When I walk by the Free Speech Steps I’m always embarrassed.
Thisis our forum for ideas? This is where the future leaders andprofessionals of the world congregate to gain perspective?
Could have fooled me. If it weren’t for its name, I would know theFree Speech Steps only as an arena for advertising and preaching. AllI see are flyers and Bibles. No debates, no politics and no unity.
Aside from infrequent protests, the only time I see a large numberof people congregated on the steps is to laugh at some fanaticperverting Christianity. We all know Church Lady and Father Doobie,that nutty couple who use the words “hell,” “whore” and”masturbation” to draw a crowd.
That’s what grabs our attention. Two nuts and an eighth gradevocabulary.
On top of that, the response to these people is pathetic. I easilycomprehend mental delusions, because I have read about them and seenthem before. I will never understand why students have to jeer,insult and throw things in order to deal with the presence of twocrazy people.
Have you been to the skids and met the guy who thinks he is theMessiah? Did you throw things at him? Church Lady and Father Doobieare either crazy or starved for attention. Either way, I would liketo think this nation’s youth is above abusing the sick.
The whole thing is ridiculous. Our steps are ridiculous.
Our Free Speech Steps don’t even have a “posse.” You know, a groupof people who sit around and talk on the steps about issues. That’swhat the steps are for — random conversation and exposure to newideas.
Not irrational, misrepresenting, religious diatribes.
I’m tired of our Free Speech Steps being overrun by religiouszealots and those flier guys who are constantly checking out the”tail” at San Diego State University.
I know this school has more to it than what the Free Speech Stepsexude. People tell me this school is overly apathetic, and sometimesI believe it.
But other times I’ll see some girl, hidden by the crowd, flippingthrough a Bible, trying to find a passage she knows of that willcondemn the Church Lady’s actions. I see some guy standing in thecorner holding his tongue, dying to say something intelligent andprofound about religion, but the pathetic state of debate on oursteps censors him.
I see people with ideas, but no outlet.
That ends today. Yes — right now. Today from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.,and then from 3:30 p.m. until I get tired, I’m going to be on thosesteps. And from now on, I’ll be sitting on those steps during mybreaks and after school — so prove to me there are people that care.Help me put life in the steps.
Say something to me. Anything.
Approach me and tell me what you thought of this column, or any ofmy other columns. Tell me what you think of The Daily Aztec, the war,A.S., MEChA or the weather. Agree with me, disagree with me orapproach me confused.
Call me out for a debate. I’m game. I’m not the best at spokendebates (hence the writing), but I’ll try.
If you have nothing to say to me, here’s some ammunition: I’mPro-Life, against gun control, for national health care, against thewar on drugs and strongly believe in campaign finance, educationaland judicial reform. These are heated (and common) issues that mostpeople have an opinion on — so say something.
If I’m not there, sit on the steps and wait for somebody to talkto you. Talk to the person next to you.
It is my hope that the students at SDSU can create a real socialforum.
The steps should be a place for beginnings and an epicenter forthought. College should be a free exchange of ideas, and yourclassmates should be your colleagues.
In class we should learn academia, but on the steps, we shouldlearn what professors can’t (or fear to) teach us. We should learnthe truth about our politics, our country and our institutions. Weshould learn human emotion, where others are coming from and howpeople feel about different issues.
We should stop settling for those sad and sorry steps. Join me inthe practice that could be our greatest professor — free speech.
— Joe Zarro is an undeclared sophomore.
–This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of TheDaily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com.
