T
his election cycle has seen
a carousel of hot topics
ranging from whether
we
should
accept Syrian
refugees
to
which
bathrooms
individuals can and can’t use. In
this series of debates, one thing
that has become increasingly
clearer is that the United States
may be facing a polarization
crisis. Though I would argue that
polarization isn’t inherently bad,
the real problem lies within our
inability to understand opinions
different from ours.
Americans disagree strongly
on
many
hot-button
issues,
and people on both sides are
incredibly passionate about their
beliefs. However, polarization
stems beyond party lines. We are
not only polarized on the issues
themselves; we are polarized on
how we prioritize these issues.
Bernie
Sanders
stresses
the
importance of taking money out
of politics. Meanwhile, Donald
Trump’s biggest concern seems
to be immigration. Not only do
these candidates disagree on
individual topics, but they also
disagree on which issues are
most important — and the same
can be said about the American
people.
A New Boston Post article
has recently made the rounds
on Facebook. The article seems
to challenge modern American
priorities. The author questions
whether Americans are arguing
over
noteworthy
topics.
For
example,
is
the
transgender
bathroom debate so significant
that laws need to be passed to
tell people which bathrooms
they can or can’t use? Is it even
possible to enforce those laws?
If we can afford to spend
resources telling people which
bathrooms they can’t use, we
can certainly spend time and
money trying to feed the 15.3
million children living in food-
insecure households, right? Let’s
not forget our homeless veterans;
they deserve shelter and food
as well, right? Or, perhaps, are
these just issues that I have at
the top of my priorities?
While
questioning
the
relevance or significance of our
priorities is important, the author
of the article seems to imply
that having different opinions
is somehow unacceptable. The
author seems concerned that
polarization and division are
going to ruin the country, which
is an understandable concern.
Concerned
that
my
liberal
perspective
on
issues
was
contributing
to
polarization,
I
evaluated
my
priorities.
I
contemplated
taking
more
moderate stances on issues that
were most important to me, such
as campaign finance reform, tax
reform and education reform.
However,
after
reflecting
on
my priorities, I came to the
conclusion that polarization isn’t
inherently bad. I believe that
the major problem is a lack of
understanding. The article led
me to question whether my own
convictions
are
problematic.
Generally speaking, our opinions
do not seem to be troublesome,
but our inability to coexist with
our differences of opinions is
unsettling.
Most of us believe that our
opinions and perspectives are
correct, and we often find ourselves
discussing our convictions with
others who disagree. But I know
my discussions tend to become
arguments,
and
my
passion
sometimes becomes my weakness.
Allowing my passion to control
how I debate results in hostility
and intolerance.
For example, when discussing
welfare
with
a
colleague,
I
expressed that I believe the U.S.
government has an obligation
to feed and shelter its most
vulnerable citizens, regardless of
whether the citizens are working
or
seeking
employment.
My
colleague argued that anyone who
wishes to collect welfare should, at
the very least, be actively seeking
employment or be employed. In
hindsight, I probably should’ve
recognized that as a reasonable
perspective. However, my passion
took over and I questioned why my
colleague hated the poor. I know
my colleague doesn’t hate the
poor, but instead of arguing the
reasoning behind my colleague’s
opinion, I simply attacked his
character. That’s a mistake that I
currently try to avoid making, as
it’s an unwarranted judgment of
others.
For a while, especially after
reading the article, I thought
perhaps I’d be better off having
no
opinion
on
some
topics.
But perhaps the real issue was
my
inability
to
understand
the perspectives of those who
disagree with me. Rather than
criticize opposing views, I began
to try to understand them and
in
turn
found
myself
much
more comfortable with my own
opinions. Rather than avoiding
your
own
opinions,
embrace
them. At the same time, challenge
yourself
to
understand
the
opinions of others. If individuals
can work to understand others
rather than reject them, I think
we would find ourselves less
concerned about polarization. I
believe we are more than capable
of coexisting with others who
have opinions opposite of our
own.
—Ryan Roose can be reached
at rooserj@umich.edu.
