Getting real
Commentary
Andrey Fedorov
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: Opinions
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Speaking as someone who is paying at least some objective-minded attention to the conflict in Iraq, there is little doubt in my mind the American presence there will last at the very least another decade, and probably much longer. Still, at 1:30 today, I most certainly will not be in class, and I most certainly will be on Voorhees Mall, right outside Scott Hall on the College Avenue campus. Why? Because all the reasons I have heard against today's protest are either not thought-through fallacies or arrows of smoke aimed at straw men. Hear me out, and see if you agree.
First things first: there are two ways our troops will leave Iraq. Way one - Congress can force a withdrawal by turning off the money. In our electoral atmosphere of 30-second attack ads, however, cutting funds for "the troops" is a kiss of death in the next election for any congressional candidate. It just will not happen. Way two - when a president gives the order. George W. Bush surely will not, but both major parties will be offering candidates probably will - Rep. Ron Paul from the Republican side and Rep. David Kucinich from the Democratic. Neither will win a nomination, and the candidates that are likely to are staying as far away from concrete statements about Iraq as possible. So we are staying in Iraq, at least until 2012, and probably much, much longer.
More important things second: I came to Rutgers to get an education, but going to my classes is only a small fraction of that. If all I wanted from Rutgers is what I can learn in my classes, I could have easily have saved my parents a nice chunk of money, passed some certification exams and proven my productivity as a robot that way. But I am not at Rutgers to become a productive robot, and luckily, most employers do not want productive robots. Employers want people - well-rounded people and interesting people, the kind of people one enjoys a long lunch conversation with and ultimately, people one enjoys working with. So I am not even walking out just to participate in our democracy or to be more civic-minded, although both are great. I am walking out to be better learned about the issues affecting our country and to be a more interesting person - hence, to enjoy life more, to get a better job and be more successful.
I am walking out to not be that guy who either turns mute or sounds like an idiot when the conversation turns political. I am walking out to form a sounder perspective of the world, and a more coherent political view - both vital elements of an education. I am walking out to have my opinions challenged, to see new perspectives and to form new ideas. Why don't you?
Andrey Fedorov is a Rutgers College junior.
First things first: there are two ways our troops will leave Iraq. Way one - Congress can force a withdrawal by turning off the money. In our electoral atmosphere of 30-second attack ads, however, cutting funds for "the troops" is a kiss of death in the next election for any congressional candidate. It just will not happen. Way two - when a president gives the order. George W. Bush surely will not, but both major parties will be offering candidates probably will - Rep. Ron Paul from the Republican side and Rep. David Kucinich from the Democratic. Neither will win a nomination, and the candidates that are likely to are staying as far away from concrete statements about Iraq as possible. So we are staying in Iraq, at least until 2012, and probably much, much longer.
More important things second: I came to Rutgers to get an education, but going to my classes is only a small fraction of that. If all I wanted from Rutgers is what I can learn in my classes, I could have easily have saved my parents a nice chunk of money, passed some certification exams and proven my productivity as a robot that way. But I am not at Rutgers to become a productive robot, and luckily, most employers do not want productive robots. Employers want people - well-rounded people and interesting people, the kind of people one enjoys a long lunch conversation with and ultimately, people one enjoys working with. So I am not even walking out just to participate in our democracy or to be more civic-minded, although both are great. I am walking out to be better learned about the issues affecting our country and to be a more interesting person - hence, to enjoy life more, to get a better job and be more successful.
I am walking out to not be that guy who either turns mute or sounds like an idiot when the conversation turns political. I am walking out to form a sounder perspective of the world, and a more coherent political view - both vital elements of an education. I am walking out to have my opinions challenged, to see new perspectives and to form new ideas. Why don't you?
Andrey Fedorov is a Rutgers College junior.