2008 Woodie Awards
Stop thinking about just yourself
Letter to the editor
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: Opinion
I am appalled by what I have observed in people on and off campus.
The height of their self-interest - thanks, Facebook and Myspace - has reached the point where they fail to show concern for issues bigger than them. There was a recent report released by the San Diego State University about a study (titled: Egos Inflating over Time) conducted by five researchers for 25 years. Over 16,000 students were interviewed from 1982 to 2006, and based on their responses to survey questions, the Generation Y (sometimes known as Generation Me) is the most narcissistic and selfish - yep, that's our generation they're talking about!
Sad, ain't it?
We have the power to do good and tackle crises head-on. AIDS, racism, bigotry, corruption in governments and abused puppies … the list goes on.
Yet, when I look around, I see people who give those issues very little regard because it has nothing to do with them, and also, some of them are just downright callous. I definitely agree with that "crazy liberal," David Whitacre, when he said the apathy of our fellow human beings is sickening!
While I am on the subject, I would like to use this chance to ask Mr. Brian Rocca just how is David Whitacre's flamboyance relevant to the issue of apathy? Also, I would love to see how Brian plans to dismiss the desire to think about something bigger on oneself for the good of the world as "liberal propaganda."
Moving on, as a member of a student organization, I was able to firsthand see the extent of apathy's poison. The simplest task of getting people motivated is no different from pushing a boulder uphill.
I know that the aforementioned issues are so negative and depressing to dwell on, but they are not going to go away if we ignore them. It will not help either if we just polish the surface to distract ourselves - a rotten apple with a gorgeous skin is still a rotten apple.
Fortunately, apathy is easily cured. All it requires is some time out of your life. Just put down that cell phone or stop blogging about what you had for lunch and go out and learn about something that is most dear to you … and then take action!
Garrett Noble
Studio Art
Sophomore
The height of their self-interest - thanks, Facebook and Myspace - has reached the point where they fail to show concern for issues bigger than them. There was a recent report released by the San Diego State University about a study (titled: Egos Inflating over Time) conducted by five researchers for 25 years. Over 16,000 students were interviewed from 1982 to 2006, and based on their responses to survey questions, the Generation Y (sometimes known as Generation Me) is the most narcissistic and selfish - yep, that's our generation they're talking about!
Sad, ain't it?
We have the power to do good and tackle crises head-on. AIDS, racism, bigotry, corruption in governments and abused puppies … the list goes on.
Yet, when I look around, I see people who give those issues very little regard because it has nothing to do with them, and also, some of them are just downright callous. I definitely agree with that "crazy liberal," David Whitacre, when he said the apathy of our fellow human beings is sickening!
While I am on the subject, I would like to use this chance to ask Mr. Brian Rocca just how is David Whitacre's flamboyance relevant to the issue of apathy? Also, I would love to see how Brian plans to dismiss the desire to think about something bigger on oneself for the good of the world as "liberal propaganda."
Moving on, as a member of a student organization, I was able to firsthand see the extent of apathy's poison. The simplest task of getting people motivated is no different from pushing a boulder uphill.
I know that the aforementioned issues are so negative and depressing to dwell on, but they are not going to go away if we ignore them. It will not help either if we just polish the surface to distract ourselves - a rotten apple with a gorgeous skin is still a rotten apple.
Fortunately, apathy is easily cured. All it requires is some time out of your life. Just put down that cell phone or stop blogging about what you had for lunch and go out and learn about something that is most dear to you … and then take action!
Garrett Noble
Studio Art
Sophomore
Be the first to comment on this story