Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / Feb. 1, 2007, edition 1 / Page 9
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Editorials I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” - Voltaire The Need for Change: A Direct Rebuttal to “The Need to Lead” Transcendentalist writer Margaret Fuller said “Male and female represent the two sides of the great radical dualism. But, in fact, they are perpetually passing into one another...There is no wholly masculine man, no purely feminine woman.” It is a great mistake, I believe, to confine the sexes into a boxed set of circumstances. History has shown us the need, in the past, to set specific roles for gender in order to make survival more efficient. Women give birth, and in general are of a smaller build, and it made sense for them to stay at home. Men cannot give birth, and in general are of a larger build, and it made sense for them to perform manual labor and protect their family. We are not, however, living in survival mode any more. For a large portion of the world, circumstances have changed. men and women into stereotypes is as asinine as saying that all black people should be slaves. Had America continued with this horrendous line of thought genius’ such Vivien Thomas would not have been in the position to jumpstart heart surgery in the medical field. Keeping with archaic stereotypes stunts the growth of our entire species. Stephanie Kwolek’s research with Courtney Butler high performance chemical compounds led to the development of a synthetic material called Kevlar which is five times stronger than the same weight of steel. Kevlar does not rust or corrode and is extremely lightweight. Many police Officers owe their lives to Stephanie Kwolek because Kevlar is the material used in bullet proof vests. I am sure that Otis Redding would willingly sacrifice a rendition of “Respect” in honor of Kwolek and her invaluable work. Kevlar might not have been developed for a great while longer had Kwolek been kept at home as only a wife and mother. A very wise student at St. Andrew’s wrote that none of this is a black and white issue. For that matter, it is not a masculine and feminine issue either. It is the time of human beings “In our modern society, the age of gender stereotypes /. almost completely obsolete. IS In our modem society,'- the age of gender stereotypes ^'is- almost completely obsolete. Everything has become a choice. Women can choose to get married, have careers, and raise a family. Men as well can choose to have careers, raise families, and get married. Men and women can choose to change their sex entirely. Sexual orientation is becoming lessrigidandtheemphasis is no longer on procreating for survival, but expressing physical/ emotional desire and love for one another. Women are becoming body-builders and corporate executives. Men are w’orking from the house and being at-home dads. The question should not be whether or not men are masculine enough or women feminine enough. The question should be, are people becoming enough? Masculinity and femininity, as archaic means of definition, are going extinct in this rapidly changing world. Stating that all men need to be knights in shining armor (a medieval term for crusaders in the 11"’ century' raping and pillaging their way to the Holy Land) is out- of-date. Stating that all women are emotionally delicate and in need of protection (Sojourner Truth had thirteen children and still worked in the fields) is as inflammatory as saying that a home with a single mother is an orphanage, and not in fact, a home at all. The need for change is essential to human existence. Indeed, boxing Get in line to work for Google Dorian Andrews WTien we log on to the internet our society. Here is just a brief sample and are trying to search for anything the first thing that most of us do is go to google.com. The Google search engine has become one of the most creative fast growing companies of our time. With Google you can literally navigate the internet to find out whatever you want, or try Google earth to see a picture of any location in the world up close and personal, search Google maps which js similar functiori to that of mapquest.com where" directions can be found around the world, or even with Google news any one can find current up to date news just like going to cnn.com. Google developed limitless options to explore the internet. A article in the .lanuaty 22, 2007 issue of Fortune Magazine rates Google number one as the best company to work for in 2007. The way that Google has been able to jump into the number one spot could very well be because of their lavish benefits. The.Se benefits are unlike most companies in of some of Google employee benefits: Unlimited sick days, all expense paid annual ski trip, on-site oil changes, free flu shots, $2,000 bonus for referring a new' hire, on-site car washes, free on-site washers and dryers, work out gym, massages, and TGIF parties just to name a few. Couldn’t we all see ourselves working in an environment and getting paid great? Google' has over 10,000 employees and that number continues to grow. It is amazing how far this company has come in only eight years. Google’s benefits surpass any other company’s benefits in America. Google is always concerned with the well being of their employees and strongly believe in finding more and more ways to create the best environment for work. No wonder why Google has had over 1,145,000 people applying a year, or more than 1,300 resumes a day. The Lance 2006-2007 Staff Editor-in-Chicf Danielle 1 leider Student Life Editor Jacob NeI.son Entertainment Editor Kristina (joodspecd Editorial Editor Greg Gray Sara Messina Bonnie Riehl Matt Stucke Alicia Ibke Christina Kalinski Ryan Shulte Sarah Bartholomew Staff Writers Reid Mosher l.yndsey McCall Meli.ssa Whittaker KelH Milam Ciara Seaborn Kelli Hunter Kaylin Young TaShauna .lones Daniel Pinsker F.mily Thigpin Dorian Andrews Samuel I lemingway Ian Burkett Kevin I'ookn and their potential as people, not as races and not as genders. Mother Teresa once said “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today.” As humans, we must move with the tide of change. There is no other path but forward. We have been blessed with intellect, inspiration, imagination £uid nearly limitless potential. Yet we choose to bind ourselves in definitions that have outlived their usefulness. According to Christianity sin was brought into the world through Eve’s mistake. Yet it is through sin and redemption that Christians become closer* to their God. Why continue to live in the past? One can only hope that the leaders of the church recognize wisdom and foresight no matter what gender it comes in. Not many have questioned the faith of Motfier Teresa, or her positive effect on the world. If one is a true believer in the teachings of Christ, it should not matter if the pastor is a male or female, it should not matter if the mother or the father takes the children to chucch. Teaching firom, the New Testament might lack the fire and brimstone of the Old, but it seems that acceptance is a more important lesson needed for people claiming to be followers of Christ. “We need brave souls to step into the future and understand that life must change to make room for progress. ” We need brave souls to step into the future and understand that life must change to make room for progress. We need pioneering souls to let go of the history and its stereotypes, setting new precedents. Living in the past is a coward’s way of avoiding an unknown fiiture. Holding fast to antiquated concepts of women and their role in society, is the last ditch effort of a dying paradigm. We have a need for change. We have a need for men and women who are unafraid to step out of the bounds of “what was.” As for gender roles, women and men can be whatever they choose to be. Some wdll choose to be more traditionally masculine or traditionally feminine. Others will not; thus the beauty of free will and the power of choice. As for me, 1 choose to remain a “metro- pseudo-bisexual type” and become increasingly more feminine by eating soy inundated wdth hormones. **********The opinions expressed on this page do not reflect those of The Lance or St. Andrews Presbyterian College**********
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