Stand up for your rights

As Hoosiers, as Americans and as human beings, we live in hope, working for a better day, expecting magnificent results. \nThe reason we labor to improve the world is that the world is not perfect. Many times, it's not even pretty. Corruption and dishonesty invade even the most honorably intentioned government offices and corporate headquarters. Ugly offenses against human decency occur daily in this nation and around the world. Maybe you even write about them in your blog or go to the exertion of putting up an indignant away message.\nThere's a bumper sticker that says, "If you aren't outraged, you're not paying attention." That comment usually targets the political party in power, but every citizen (and student-citizen) should take note. Don't just be affronted; embody your message of change.\nPerhaps you yourself are blessed with all you could ask for. Congratulations on your happiness, but you should expect more from the world. You should want those same blessings for everyone else and not be satisfied until others can enjoy life's freedom and abundance as you do. There is a distinction between happiness and satisfaction.\nCollege is a time to savor the gifts of life with the energy of our youth, but that energy must also be used to build a world better fit to begin families and careers when we graduate. Rouse yourself to write an e-mail to your representatives, a letter to the editor, to persuade a friend of your views. \nThe protests of our parents' generation certainly got attention, but we can still change the world with or without sit-ins. Change simply won't happen to our liking if we just whine online about all those disgusting politicians. \nThis might be news, but they don't care if you blast them in your blog. They don't use instant messenger, or much less check your angry away message. Your friends will hear you and might even share your frustration with whatever issue fires you up. But for campus administrators, state representatives and the president of the United States to do something, they need to hear from students. Students must speak so clearly that the leaders cannot ignore a unified message.\nThe generation before us made headlines regularly with loud, passionate and even violent and destructive protests against the Vietnam War. Today there's another war, and another generation of students is upset. Today far fewer students are vocal about this or anything else. Even without a draft, issues abound to wake college kids from our collective stupor. \nLook outside of your dorm or apartment window at your corner of the world. Is your landlord fair? What about tuition rates rising faster than inflation? Should you be able to drink if you're 18? Will there be a draft? Is your college paper too liberal? Thousands of students have common interests and share points of view, but no one student takes the issues seriously enough to organize a demonstration of that common interest. Here's a sample away message: _______ is an absolute outrage. Come to ____ at 4 p.m. with posters. Copy and paste this to everyone you know.