politicking

So after much thinking, contemplating, pondering, hemming, hawing, musing, and ruminating, I have decided to run for MWU CDM class council.  You all know that I hate politics, so this is somewhat surprising to most.  However, I see a serious need for good leadership within our class, so I decided to step up to the plate.  Because Midwestern is a new school, there is a lot of opportunity to shape it into our ideal, and I want the chance to do that.  I am running for class council representative.  This means that I have a vote on our class council, on the student council (of the whole dental college), and I represent our class to the MWU Senate.  It'll be an interesting election because a lot of new people have decided to run and most of them will make fantastic candidates.  I'll be sure to keep you posted on election results.

WARNING: I am going on another political rant.  Stop reading if you don't want to hear it.  I am embarrassed to live in the state of Arizona right now.  (Most of you know this feeling.  Were you not also embarrassed to be living in Illinois when Blago was being impeached? I know I was!  He thought he could get away with selling a Senate seat?  Really?)  In addition to passing that ridiculous immigration law, Arizona has now passed a law banning ethnic studies in public schools.  (Also, I read in another source that the state school's chief that was pushing the bill never actually sat in on a class that he claimed "taught students to resent another race".  Then how do you know they were teaching that?  He believes that white people are oppressing the Latinos?  Well, you kind of are oppressing them by passing laws banning ethnic studies!)  Besides, ethnic studies classes do not promote racism.  They actually help prevent it by promoting healthy cultural identities and facilitating discussion about interactions between races.  While I have never actually taken an ethnic studies class, they were quite popular at NU.  Many of my friends, ones of many different races, took them and spoke quite highly of all they had learned.  It is a shame that the kids in Arizona are being deprived of learning about culture and race in the proper environment.  We can not be "colorblind".  Race does exist.  Culture does exist.  Only when we understand it and discuss it openly and honestly can we strive to eliminate the prejudice and misunderstanding that has created hatred and divided people of different backgrounds.