4
Thursday, June 2, 2016
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
OPINION
LARA MOEHLMAN
EDITOR IN CHIEF
JEREMY KAPLAN
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
BRADLEY WHIPPLE
MANAGING EDITOR
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
tothedaily@michigandaily.com
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan since 1890.
Why you should do a Ph.D.
I
t’s that time of year when college
students,
especially
rising
seniors, are thinking about
what to do after
college. If you’re
considering
graduate school,
I’d like to offer
my two cents. Starting a Ph.D., just
like beginning a professional doctoral
program such as medicine, dentistry
or law, is a serious undertaking that
requires much consideration. There’s
also a lot of public misconception
about the worth of a Ph.D. compared
to other professional degrees. So
if you’re between graduate school
and another option, consider the
following:
1. A Ph.D. opens doors to
a
variety
of
career
paths.
While
medical
students
nearly
always become doctors and law
students typically become lawyers,
Ph.D.s don’t just become researchers
and academics upon graduating.
Consulting
firms,
publications,
intellectual property offices and
venture capital groups all hire Ph.D.s.
Holding a doctorate in a field makes
you an expert, which makes you quite
valuable to individuals needing a
skilled worker on a specific task, and
also gives you professional talents
that can be applied in many different
positions. Ph.D.s know how to
analyze data, look for trends, problem
solve and write. They’re utilitarian.
2. It teaches real-world skills.
The
environment
in
which
research is done, in many ways,
mimics a job. You have colleagues
with whom you develop professional
relationships and learn to work
constructively. You have an overseer
to monitor your progress and provide
direction. Working on a Ph.D. means
more than spending time at a lab
bench or sitting in an office. You
have opportunities to present work
to your colleagues at meetings and
to give talks to larger audiences.
You develop composure and learn to
speak with fluidity. Conferences and
symposia are perfect for learning
how to meet strangers and have
meaningful conversations, enabling
new connections. If you finish a
Ph.D. not having acquired most of
these skills, you aren’t doing it right.
3. It’s often funded.
Starting graduate school doesn’t
have to mean taking out loans or
remaining financially dependent.
Many doctoral programs, especially
in science and engineering, provide
their students with funds for tuition
and living expenses. When they
don’t, fellowships for just about
every discipline are also available,
or a Graduate Student Instructor
(GSI) appointment can be used to
defray the cost. With funding, you’re
getting paid to earn an advanced
degree, which itself increases your
earning power. Very few degrees
have that perk. You also learn
important life skills along the
way such as budgeting your own
money, prioritizing your expenses
and choosing an appropriate living
arrangement. It’s a sensible first step
upon leaving college.
4. It won’t take you eight years.
Maybe you’re willing to forgo
starting a job immediately out of
college to begin graduate school, but
the thought of beginning a funded
dual degree, such as an M.D./Ph.D.,
seems too excessive. I know and have
loads of respect for the people who
pursue such a track. But I wanted
a program where I could complete
in my 20s and immediately begin
working, earning money that I could
enjoy for a few years before thinking
about settling down and starting a
family. With a Ph.D., you’ll still feel
young at the end, and you won’t ever
be thinking to yourself, “I should
have stayed in school longer.”
5. You’ll be making a completely
new contribution to your field.
Because a Ph.D. is a research
degree, it means you will learn what
is known about your subject area and
what is not. Then, you can choose a
knowledge gap you are curious about
and fill it. Your findings will interest
others working in similar fields, and
others after you will have your work
to build from, incrementally growing
the horizon. Research advances
gradually, and even the biggest
discoveries don’t happen without
a firm foundation of prior work.
When you tell others what you’re
working on — whether it’s curing a
disease, understanding something
new about an ancient civilization or
inventing a more energy-efficient
means of transportation — they’ll be
impressed.
It’s important to have a rewarding
career, but if you’re spending several
years preparing yourself for it, those
years should be rewarding too. A
Ph.D. is far more than completing
coursework and passing classes.
It means making a new discovery
that enables research to progress,
helping us to understand our world.
Some day in the future, a physician
or lawyer might apply something
you discovered to help someone else.
Research fuels all professions. Get
involved.
—David Mertz can be reached
at drmertz@umich.edu.
DAVID
MERTZ
Embrace your opinions to understand others’
RYAN
ROOSE