: Use the feedback formats offered by the DAILY NEWS, or just drop me an e-mail. I promise to follow-up, no matter what you call me (Unless I tick off the whole campus-- then I am transferring to a new smaller school with no newspaper).
I have seen and read columnists who think you must attack everything and anybody that is outside the ideology. They want to sell or protect with their opinion. I believe, as Gandhi said, "Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress." Having an "honest disagreement" is not attacking someone who does not agree with you. Trust me, you cannot teach if you attack and kill the student you wish to make a believer.
There is a 30-year gap between me and most of you. This may cause some difficulty, understanding the way we form our questions and define the words we use in our answers. The only aid I have at understanding is that once, I was 20 years old and had all the answers. With age came wisdom and now, I am not even sure how to word the questions any more.
This column will address questions and problems as truthfully, clearly and fairly as I can. My opinions might show the fact that I went from childhood into manhood with Bob Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Kent State and Vietnam. I can still hear them talking about the "dream," asking "Why not?" and waiting for the bullet that will end the discussion. As a participant you do not worry about the voices in my head, for in time you will get your own. (Safety Tip: When you entering into an "honest disagreement" with voices in you head, you should always leave your guns at home.)
For more than 50 years, as a child, cop, soldier, EMT, student, teacher, husband, father and (my favorite role) grandfather, my quest for truth has led me to believe that the statements by Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell can help us visualize and understand most of the problems we face. "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I am not sure about the universe," Einstein said. Russell added, "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people are always full of doubts."
From my point of view and this column's, the only time someone is a fool or a fanatic is when they forget there are always two sides to every question, as many answers as there are people and more than enough doubts for everyone. "Desiderata" is simply a poem, telling me to "speak my truths quietly and clearly" and then "listen to others, even the dull and ignorant" because "they too have a story."
Sounds like a plan. See you next week.
Write to Eric at eerichardson@bsu.edu
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