OPINIONS
•0 CAMPUS VOICES
WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 8,2D17
hi
Campus Voices are written by members et the Elon eommunity, not ENN staff members, and represent
their informed opinions, Campus Voices and other opinions content are separate tram news coverage.
Utilize the opportunities to gain new perspectives
lason Dingle
Freshman
Incoming college students pack
their bedding, clothing and ia^op
— as well as mmy of the morals,
values and opinions from their
pre-colege lives ^ before leaving
forsdjool.
Tthdr baggage includes their
experiences in their digital lives as
weB, such astheir Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram feeds, groups and
friends. We all arrive, floating in our
own bubbles, and it is up to ns to
pop them — or not —• as we see fit
These days, more often than not,
we spend time living within our
own bubbles.
In addition to our friends, we
also take to our Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram feeds when we
feel strongly about a national or
world event — especially if its
fiery or controversial.
We don’t read all the news —
we read the news that reflects
our viewpoints.
We don’t talk to all of our friends
or join a variety of groups.
We stick with those who agree
with us, or that we agree with. On
»ciat media, not only do we have
the power to Mtow or be friends
with like-minded people, but we
also can utftiiend and block people
who think differently.
Social media and search engines
even encourage our tendency to
bubble. Yes, bubble was just used
as a verb.
A study recently published by
MIT Technology Review revealed
the results of a simple Google
search. Two individuals Googled
“BPf One person’s search results
were focused on the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill. The other
person received search results
primarily on British Petroleum’s
investment news.
Google has so much information
on who we are and what we search
for, read and participate in onlne
tiiat it can provide us with search
results that are most applicable to
each of us, Facebook, Instagi-am
and Twitter do the same thing for
advertising purposes.
We are all shown the news,
products and Ideas we are most
comfortable sedng. The unintended
consequence? A reinforcement of
our bubbles.
If you spend your time with
only those ideas and people who
agree with you, how are you going
to coexist with those who have
polarizing views, let alone work
together toward anything?
It seems to me that we will just
become more and more entrenched
in our own Ideas, and less and less
willing to listen to other.
This is a problem,
A quick Google of the word,
“bigoted” reveals the foUowtag
definition: “having or revealing an
obstinate belief in the superiority
of one’s own opinions and a
prejudiced intolerance of the
opinions of others.”
It is quite sobering to realize
thatif we only accept what we want
to, and not open our minds to other
perspectives and opinions, we are in
fact, not accepting people. We are,
by definition, bigots.
There needs to be a bubble
popping movement.
There does not need to be a
famous leader, experienced staff,
pamphlets, signs or a megaphone.
We need only ourselves, and maybe
Mahatma Gandhi
“Be the change you wish to
see in the world” is a very famous
quote, often attributed to Gandhi
But, no actual documentation
proves that he ever said this.
Gandhi did make a similar
statement, however:
“If we could change ourselves,
the tendencies in the world would
also change. As a man changes his
own nature, so does the attitude of
the world change towards him...
We need not wait to see what
others do.”
What if just a few of us open
up a little bit, pop our bubbles and
see what happens?
When faced with perspectives
and opinions that are not in sync
with our own, let’s stop. Let’s
breathe. Let’s lean on curiosity, not
animosity. We are not listening if
we’re waiting to throw the latest
article, factoid or statistic from
our own comfort zones at folks
who don’t want to leave theirs.
Let’s ask questions and avoid
dismissing points of view so we can
take the time to analyze and process
and sit with the uncomfortable and
see what happens.
Let’s not approach someone
who feels differently tvith the
goal of convincing them that they
are wrong, but with the goal of
understanding that we might be.
What can we learn?
We should look deep inside
ourselves and realize that, no
matter how right we each feel when
confronted by someone with a
polarizing opinion, we are but one
variable of a human equation.
The reality is that we depend
on each other in day-to-day life.
Dismissing those who disagree
with you usually does not lead
to something good. Coexistence,
as uncomfortable as this is for us
sometimes, is not an option.
Understanding, consideration
and acceptance of others’ points of
view, including political points of
view, are concepts we need to get
very cozy tvith, not just if we want
to get through college, but if we
want to move forward as a species.
Political posts need open discnssion We all must honor Black History
Hannah Benson
Columnist
@elonnewsnetwork
Another day, another scroll through
your Facebook feed. Its not long before you
stumble upon a controversial video, shared
by your lab partner from sophomore year of
high school, with more than 40 comments
from fuming adversaries who evidently think
their opinion is superior.
“What’s new,” you think to yourself, as this
one features your lab partner defending a man
who wore a “Build that Wall” T-shirt in public.
Your former classmate became enraged when
others spoke out against his shirt and what
it stood for, while at
the same time getting HB
upset when people
commented angrily on
the video he shared,
defending free speech.
The worst part isn’t
that he shared a video
that might make you
cringe or that he’s par
taking in the fruitless
comments below it,
but that he is surprised people came forth to
challenge his view.
And here’s where so many people are
wrong. Ihere’s something very admirable
about a person who willingly stands up to
express what they believe in, as this isn’t easy
for just anyone.
But doing this alone isn’t the crown jewel,
the Holy Grail of achievement.
