Colorado State Editorial

At Colorado State University in Fort Collins, the editorial board at The Rocky Mountain Collegian decided to allow the following editorial in the school paper:

"F**k Bush"
"This column represents the views of the Collegian's Editorial Board."

It's no surprise that this two word editorial has received plenty of local and national exposure and plenty of scrutiny to go with that exposure.

Do I feel that the staff could have written a much more productive piece to illustrate the faults of Bush and his administration in the past 6+ years? Yes, of course. Would that have impressed me more than these two words? Again, yes, of course. But, sadly, most people don't care much about politics and what transpires across the globe. My brother, an extremely book smart individual, is clueless about anything political. He doesn't care, because he feels it has nothing to do with him. So, while I, myself, don't feel that this editorial carries much weight with those who actually pay attention to what's going on in the world and who is up-to-date with political happenings, I feel that it may be able to influence some, such as my brother, who has no clue.

The only intention of this piece is shock value. That's it. I have a feeling that these students were perhaps angered in regard to the Michael Meyer situation at the University of Florida, where the young man was tasered while speaking to Senator John Kerry via a mic. This may not be the ONLY event that triggered this shock-appealed editorial, however.

I've read some comments about how Bush wasn't present at the tasering, so it has nothing to do with him. Homeland Security, Airport Security, The Patriot Act, The Military Commissions Act, the Wiretapping Scandal, referring to the Constitution as a piece of paper, among many other issues that have hit at the very core of American freedom do revolve around the current president. So, while Bush may not have been in Gainesville the day Meyers was tasered, it's debatable that the president had a heavy influence on the act.

I agree that it's a sad state of affairs when some need shock in order to be woken up from their lifelong slumber, especially in regard to our liberties as Americans, but unfortunately, shock is the remedy for some. Shock will often times divide people, will anger some to a great extent, may create a cult-like following, and will provoke intrigue in others. So, while, I can't say that I will be provoked in any sort of manner from this two word editorial, since I already hold a grand interest in political affairs, especially dealing with our freedoms, I can understand the reasoning for doing so.

What bothers me more, I think, are the comments I've been reading in regard to the editorial. It feels as if the "adults" are using this as a way to bash the education system and to bash "liberals". The words: ignorant, childish, immature, and "a small vocabulary" are also very prevalent. I could understand the usage of the terms "childish" and/or "immature," but not ignorant and not "a small vocabulary." On the grand scale, I feel these people are illustrating their ignorance to a higher degree than the editors at The Collegian, because it didn't sound like (m)any of these commentators were regular readers of the paper. The Collegian has been around for many years, so how can we make claim that the student body in Fort Collins, especially those affiliated with The Collegian, are ignorant based on one two-word editorial piece? That, in itself, is ignorant. If the Collegian, throuhgout all its illustrious years as a college paper, regularly contained such editorial pieces, for shock appeal, with little to no substance, then okay, I may be able to see your side of the argument. But, having never read the paper myself, I'm not going to sit here and ignorantly mutter, "Well, there you go. That one two-word editorial is a direct reflection of the class and intelligence of the students and faculty at the University - ignorant." That would be, for lack of a better word, idiotic. Also, the comments about having a small vocabulary - again, how do they know? Do they regularly read the paper? I doubt it. So, they're going to generalize an entire newspaper and student body based on one two-word editorial that contains one vulgar word? What about in the arts? When characters in films resort to using vulgar language, does that portray the writer(s) to have a small vocabulary? When a comedian resorts to using an expletive, does that illustrate that he/she has a small vocabulary? When a professor, a doctor, a lawyer swear, does that prove that they too have a small vocabulary? No. I don't care what the word is, if any word(s) is/are spoken in a fairly repetitious manner, then that may prove that the person may not have the best vocabulary, but when spread apart, even vulgar terms like the one used in this editorial, certain words can hold power. If one swears on a very consistent basis, then those four-letter words become like any other when speaking to them, but if they're only used in certain predicaments and certain contexts, where the listener knows to take seriously, then it holds a power with it not carried in the previously mentioned situation. So, how can we generalize about these people we don't know? Have we ever sat down and spoken to them personally? Have we read any of their other work? Have we heard any speeches they did in a public speaking course or any reports that they wrote in other courses? No. Again, generalizing in such a manner about people we don't know the slightest bit about illustrates ignorance on our part.

I love how some people feel the need to act in a "perfect" manner when they read or hear about something they may find offensive. Do I feel these students may have been better served with writing a more thorough, thought-provoking editorial? Yes, but I'm not going to sit around and call them ignorant and claim that they have a small vocabulary when I have only have access to two written words on their behalf. Words are powerful. Edgar Allen Poe. Robert Frost. Emily Dickinson. Kurt Vonnegut. Mark Twain. Even some very respected authors and poets have resorted to vulgar language in their writings. Whether we like it or not, these words are part of the American English language, are versatile terms, can carry with them a certain power when used in space and in certain predicaments.

Also, let's look at the original intention of this piece and what it's accomplished. It's intent was to shock and through shock, stir conversation/debate. With how much air-time it has received and online commentary, whether I feel that it was the way to go or not, I believe the editors' mission was accomplished.