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Page 10 • Friday, November 13, 2015 opinion The Gustavian Weekly Mock the Political System and It Will Mock You Back Matthew Glaser Opinion Editor ne of the more popular topics for people to write and talk about currently Ois how the political system in the United States has started to take the appearance of a big joke. With people like Donald Trump lasting so long as a front- runner in the GOP race it’s easy to see why. At the beginning of the semester, Senior Opinion Columnist Logan Boese wrote a piece titled “Why I’m Voting for Kanye in 2020” and another writer, First Year Opinion Col- Creative Commons umnist Megan Bertrand, wrote It can be easy to fall into a pit of despair when watching politics. Often what gets covered is what is sensational and is “The Farce that is Politics”. most entertaining for viewers, rather than what may be more serious and substantial. While I wholeheartedly agree with these two fine writers in on what will make the biggest abyss and the abyss will stare changed. Yet stopping there dia know they can cover serious sentiment, the practice of point- buck. Yet, to react to this as back into you. isn’t doing enough. Ditching out candidates without needing a ing out what our system and viewers by endorsing a satirical If you think the political pro- completely from the political spectacle like Trump to make candidates lack doesn’t go far candidate or refraining from the cess and media have devolved process leaves decision in the money. That they don’t need enough, so I would like to move political system all together isn’t into a collection of jokes and hands of those who want to to dedicate disproportionate the conversation a bit further. helpful. sensationalism, then protesting keep it from being fixed. This coverage to Hillary Clinton to Both Boese and Bertrand Endorsing satirical candi- by making satirical jokes (sup- isn’t a problem that can be fixed make a buck. make a clear point that politics dates, such as Deez Nuts (Yes, porting a fictional candidate for by mere protest. There needs to But as citizens, to support has become, largely, a spectacle he’s real. He polled at 8% in example) only adds to the pool be involvement in the process Sanders just because he is dif- of the media. Different candi- Iowa and Minnesota), is less of a of jokes. Some people will real- to change it. There needs to be a ferent isn’t necessarily the best dates compete for the spotlight protest against a flawed system ize that endorsing Deez Nuts is push for more sincere and “real” plan either. If you don’t agree and time in front of Americans, and more of a show of apathy a form of protest. Others though candidates by those that care with a candidate’s positions, and the more outrageous a can- towards really making a differ- will jump on the joke, spread it, about the future of our country. supporting him/her because didate is the more likely they are ence. I have no doubt that there and do nothing more. They’ll This seems to be one of the he/she isn’t corporate or sen- to get time. Being sensational as are people who genuinely care see the system as flawed, stop reasons that Bernie Sanders is sational isn’t engaging with a candidate in any sense is good about politics and get fed-up there, and the media will profit so popular with millennials. the political process in a truly for media business as it draws with the shenanigans that occur off the joke. He is seen by many as someone beneficial way. That said, there in viewers and increases their in national media. The criticisms offered by who isn’t in it for the money, likely isn’t one candidate who ability to make profits. As a form of protest these Boese, Bertrand, and others are and who isn’t trying to cause a fits your views perfectly. But Due to this monetary in- people choose to endorse sa- important. I in no way mean to spectacle. He is viewed as a pub- there are probably a few you centive, coverage of politics tirical candidates. The problem denigrate them. It’s extremely lic figure without a corporate could learn to like. has ceased to be purely about with this is that it feeds back important to realize that things agenda. Supporting candidates Active citizenship takes time politics, and instead focuses into the problem. Stare into the are broken and need to be like Bernie Sanders lets the me- and effort. As college students it can be difficult to find the time in our busy schedules to research candidates’ positions and ideologies. Unless you get Opinion Section Editor the chance to discuss politics in your classes or are a political junky, it’s hard to know what’s going on. Luckily there is time. Sit down Wanted every few weeks and check some of the polls, google some candidates from different par- ties, and try to keep a general idea of what’s going on. If some- Gain experience in managing others. one really strikes you as worth doing more research on than re- search away. If you have trouble deciding that’s fine. Things will get easier as the field narrows Be a leader of a team. down. Just don’t shrug off the process. Don’t just look at the antics and shenanigans of a few can- Write Opinions! didates and give up. Don’t think this all doesn’t matter, that it’s all just a joke. Stay informed, stay active, and put in a little bit email [email protected] to apply of effort to change things. If we all make a little effort, it’ll go a long way. Editor | Matthew Glaser opinion Friday, November 13, 2015 • Page 11 (White) Rebel Without a Cause associated (to no small extent) At Spring Valley High School, with drinking and partying. a teacher called a sheriff’s depu- They had a game day uniform, ty to remove a sixteen-year-old football jerseys, construction student after she refused to put boots, and striped overalls. The her phone away during class. school administration, citing The video shows the deputy past incidents of gameday mis- then flipping the girl out of her conduct, attempted to disband seat and dragging her across the group by banning their the floor. The man has since beloved overalls. been fired. Many people, from The parents of the boys threat- the sheriff of the county to, ened to take the administration The View commentator, Raven to court for violating freedom of Symone, have placed the blame speech. The boys were just be- of the incident on the “very dis- ing boys, trying to have fun and ruptive and very disrespectful” get everyone involved in school behavior of the student. Emma Schmidtke spirit, they said. Fox 9 picked I think back to my home- Opinion Columnist up the story, interviewed the town community’s reaction to superintendent and the mother the overall-clad boys, and our of one of the boys. One day, the society’s sympathy towards here’s something delicious boys came to school wearing teenage rebels in general. We about hometown drama their overalls and refused to romanticize teenage rebellion as after you’ve gone off to go home and change when the part of the magic of growing up. Tcollege. My high school years principal asked them to. A cell From James Dean in Rebel With- were hard enough without all phone video of the boys and out a Cause to Judd Nelson in the shenanigans going on in the the administration standing The Breakfast Club, delinquents hallways. But when my school and yelling at each other in the are portrayed as handsome, started popping up in the local hallways went viral. tortured souls up against a cold James Dean (above) played teenage rebel Jim Stark. Media and news last year, I gobbled the The school security guards are and outdated society. These fig- popular culture often downplay or admire rebellious white drama up from the safe dis- present in the video, but they ures make us nostalgic for a time teens, while convicting minorities that act similiarly. tance of my dorm room. Like don’t lay a hand on the group when we could make mistakes everyone else, apparently, I’m a of boys refusing to budge. The and find ourselves. put her phone away. Defiance is and keeping everyone safe, so sucker for a good tale of teenage community agreed the boys The media comes up with any romantic for white teenagers, often fail in avoiding violence. rebellion. should have done as they were number of excuses to not feel but for black teenagers it can We need to question why white The tale: for decades, my high told, but the administration the same for black teenagers be used to justify violence and teenage rule breakers are seen as school has had an unofficial took the brunt of the blame who come into conflict with au- even murder. normal but black teens are seen group of mostly white, upper for gloriously mishandling the thority. Michael Brown report- We need to stop asking our- as dangerous. class senior boys who would group’s behavior. I didn’t think edly stole cigars and grabbed selves what rules the black teen- Because if making mistakes sit in the front row of pep ral- this shouting match was entirely at Officer Darren Wilson before agers broke but why the police really is part of growing up, lies and football games and odd, until another video, this being shot.

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