What a joy it was to open The State News of July 11. We got some good old opinion material to sink our teeth into with, Consider planet when having kids (SN 7/11). Drew Robert Winter decided to take on the age-old establishment of “birthin’ babies.”
The topic of the opinion piece is really of no consequence. The beauty of the piece comes in its ability to stir up the readers and make them take sides and think about what has been said. One of the things that used to make us great was that we could go beyond the media hype, ridiculous slogans, and innuendos and put some actual thought into what was written or spoken and then voice our support or disdain for what was said. Winter’s opinion allowed me to look at what was said and find rational ideas to agree and disagree with.
I want to thank Winter for a thought-provoking article, not all of which I agree with — a lot I do, but again, that is not the point. The point is that we all need to get out of the rut that many opinion pieces have espoused: “Take the syrup and smile, there is no need for you to think!” Opinion pieces should get one fired up to speak for or against them.
Think of some of the great ones of the past — almost all of John Bice’s pieces, rants on abortion, same-sex marriage, tuition increases, the police in East Lansing and Cedar Fest to name a few. They all had one thing in common: they forced you to delve into your own bag of beliefs, look them in the eye, and come up with reasons to stand behind them.
Let’s campaign for more thought-provoking, cutting-edge opinions, and less weak, comfortable commenting meant to put us to sleep.
Craig James Gunn
Director of the Communication Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Co-chair, MSU Community Charitable Campaign
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