H -°, L 6° | Tomorrow: 
H 18°, L 6°It is true that society has developed in such a way that certain behavior is anticipated based upon certain sociological, geographical or religious heritage. Geographical distinctions are likely the simplest to discuss and compare. Southerners are expected to like guns and trucks. East coasters are expected to be pompous and wealthy. Midwesterners are expected to be kind and generous (and, of course, are). These sets of stereotypes and preconceived notions of behavior cause us to quickly generalize an individual’s expected choices the moment we begin to know who they are.
For those of you who do not know me personally, I tend to be a bit of a contrarian: constantly tending to disagree with the consensus of those in my presence and defying the trends of my geopolitical and religious origins. Eternally astray in a sea of viewpoints, I usually happen to — subconsciously or otherwise — choose viewpoints with which many people in my day-to-day life take issue. Be it my support for both Republicans and the decriminalization of marijuana, I am inclined to ostracize more than I convert.
As an example, I have a Bush/Cheney sticker on my bag that I carry around from class to class. Just as any politically involved student ought to, I feel strongly about my views and am proud to lend my support to those whom I believe deserve it. That being the case, I innocently thought nothing was wrong with the act in and of itself. So I walk around, all day long, carrying this sticker visible for all of Madison to see. And then I run into one of my friends, who, upon seeing the sticker, noted how disgusting it was. I am certain many of you agree with those sentiments.
Now, because this person is my friend, I know that she was ultimately joking: she said as much afterward. I then asked her how she would feel if I told her that the Kerry/Edwards stickers many students proudly carry on their backpacks disgust me? How would she feel if the anti-Bush pins, posters, flyers, street vendors and engravings in the sidewalk offended my moral sensibilities, filling me with feelings of profound aversion? Her answer was the obvious one: she would not like that one bit. Nevertheless, for some reason people seem to think it’s OK to do the exact same thing to those who disagree with them.
I know my friend was joking — and I can only hope the others I have encountered that have reacted similarly were as well. But I don’t think they were. In the week or so that I have been carrying around this sticker on my bag, I have received generally the same reactions. While there have been a few positive comments (which, I will admit, pleasantly surprised me), by and large the sticker has been met with responses ranging from confused second glances, glares from eyes filled with fire and rage, name calling and even outright heckling. It is truly as if, simply by supporting a different candidate than the one that is more popular in Madison, I am somehow unwelcome here.
No one would ever admit to this. No one would ever claim that this is true, and many would adamantly deny any possibility that this is true. Perhaps that is indicative, by virtue of that fact itself, that my sentiments are unfounded. The simple truth that many would be loathe to prescribe to such feelings might be enough to dissuade my fears.
But it doesn’t.
I cannot help but feel as though my unpopular views here in Madison somehow effectuate my status as a second-class citizen. I can be here, but only because those who believe in the popular viewpoint won’t force me out. I sometimes wonder how many wish they could.
Just as much of the student body has strong beliefs about American politics and the views that they hold dear, those who disagree with the Madison consensus do as well. Those who dissent hold every conclusion that seems so obvious, so simple and so basic to appear almost universal with equal conviction as those who do not. Over the past few years, Madison has become my home, and I truly cherish the time I spend here. There is no other university I would rather attend. Only as of late have I actually felt like a stranger in my home. I always knew my viewpoints are unpopular with many of the students on this campus, but it never hit me in such a bold way until now.
Some say we learned everything we need to know in kindergarten. Beyond finger-painting and the alphabet, we did learn something fundamental: the golden rule. Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated. Respecting the views of those who disagree is the very foundation of a functioning civil society. Maybe we need to work to relearn this simple lesson before we really ever can expect to have a stronger America.
Zach Stern ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in political science.
IP hash: 2cdaa4b6
Boo hoo.
You’re a second class citizen because you’re a Republican? No. You’re a second class citizen because everything you believe in is wrong. From the war on terror, to your retarded ass “Ownership Society” to lowering taxed while fighting a gigantic war, frankly my friend, you’re feeling second class because your leadership has left you that way. Oh, and man do I hate hearing about conserverative students and how they feel uncomfortable on campus. You know why you feel uncomfortable? Because everything you’re learning is showing you that you’re wrong and it makes you question your own assumptions. Your own premises are being shaken to their core and it makes you, uncomfortable. Well it should. Because you’re wrong.
