Recently, one of my students created an artwork that spoke about his ability to question, stating it is as integral to learning, as sunlight is to plant growth. Teaching design foundations, I believe, is not only about new jargon and a set of visual tools but about a way of seeing and investigating the narratives being told, through media, in society.
His concept got me thinking about the current political climate, which I have concerns about. With unparalleled support behind the administration of George W. Bush (a recent Gallup poll showed an approval rating of about 80%), I wonder who holds our nation’s leadership accountable. Who questions their decisions?
Don’t get me wrong, I support unity. I’ll stand with a person of any color, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith-based community or, for that matter, an atheist. However, I find it difficult hearing “God Bless America,” not because I don’t want the United States to be prosperous, but because it implies a lack of blessing on all others. Isn’t the extremist notion of a divine being favoring one group over another what got us into this mess?
So, why are our leaders pandering to similar extremists in the U.S.? I find it ironic that at the same time our government is suspending the constitutional right to due process of law — by keeping hundreds of uncharged people behind bars — Bush wants to expand existing laws guaranteeing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to include unborn children. Now he’s going so far as declaring Jan. 20 “National Sanctity of Human Life Day.”
I doubt Thomas Jefferson intended a victory for the anti-choice lobby when authoring the Declaration
of Independence.
I find it shameful and disturbing that the Bush Administration is using Sept. 11 and the anti-terrorism campaign to advance the agenda of a small but vocal group of domestic terrorists. “Pro-lifers” who terrorize health care workers are seeing their agenda advanced under the cloak of unity against terror. I am outraged that my support of unity, in the pursuit of justice, is being subverted to advance the domestic cause of extremists.
I think it’s time that supporters of choice and civil liberties tell our political leaders that there is a difference between unity against terror and domestic policy. I’ll support the administration of Bush in the fight against terror, but how dare unity be exploited to advance divisive
domestic politics?
The cultural climate today incorrectly equates questioning our leaders with being unpatriotic. It is a democratic duty to question them. Our government has rightly been demanding other world governments take a stand against terrorism. This is a bad time for Bush to get confused about it at home. Unlawful intimidation and violence committed against health care providers should not be rewarded. Our leaders need some intense questioning, perhaps through it, true unity and justice will grow.
Daniel Peabody is a graduate teaching fellow
in the art department.