Page 10^ • Thursday, jajmatyA% -2006
QPTNION^
The Pendulum'
This column will feature confessions of a Souihem religious studies major. Jonathan will offer a light-hearted look at the little things in life
that can make a big difference.
IT'S THE THINGS...
Working for the Man
"nepotism: (n) favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on
kinship"
-Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Jonathan Chapman ^
Columnist
The man that I’m referring to, of course, is
my father. That’s right, nepotism at its best. It
is Friday the thirteenth, a huge siiige of severe
weatlier is about to hit Atlanta ajid I am
answering phones and run
ning plans at my ikher’s
civil engineering firm.
Actually, it is probably the
last day that I’ll work for
him. I was going to work
next week up until I leave
for the pristine shores of
Denmark, but I took a
Jonathan notion the other day that
Chapman this might be my last time
sheet turned in—and the
more I think about it, the more it sounds like
a good idea.
It’s not that the job was particularly
painful. In fact, it was fairly enjoyable as jobs
go. Flexible hours, not a whole lot of interac
tion with people I’m not fond of—pretty
sweet deal. What’s the problem? I’m working
for my dad. Granted he’s a good boss, and I am
extremely thankful to have a job during my
extended stay at home. Not to mention he
came through for me after I had submitted at
least a dozen applications to various stores
from JCPenny to liowe’s and the Family
Christian Bookstore. I just started the process
too late. Ever>me had already hired for the
holidays, and some stores weren’t even going
to begin processing applications till after the
New Year.
Anyway, the problem with working for
your dad, particularly when he’s the boss, is
that not only are you Terry’s son, but you are
the boss’s son. One completely loses his iden
tity. I’m notion. FmTerry’s son. What’s more,
Fm the boss’s kid—so be careful what you say
aiound me! Yes, that’s right, working for dad is
one more way that my attejnpts to liberate
myself from my parents have been foiled
again. Tliat is not to say I want to be disasso
ciated from them; but rather not be obligated
to follow their rules anymore than I already
have to. I don’t caU that mean; I call it grow
ing up.
As I was waiting for the phone to ring, I
was working on an essay for a scholaiship
application. The topic surrounds ray core the
ological commitments. As if identifying those
was not hard enough, I have to explain “die
ways in which they (the commitments) shape
his or her exploration of vocation”—in three
pages doubled spaced. You might be thinking,
“Come on, Jon, that’s easy.” Right, Check.
You tty. We aren’t talking about pleasant
notions like hope or joy or peace. Those are
fine and dandy, but what I felt like I was
searching for was beyond that. Those words
are nice, but what hves beyond them? Where
do those words spring fn^m? Where do we
find the emotions and ideas to take us to a
place where God mingles with us? What are
the most basic ideas tliat I cling to that aie
fomiative to my faith and foundational to the
way I view tlie world?
As I wrote my response for this essay, I
kept searching for answers. All I found were
questions. Fm sure it sounds cliche, but ques
tions kept answering questions—all of them
summing up in one omnipresent concern.
How will I use Copenhagen (tlie people,
experiences, etc) to help me make these com
mitments come to life? How will 1 realize
grace, justice and reconciliation?
Want to keep up with Jonathan Chapman
during the Spring in Denmark? Visit his
blog at www.denmarkjon.blogspot.com.
Contact Jonathan Chapman at
opinions@elon.edu or 278-7247
Political apathy in the American people
Erin Moffet
Opinions Editor
Elon University is privileged to have the
resources to conduct a very well-respected
poll of North Carolina residents. This
allows students to get hands-on experience
on how public opinion is obtained.Public
opinion plays a vital role in the American
government.
The most recent poll was conducted in
the middle of November. This poll had
many important issues to discuss.
At the time of the poll, nationally,
President Bush was still suffering from
extremely low approval ratings and
Congress was asking for an exit plan from
Iraq. On the state level, the newly adopted
N.C. state lottery was coming under some
scrutiny over the level of trust in who
would be in charge of its funds.
Questions concerning these popular
issues, along with other surrounding issues
such as taxes, were asked in the survey.
It was unreal to see how many people
did not participate in the survey. And it was
not that they chose to just not participate in
the survey; they were very rude about even
being asked to do so.
Everyone should jump at the opportuni
ty to be able to voice their opinions, espe
cially in a forum in which the government
is listening and reacting. This apathy
towards participating in the political
process, even just on the level of a poll, is
exactly what is hurting democracy.
The introduction to the poll stated that it
would last roughly eight to ten minutes.
That is such a short amount of time for
something with such a big impact on the
government. Yet people still complained
that they did not have the time to partici
pate in the democratic process.
Other people declined to participate
because they were uninterested in politics
or because they did not think their opinion
mattered. Some people were just annoyed
by being asked to participate. These feel
ings that caused people not to participate
are disappointing.
The government affects everyone and
therefore, everyone should have an interest
in it. Not necessarily in parties and candi
dates, but in simple things like taxes that
everyone is sure to know about and have
an opinion on since it affects them.
And to the people who think that their
opinion does not matter:you are very
wrong. It is hard for the govenmient to lis
ten to everyone’s opinions, which is why
polls are conducted. Polls are a way that
the govenmient can get a feel for the views
of the American people.
So by not participating in the Elon Poll,
many people missed out on a valuable
opportunity to voice their opinion, where it
will be evaluated by government officials.
People should not be agitated by being
asked to participate, they should be thank
ful to have such an opportunity. Ten min
utes is not a lot to ask from someone for the
importance of the results of a survey on
government actions,
A democracy is defined as “rule by the
people.” If the people fail to take the initia
tive and the time to participate in the
numerous forums available to them, then
they are failing democracy.
Failure of democracy through peoples’
apathy is the only way that peoples’ opin
ions and participation will be remain
unheard and unimportant.
So to everyone who feels that they are
not an important part of the government
and therefore choose not to participate,
those actions are what cause the lack of
importance of the common people in gov
ernment actions taken after surveys like
this one.
Contact Erin Moffet at
opinions@elon.edu or 278-7247