This post's title is LEARN TO DISCERN.

A few days ago, a young lady who works in the company I co-op with came around with a petition against war in Iraq. Normally, I have nothing against these petitions - if I don't agree, I simply don't sign them. This was no ordinary petition, however - it turns out that the girl's humanities professor MADE his students go around having people sign this thing as an assignment. MADE them do it. No choice between two different petitions (i.e., one against war and one for war), no in-class discussions, nothing about comparisons between opinions - just this "assignment", which was simply the professor's way of getting his work (the petitions) done, probably so he could turn it in to a local newspaper and then go on CNN as an "analyst" of public opinion.

Now, I could go on and on about humanities professors, but I'm not going to because plenty of professors in other disciplines are guilty of doing this sort of thing. The same day that this happened, an engineering professor of mine sent around a flier advertising a "teach-in" against the war. This "teach-in" would include "panelists" who would provide logical arguments against the war and allow for discussions. Give me a freakin' break! THERE IS NO DISCUSSION. These people simply want to brainwash people into thinking that they're being democratic when they're really trying to push you to their side. If these discussions were actually "discussions" and these panels were actually "panels", then maybe we'd actually have stuff to talk about and I wouldn't be getting mad right now.

The same professors who tell you not to just believe everything people tell you without thinking about it first are ABSOLUTELY right. And they understand that the same rule applies about them - right?! It should. Don't just blindly follow - LOOK before you LEAP. Don't be swayed by headlines - read the entire article, and then think about the author's point of view before you just take everything for facts. For us college students, we need to be ESPECIALLY attentive to professors who may be providing one-sided views or simply incorrect information. Don't just sit there and swallow up lectures like soup. Like my dad always says, "Use your brain." Seriously, people - USE IT. It's there for a reason.

Oh yeah, you wanna know what happened with that girl's petition? Out of a company workforce of over 250 employees, this girl got ONE signature. At least people around here have some sense. ;-)

Aight foos, Sistah T done soundin' it out. Til next time...