IP hash: 9cb1fe86
I would respect your decision to support Bush more if I thought that it was not some “contrarian” attempt to distinguish yourself from popular thought among your demographic. Rather than make you uncomfortable, you seem to revel in being noticed for your “unique” political position. Good luck with that. That being said, you are correct about the lack of dialogue or dissenting opinions in Madison. The general consensus seems to be that if it is not an ideology held by the students, then you should shout it down or find other ways to mute dissenting opinions. Today’s quest for knowledge does not seem to involve as much “sifting and winnowing” as it does shouting obscenities and making a general ass of yourself. Such is life.
IP hash: 45b70c37
Some of the people who comment here are idiots!
Yes, it’s true that (almost) everything you believe in as a Republican is wrong. Still, this country was founded on the belief that you are free to be as hopelessly mixed up as you are. Last semester, I heard my TA’s officemate describing his philosophy of grading. He said that students had to be able to tell the difference between facts and opinions. In making arguments, they should use both. If they are wrong on facts, they lose credit. No matter how wrong they are on opinions, they still get full credit if the average objective observer might find their argument persuasive.
That’s you: your argument could be persuasive to the average objective observer who doesn’t know any better, but your opinions are completely wrong. But you should be completely free to hold them, without suffering these ridiculous insults from closeminded jerks.
IP hash: 1308b269
I don’t think the golden rule has anything to do with respecting someone’s views. I respect everyone as a person but I don’t have to respect their opinion’s, views, or actions, and I wouldn’t expect anyone else to respect mine if they disagreed strongly with me. For those things, respect has to be earned and I have every right to show my disrespect for someone who thinks that protesting the government is unpatriotic (just an example, I’m not saying that you hold that view) just as I have a right to show my disrespect for someone who thinks its ok to molest children (an extreme example).
IP hash: 38c36efe
At least you are still a second class citizen, the facist enemies of civilization execute you if “everything you believe in is wrong”.
Much as I disagree with some of Bush’s policies, winning World War IV is more important.
“The 20th century ended with a single surviving model of human progress, based on non-negotiable demands of human dignity, the rule of law, limits on the power of the state, respect for women and private property and free speech and equal justice and religious tolerance.”
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110005558
“If you want passivity and wallowing in victim culture, the Dems will do. If you want to win this thing, Bush is the only guy running.”
http://www.suntimes.com/output/steyn/cst-edt-steyn05.html
PS to Know-It-All Liberal Maybe you should look into learning about “Groupthink” and “Peer Pressure” if you aren’t too busy “knowing it all” and “never being wrong”.
IP hash: 1308b269
Well Bush has already claimed that we can’t win the war on “Terror” (as he calls it). There’s no evidence that Kerry or Democrats in general are any less agressive when it comes to terrorism, and the fact that you think so shows how little you know about US foreign policy in general, and Kerry’s voting record. Good try, but you’re going to have to find some evidence that supports your contention.
IP hash: 9b8d5501
i am foreign exchange student. i find politics very confusing in this country. Why is democrats not taking a stronger position on the economy and why do you not address issue in your article sir? please, do you like table tennis?
IP hash: 1308b269
It’s good to see that we have a racist troll impersonating foreign exchange students in here. Way to add to the quality of the debate.
IP hash: 9b8d5501
why you call me a racist? that is innapropriate. please apologize.
IP hash: 113e161f
Keep being a proud conservative. I graduated 3 years ago and felt just as you do now. Just remeber one thing about liberals, it all comes down to envy.
Generally and plain speaking, liberals and the majority of Madison students are losers and they always will be. They won’t go anywhere because they can’t take the pain. It’s easy to hate successful people— Look at all who wish failure on Tiger Woods just for being the best. I often hear, “it’s unfair that he wins all the time.” Losers— and almost always comes from the mouth of a envious liberal. Its human nature.
In the real world, liberal policy doesn’t work and never has. I am a futures trader and everyday my job is to speculate in worldwide markets. Trust me- liberal policy is a ALWAYS a sell. Ignore your professors economic beliefs…they are wrong, the market will tell you what is rig
IP hash: f5289fac
“He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression. For if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” — Thomas Paine, patriot and political philosopher
IP hash: 5e1ca0b3
I have had similar experiences at the UW campus. One of the lessons I have learned is that, for all its claims of tolerance for diverse ideas, the campus population does not admit much conservative thought as being tolerable. Principled conservative thought is unpalatable and immensely disagreeable to so many who claim to “value diversity” while teaching that “hate is not a family value.” I am not going to pretend that I find the “progressive” (read “socialist”) thought of the liberal mainstream delightful. But then, I don’t claim to value diversity for its own sake.
