Last week I was saddened. Not angry, but as if a great melancholy cloud had descended upon the world. How did we come to this place? Before I discuss the event that struck me greatly, I feel a context for my perspective as well as the greater climate, which in my opinion has orchestrated this grand tragedy, is in due order.

I am an American. I claim affiliation with neither Democrats nor Republicans as I feel they hold equal responsibility for the current stage upon which politics plays out. I do not claim to be an expert on much of anything, but from acceptance of that reality.

I am overjoyed and in fact depend upon those who know my views to be wrong or misguided to challenge me with their reasoning to the contrary. I am open to these contrary opinions in the hopes that my own shortcomings in understanding or knowledge might be filled, allowing my actions to better follow a truer path into the future which relentlessly pushes me forward. I also hope that in expressing my ideas and understandings I might be able to share with an individual in disagreement the opportunity of any insights I may have at this point in my life.

To begin, the standards for political campaigning as I see it in our culture is one expression of our societal norms, which worries me and also contributes its negativity back into the way we learn to interact. While not a definitive, all encompassing reality for all involved, it does appear that our leaders in courting the voting populous spend more time trying to paint their opponent in a negative light rather than engage citizens in explaining their positions and the logical formation which led them to their agenda.

Is this the democracy which our people, as well as those beyond our borders in whose countries we seek to implement our government model, deserve? It is a sad, twisted shell of what it could be which promotes itself in masquerading as a polished masterpiece.

As campaign season picks up again, we can see the ads on any local station as candidates pick at one another, seemingly more intent on holding up opponents character flaws as reasons for their ability to better serve the public rather than any substantial statements on what they stand for. I do recognize that it isn't the only representation put out, but I feel it is a poison which has become far too common.

Do these kinds of messages serve to promote open dialogue, hearing each others positions, and in doing so allow the country as a whole to move forward in a society which promotes respect for one another? I believe it merely serves to ingrain within the citizenry the notion that in embarrassing, making fun of, and humiliating ones opponents do we gain power.

Most recently I witnessed this on our campus during not only Earth Science Week, which was manifested in signs promoting environmental justice, but also during the 32nd Annual Richard R. Baker Philosophy Colloquium entitled 'Environmental Philosophy and the Duties of Citizenship.'

It was in this atmosphere that, in promoting their candidates for upcoming elections, the College Republicans, in giving out free food and I assume educating passers by on their party's ideals and the platforms for the next months vote, engaged in some disappointing tactics. They had hung a PETA sign which read 'People Eating Tasty Animals.' While I myself eat meat and am not the biggest proponent of what some would consider rather extremist practices in pursuing their cause, I do not feel that insulting such groups and those who may support them, even in jest, is a beneficial practice.

I was further disheartened as I heard over a bull horn 'support animal rights, come get a free hot dog and hamburger.' Is this our message? What have we learned? Is this our means of leadership? How can this be serving to do anything but create more conflict, discord, and strife?

I do not know how to change it except that hope we as a university might embrace a higher ground and act as an example to our community, this city, this country. But for now I am sad because I am not sure we have the courage and the character to bring this to our own campus, much less beyond its borders.

Charles Screier
Graduate Student
Mechanical Engineering