Take advantage of your right to be heard
Kimmi Martin
Reflections of a nice girl
As many of you already know, it is virtually impossible to flip through the channels and not see something regarding the Elián Gonzalez case. News broadcasters have camped out in front of his Miami home interviewing neighbors, family friends, legal experts; even the fishermen who resucued Elián. Everyone has something to say. What I think is most profound is the fact that there is one person, with nothing to say: his mother. This woman died in the ocean while trying to give her own son what she believed to be a better life.
Every now and then we hear of immigrants, sailing on rafts made of things unheard of, let alone buoyant. We shake our heads and usually give little thought to what it is they are sailing from. What are they sailing too? I cannot imagine living in a place where I cannot speak freely about the government. Think about how many Bill Clinton jokes you have heard in the last three years? Now, think about someone being killed for laughing at a joke about your leader. In some parts of the world, this happens everyday.
It is fascinating to think that I live in this world where I can receive a free education up to high school. I can apply for financial aid if I need to and someone else pays for my college degree. I could always find a job if I wanted one. If it meant cleaning shoes in the airport, I still get paid. If I were unemployed, I could get money from the government to live off of until I found another job. If I wanted to visit another country, I do not think President Clinton would stand in my way. I could create a magazine and give my political opinions supporting or condemning government officials who were elected. I can do all of that because I am free. But, it could have been a lot worse. That could have been my mom floating on that raft as I clung to an innertube floating to a country 90 miles away.
What we have here is unique. Although, for many Americans, social injustices still occur. People are continuously discriminated against, people are still homeless and there is a lot of improvement that needs to take place. But, we all have the right to question and we all have options.
In this college community, complaints are widespread. Some are valid, and some need a little more thought. It is easy to find the negative in our academic environments without giving adequate recognition to what is positive.
I cannot help but think about a time when I overheard a student athlete complaining about how horrible schools are for not subsidizing athletes. His argument focused on the amount of money his school received from this particular varsity sport and how the people responsible for that were the players who did not see a dime of it. He felt that he was being used. Not once did I hear him say "At least I'm getting an eduaction for free." I wanted to pull him aside and say:
"Do you know how many people would kill to get a degree from your school?"
"Do you know how many people are going to be in so much debt after they graduate from the same place you will?"
"If you are so unhappy, if your school mistreats you so much ... then why don't you just leave?"
You have the option. You have the choice.
I remember when I first decided to attend Saint Mary's. I knew there was not a substantial amount of cultural diversity. I remember my mom telling me that she was not sending me to college to take over any administration buildings. She did however say that no one had the right to disrespect me. I knew that I'd be one of a small number of black women on campus. I did not expect to see "Sophisticates Black Hair Magazine" in the college bookstore. If I wanted to expose myself to a cultural experience, I knew that I'd have to put in some effort. If I wanted to immerse myself in the "black experience" everyday, I would have gone to Spellman College in Atlanta like my mom did. Fortunately, I have the right to complain. As a student, I am in a position of using a system that is designed to work for me. I have options.
I have choices.
You see, part of being who we are today is based on the choices we have made. It is important to question everything and allow our voices to be heard. We all have that opportunity and should take advantage of it. If there is something you agree with, let someone know. If there is something you are appalled with, let someone know. The most important thing is to do something. You have that right. You have that option. You are that lucky.
Kimmi Martin is a senior at Saint Mary's. Her column appears every other Wednesday.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, April 12, 2000
