So long, Angel

Angel Rivera makes me want to be a Republican.\nThis semester, I've been serving dual roles at the Indiana Daily Student as reporter and columnist. The most difficult condition of playing both Bob Woodward and Bob Novak is keeping the two separate -- my opinions can in no way affect my objectivity in news writing.\nSo if I've got issues with insects -- I detest those six-legged beasts, always stealing Yogi's picnic basket -- I can't let that come between me and a good objective ant farm story.\nAnd despite a flippant claim from one local tussle-happy politician that I've been "recruited" by a political party, I've done an above-average job keeping the milk away from the cream.\nBut I'll say it once more, just to get it out there.\nAngel Rivera makes me want to be a Republican.\nAngel (pronounced: AHN-hel), who graduates this semester, was the chairman of IU College Republicans. I say "was" because the leaders of the IU right selected new officers this week. I mean no slight to Andrew Lauck, IUCR's new head, but the only slot that sticks out more than "events director" (Maggie Daniels, our new governor's freshman daughter, now owns that position) is the absence of Angel at the top.\nBipartisanism permeates the air in our era of red and blue states. It would be easier to find fresh air in West Lafayette than it would be to find an undecided voter on our campus. The reason I love Angel is not that he bleeds Republican Red but still respects those who bleed Blue, Green, Maze and Cream. \nAngel exudes dignity. He would never write a letter suggesting a senior writer was recruited by the Libertarian Party. The IU senior has too much class to dish petty digs.\nNo IU student in the past three years has done more to get other students -- and not just Republicans -- interested in politics than Angel. He has chaired IUCRs for the past two years and most every significant political debate among students has included him. But he doesn't lead by throwing insults at the opposition; he stands by his convictions, listens to the other side and agrees to disagree. And more than anything else, Angel is always informed. He knows his stuff.\nSo now he is going out into the world -- like we all will light-years too soon. He says he wants to head to law school and eventually start his own firm in Indianapolis. But after 4-1/2 years in Bloomington, Angel says he thinks he's leaving our campus "a little better."\nAnd I think ants are a little obnoxious. \nPolitics needs a return to civility. We could use a few days during elections without tightly spun slant ads and personal attacks. We could use fewer politicians insisting their opponents are immoral. We could use a few more people who want to debate issues.\nI don't agree with Angel on every issue. I imagine if we engaged in a political conversation (which I can't ethically do) our words might blare a few hundred decibels above the "inside voice." We probably don't support the same people.\nBut for me, a person's intelligence is best exhibited by his or her open-mindedness. A smart individual respects others and new ideas. By that test, there is no young politico I've ever met that I respect more than the native of San Juan, Puerto Rico. \nAngel's a Republican, but he's more of a political activist, inspiring his friends and foes with healthy debate and respect. Aspiring Republicans, Libertarians, Independents and -- yes -- Democrats can learn an elephant's trunk about political discourse from Angel Rivera.