Nader issues challenge of activism
By: Matt Jennings, Robin Lamkin
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: News
His call to act did not go unnoticed.
Sophomore Tim Martin said Nader's statement that students had no excuse for inaction was the most effective part of the speech.
"If they [DePauw students] feel powerless, to reclaim their power," Martin said, paraphrasing Nader's argument against excuses for inaction.
There are many barriers that obscure social action, Nader said. Often words act as these obstacles, pushing the real problem to the background. He said many college students get upset about gender, ethnic and racial issues, but do not act upon them.
"And when any society goes berserk over politically incorrect words and phrases and ignores the reality that is torturing people and rendering them extremely unjustly treated, the result is that we're not facing up to reality," Nader said.
Nader promoted free speech on issues that mean most to each individual. He also urged students to exercise rights and to think critically when making important decisions. Individuals must understand how society functions on political, capitalistic and social levels, he continued.
Individuals must educate themselves, he said, so they can decide which political leaders run the United States, which companies and corporations gain control over the economy, what happens to the environment and which scientific breakthroughs are given importance.
Sophomore Darren Viegas took the speech to heart.
"He touched on a lot of key points that are not only important to us but points that we should be concerned about," Viegas said.
Jessie Weasner, coordinator of community service and outreach at the Hartman House, said she appreciated Nader's focus on the importance of civic engagement and thought he made an impact on the audience.
"Some of the things he said were controversial, but controversy is good if it sparks people into action," Weasner said.
One major undercurrent of Nader's speech was his criticism of the Bush administration.
Sophomore Tim Martin said Nader's statement that students had no excuse for inaction was the most effective part of the speech.
"If they [DePauw students] feel powerless, to reclaim their power," Martin said, paraphrasing Nader's argument against excuses for inaction.
There are many barriers that obscure social action, Nader said. Often words act as these obstacles, pushing the real problem to the background. He said many college students get upset about gender, ethnic and racial issues, but do not act upon them.
"And when any society goes berserk over politically incorrect words and phrases and ignores the reality that is torturing people and rendering them extremely unjustly treated, the result is that we're not facing up to reality," Nader said.
Nader promoted free speech on issues that mean most to each individual. He also urged students to exercise rights and to think critically when making important decisions. Individuals must understand how society functions on political, capitalistic and social levels, he continued.
Individuals must educate themselves, he said, so they can decide which political leaders run the United States, which companies and corporations gain control over the economy, what happens to the environment and which scientific breakthroughs are given importance.
Sophomore Darren Viegas took the speech to heart.
"He touched on a lot of key points that are not only important to us but points that we should be concerned about," Viegas said.
Jessie Weasner, coordinator of community service and outreach at the Hartman House, said she appreciated Nader's focus on the importance of civic engagement and thought he made an impact on the audience.
"Some of the things he said were controversial, but controversy is good if it sparks people into action," Weasner said.
One major undercurrent of Nader's speech was his criticism of the Bush administration.
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