IP hash: 4aad0733
What I have noticed here is that UW has one view point and other schools have others. In the end it will be the votes that count and determine who has the mandate to guide us through the next 4 years. Not a bunch of anonymous folks on this site. Thank God.
Father of a UW student
IP hash: e9bd95a1
At least they didn’t rip up your sticker, or beat you down.
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/007865.php
In the photo below, three-year-old Sophia Parlock cries while sitting on her father’s shoulders. Her Bush-Cheney sign was grabbed by Democratic thugs and ripped to pieces, reducing the child to tears. We are picking up more and more reports of this kind of behavior by Democrats on the campaign trail. A week or two ago, this partisan violence, once unheard of in Minnesota politics, occurred at the Minnesota State Fair when Democratic thugs roughed up a couple of Republican college students.
IP hash: 62f4cee0
Oh that’s not at all like the people attending the Republican National Convention who kicked the protester after she fell to the ground. Yeah, ripping up the sign was stupid but it’s nothing compared to how brutal Republicans can be when they feel like they have the power to do whatever they want.
IP hash: 21826332
I think Democrats AND Republicans need a time-out.
IP hash: 1308b269
Oh and you might want to check out that “sign grabbing” story before posting about it. Apparently this has happened to the same guy for 3 consecutive election cycles. What a strange coincidence. He couldn’t be staging it or making it up, could he?
IP hash: 38c36efe
ALL the people kicked a protestor? Was it one of the spitting, cursing protestors?
A cage with razor wire on top, that’s where the Democrats kept all protestors at their convention - do you think that the Republicans should follow their lead?
IP hash: f5289fac
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040916/480/wvrs10309162250
Happened to the same guy? It was a three-year old girl. You have any links to the “3 consecutive election cycles” story?
And please, don’t use anything pointing to CBS.
IP hash: f5289fac
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/007865.php
UPDATE: A number of lefty sites have gone ballistic over this post. Some point to news reports indicating that Mr. Parlock has been assaulted by Democrats, to one degree or another, in two prior elections. This, they suggest, means that he must be some kind of a fraud. To me, it sounds like an indictment of West Virginia Democrats, not Parlock. The other tack that some lefties have taken is to say that no one should take a young child to a political event. In other words, we Democrats are so vicious, so violent and so unpredictable that you should not bring young children to a public place if there is a danger that Democrats may be around. An odd defense, in my opinion.
Here is the apology from the president of the sign ripper’s union.
The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades believes in the fundamental right for civil discourse, freedom of speech and activism to support our candidates and issues.
What happened in Huntington, West Virginia yesterday is an affront to everything we, as a union, pride ourselves to represent. We extend our apologies to the Parlock family, especially Sophia, for the distress one of our overzealous members caused them.
I have personally taken steps to address this issue internally, and will take immediate disciplinary action to the fullest extent allowed under U.S. Department of Labor regulations and the constitution of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.
It is my hope that this incident reminds all of our members that every last citizen in this country has the right to express his or herself freely. Not one single one of us has the right to tell them otherwise.
General President James A. Williams The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
http://www.ibpat.org/news/WVa.html
IP hash: 21826332
I think you people need a time-out too.
IP hash: 8a52fe6d
Ironic that you would speak of respecting opposing viewpoints while supporting a candidate who will do anything to silence opposition…even if that opposition is the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq. Yes, respecting others is a good thing. We can start by supporting a candidate who won’t ignore the First Ammendment.
IP hash: 5e7ed62e
Good to see you’re keeping that most American of traditions going, namely dissent. Hope all is well and that my fellow liberals aren’t giving you too hard of a time.
Take it easy, DFoody, VPKK-Chicago
IP hash: 96b1298f
I can say that I’ve had a positive experience as a conservative on campus. Took a Women in Politics class my final semester with Prof. Tripp. 118 ladies and I (the male WASP in the group) had the opportunity to “exchange ideas” on things like voting quotas, Title IX, and women’s lib in general. My viewpoints contrasted with those of almost everyone in the room, including the prof., but my voice was never quieted, and I was always given the opportunity to participate and share my opinions. It was a great experience, and showed me that tolerance and diversity can actually be found on UW’s campus.