It’s missing a crucial element — the ability
to look upon the opinions of others that differ
from your own and respect them, however
little you agree with them.
This is the fatal flaw in the mind of an
activist.
Though your side may have science, logic
and reason backing you up, ostracizing the
opposite side places you above them, mean
ing that you are foolish enough to write off
anyone with an opposing view just because
it’s not your own.
TO ATACK SOMEONE AND
PUT DOWN WHATTHEY
BELIEVE IN BECAUSE ITS
NOT WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN
DOESNT HELP ANYONE.
But it is someone else’s view. To attack
someone and put down what they believe
in because it’s not what you believe in
doesn’t do anyone any good.
The noblest thing you can do is to look
upon another’s position with respect while
waving your banner high. The best thing
you can do is merely ask them why they
feel that way, how they got to that system
of beliefs and discuss how it differs from
your own.
You don’t get to shun someone’s ideas
because they are not your own. You get to
interrogate, try to understand and push others
to consider doing the same.
Maybe when we know all the facts we can
start to get on the same page.
Maybe when we realize that posting a con
troversial video only invites discord, each side
too proud to go down with
out a fight or stay quiet, we
will stop sharing them with
the intention to shun others
or prove them wrong.
Maybe when we figure
out that your list of Face-
book friends, the nation
and the world is at a stale
mate, with two ardently
passionate sides pushing
hard in opposition, we can
stop lashing out at people with the opposing
view and target those who are undecided.
Or even better, not seek power in numbers
but power within ourselves.
Sharing a Facebook post to spread aware
ness is more than OK, but attacking someone’s
opinions and shunning them for having a per
spective we dislike will not create progression.
This will only slow our advancements.
So stop sharing videos that make waves
and being surprised when they do exactly
that. Stop posting statuses to egg on the com
ments of your opponents.
Instead — should you find yourself with a
unique and different point of view — get out
there and fight for that view. Wave signs and
march tall in the way that makes real change.
As grand as you may feel in your throne
of individuality and style behind your social
media profile, pressing the share button isn’t
going to change anyone’s mind.
Stephanie Ntim
Columnist
@elonnewsnetwork
In elementary and middle school we
celebrated Black History Month with a
large-scale performance exhibition. It was
a time-consuming project, in which we
sang old gospel songs such as “We Shall
Overcome” and performed speeches from
notable figures in Black History. I remem
ber my friends and I were not always eager
to wake up early on Saturday mornings for
run-throughs and dress rehearsals.
As I reflect on that experience, I regret
that I was not appreciative of my opportu
nity to narrate such crucial parts of Ameri
can history. Now, I miss those lengthy days
of rehearsals.
I miss our off-key renditions of hymns.
I miss reciting powerful statements by
heroes such as Harriet Tubman and
acclaimed poet and civil rights activist,
Maya Angelou. No other grade school I
know would pay tribute to such intense yet
relevant figures and events. As a child, it
was rare to be given the chance to impart
knowledge of Black History — a history
that was quieted for centuries.
Luckily, the noise of protesters did not
impede the resilient fight for freedom.
The prevailing mood of hope conquered
all fears.
We are fortunate to live in a country
that recognizes the contributions of a
historically disadvantaged population.
Ihere is no industry that has not been
influenced by a person of color.
Academy Award-nominated films such
as Fences, Hidden Figures and Moonlight
are expanding conversations on being
black in the United States. I remember
watching Hidden Figures in a packed the
ater where black people and white people
lauded in one accord the successes of
revolutionary African-American mathe
maticians at NASA.
These exemplary women are included
in a large grouping of pioneers who were
once unrecognized, but history has since
praised. African-American stories like
these should be hidden no more.
It is our moral obligation as a stu
dent body to denounce prejudice and
wrongdoing even when such behavior
becomes normalized in society. For too
long the African-American story has
been dominated by unfair stereotypes
and economic disadvantages.
There is a perpetual struggle for
African-Americans to be recognized as
legitimate inheritors of cultural traditions
founded on the land their ancestors tilled.
And though many are thriving today,
hardships continue to hinder progress. I
challenge all of us to explore these histo
ries to promote healthier relations among
different races.
Black History is a living, breathing
movement that our forbears started with
hopes of cultivating a better environ
ment for us. Their legacy is left to us.
We, as in every human being, are capable
of redirecting longstanding perceptions
of race.
We march on each day motivated by
a desire for improvement. Black History
is not simply a month-long event. It is
an integral part of United States history.
Most importantly, it invigorates us in
every season to crusade against bigotry
and racism.
Thank you, champions of change, for
your battle cries and teary eyes. I know
you would smile at us for our accom
plishments. We will continue to press
onward, unmoved and unshaken by
obstacles ahead.
As Martin Luther King Jr. once said,
“Well, I don’t know what will happen now.
We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it
really doesn’t matter with me now, because
I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I’ve
looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised
Land. I may not get there with you. But
I want you to know tonight, that we, as a
people, will get to the Promised Land!”
We honor the bravery of our heroes with
perseverance and determination in mind.
We shall overcome because the mountain-
top is in sight, not far from reach.