The final MSJ of 2001 is a fitting opportunity to look back on some of the issues that raised some eyebrows during the past year. In addition to the words of kindness and praise that the MSJ Team has received, there have also been certain issues that incited the ire of some readers and for which Peter Baldwin, Moses Lee and myself have been in the firing line. The old saying goes "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen". The MSJ Office has at times this year been a veritable pressure cooker, but I am glad to say that we have held our heads high throughout. Not one for complacency or self-righteousness about my views, my feelings ranged from utter disbelief, hurt, embarrassment, guilt, lack of comprehension, and downright anger every time I was confronted with another MSJ "situation" (and boy have we had a few of those this year!).
One of my very first editorials parodied the issue of the stray U.S. plane which flew into Chinese airspace and which was being held by the local Chinese authorities. The following week, I received a stinging personal email from a student who I knew casually, which tore into me, accusing me of everything from grossly irresponsible reporting to high treason, simply because I looked at the situation from a light-hearted, metaphorical perspective instead of his preferred militaristic angle. (At the same time, I also received a number of compliments from other students about the humorous way in which I approached a sensitive topic.) However, it was the letter of criticism, harsh but extremely articulate and not entirely unreasonable, which left me somewhat reeling. This was to be the first of a number of occasions on which I had to summon the strength of my logic and convictions to defend my right of opinion, which, on page two of the MSJ each week, was now being communicated on a wider scale than ever before.
I quote from my Editor's Note a week later: ".My Editor's Note is not meant to be controversial nor to offend. It is meant to be one person's expression of anything that is happening in the world, the school, or if I run out of topics, my own little life. That is both the privilege and burden of having a column to write each week. All students however, have that same right and have the power to be heard on a weekly basis through this newspaper . This column never was, is, or will be, a presentation to the world of how the UMBS officially views anything. To think that, would be preposterous and nave, especially from the readers of this paper. This is a completely student-run newspaper in a school where there are as many views as there are students, races, religions, political affiliations and life philosophies. Mine is but one of them. Likewise, Moses' views, in the column next to mine, are an expression of his opinions. This is the nice thing about having at least two people's views: Moses, as a BBA, often writes about issues which affect or interest him (mostly an unhealthy obsession with how MBAs apparently mistreat BBAs), which often do not coincide with my opinion of them, or are even a non-issue for me. So while he writes about how BBAs are struggling to get internships this year, I write about the MAP program, or my brother's travels in Central America, or what is going on in the school. So, with two people the Editor-in-Chief title, you have opposing views and interests. Try a couple of thousand students for size!."
After a number of such incidents occurred, I became a veritable expert on "opinion self-defense", responding to situations in which certain readers felt that it was their right to personally condemn me or my colleagues, rather than focusing on the issues at hand. From the job interview bidding issue, to the (now greatly improved) Student Lounge coffee-supply article controversy, to the views on the 'War on Terrorism', to the recent suicide bombings in Israel, I have always been proud of my personal (and the MSJ's) open-mindedness, we have welcomed challenging opinions and have put them into our Opinions section. I personally relish trying to understand someone else's point of view, debate our respective beliefs and, if necessary, agree to disagree without challenging the other person's intelligence, character or other personal traits. I have always tried to depersonalize my views and emphasize that they were merely one person's opinions.
To subsequently receive responses that were personally directed at me (verbally or physically) or at my colleagues at the MSJ was not only an indication of a lack of tolerance, but was also entirely unacceptable. I contrast these very personal attacks with the very wide array of Opinions letters from various students, which have focused on the issues at hand without insulting their classmates. We have gladly published these.
I have felt increasingly vindicated by the MSJ's policy of allowing everyone to have a voice, including most of those whose views were extreme. The funny truth is that we know we have done a decent job when we have either not offended anyone, or when we have somehow unwittingly managed to offend people on both sides of an issue. The latter is not due to our seeking controversy (on the contrary, we have an easier time of it when we do not), but is an indication to us that we cannot be entirely wrong or one-sided if we provoke such a variety of responses. To those who believe that Peter and I (as we seem to be the 'opinionated ones') are the devil incarnate, I want to remind you that for every letter we receive complaining about one thing, we receive an equal number of letters complimenting us or, more likely, complaining about something else entirely!
Yes folks, it's true: We do not all think alike and we will never agree on all things, but I ask you to think before the next time you feel like writing poisonous letters personally aimed at the holder of an opinion different to yours, be it one of the MSJ crew or another student. Returning to my "kitchen" metaphor, this is not a sign that we cannot "stand the heat", but in fact a sign that we stood much heat throughout the year and dealt with it well.
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