T
here has been a lot of
talk lately surrounding
the intolerance some
have for those who differ
from
the
societal
majority.
President
Donald
Trump’s
recent executive order
suspending the entry
of immigrants from
six Muslim-majority
countries for 90 days
and indefinitely from
Syria
has
brought
about both opposition
and
support
from
many people around
the nation. This move created
confusion during its execution
and has caused many to believe
our progress in the United
States is coming to an end and
is possibly even being reversed.
The day prior to the signing
of
the
executive
order,
I
attended a talk focusing on
global citizenship and cultural
competency. The talk was a
part of the Martin Luther King
Jr. Symposium event series
and served to let audience
members hear speakers from
various backgrounds present
their personal interpretations
of what it means to be globally
minded.
Every
story
shared
was
moving and provided insight
into
the
sheer
range
of
experiences one can have that
contribute to shaping a global
citizen. One speaker, Public
Health student Abbas Alawieh,
claimed cultural competency
is having the cultural humility
to set aside your own biases
about another culture, which
includes
the
continued
refinement of this humility as
more cultures are experienced
in a deeper way.
Each day, our world becomes
a little more connected and
figuratively a little smaller.
With the progress of the
internet and technology, our
world has drastically changed
even within the last 50 years.
Therefore, in a time when
people of all backgrounds
have the opportunity to travel
this planet, it is critical to
realize with this opportunity
comes responsibility.
Global
citizenship
and
cultural
competency
are
rising phenomena that have
yet to be given exact roles in
the broad sense of
society. There has
never been a need
(before
now)
to
culturally define the
connection one has
with all the people of
the world; therefore,
it is the job of this
rising
generation,
our generation, to
bring these ideas to
the forefront. Our
role as millennials in this
newly connected world is to
lead the way in developing
our global identity, not only
within ourselves but also
within our own culture.
Such a responsibility cannot
be taken lightly. It is more
than a short spring break trip
that is “equal parts cultural
immersion and party” that
claims to leave us with the
right to say we are one with
the world. Global citizenship,
just as any other citizenship
or heritage, is a part of an
individual’s
identity.
And
as with any other part of
personal identity, it takes time
to develop and will change as
one goes through life.
This
involves
creating
a
world where we all have rich
intercultural experiences, one
in which it is no longer a luxury
to learn about another way of
life. Already, more and more
people are going abroad for their
studies, and now there is need to
create a cultural environment
at home that allows these
individuals
to
share
their
experiences with the rest of
society once they return.
Many will ask what gives
millennials the authority to
lead society in this endeavor.
Why do we think we can
change the world? It is not
because we have all been gifted
with some vast wisdom that
skipped all other generations.
Millennials are the ones
who must take on this task
because we are the generation
being
educated
in
this
interconnected
world.
Our
educations and careers are being
foundationally shaped by a new
way of thinking that carries on
to how we make decisions.
A study conducted by Jane
Whitney Gibson, a professor at
Nova Southeastern University,
asked participants belonging to
the Baby Boomer, Generation
X and Millennial generations
to rank workplace values that
are the most important to
them. Gibson found that even
though the top values were
shared
across
generations,
millennials
prioritized
broadmindedness higher than
any other generation.
Millennials
are
currently
the largest living generation in
the United States, which means
we have the power to lead
the inevitable change that is
coming. We must remember the
stroke of a pen is not enough to
erase the mindset and goals of
an entire generation.
Roland
Alexander
Blackwood,
University
of
Michigan
Medical
School
faculty lead for Leaders and
Learners Pathways, was the
final speaker of the Martin
Luther King Jr. Day talk and left
us with this idea: “You are the
future. I’m old, done with my
time. If someone doesn’t want
you, who cares? You go where
you must go … Be confident and
believe in yourself. Don’t let
anyone take your joy, take your
thunder or control you because
you belong here.”
So with this, I challenge
everybody to look at their
current
situation
and
search for ways to begin the
journey to global citizenship.
Broadmindedness
starts
by interacting with nearby
communities,
having
open
conversations with members of
these communities and pushing
yourself into experiences from
which you can learn.
As you go through this,
remember why you are doing
it: We are the pioneers of global
citizenship; we are the ones
who must lead the change we
want to see in the world.
M
ike Mansfield, who
was
the
longest-
serving
Senate
Majority Leader in the history
of the United States, once
referred to the Senate as “the
world’s greatest deliberative
body.” Our Senate is meant
to carefully vet each piece
of governmental business it
encounters and to take its time
in the process. But now it is
poised to bitterly fight over
an unquestionably qualified
Supreme Court nominee.
The Senate is a temple of
reason. What Democrats are
potentially doing to Judge Neil
Gorsuch, the current Supreme
Court nominee, is unreasonable.
After a rancorous election,
virtually everyone expressed a
longing for the days when our
government and society were
not so damaged and divided.
As a student who identifies as
center-right, I welcomed these
calls for respectful discourse,
especially being in such a liberal
environment. However, it did not
take long for me and many others
to become disheartened.
Human nature is human
nature; Republicans slighted
Democrats
by
stonewalling
Judge Merrick Garland, former
President
Barack
Obama’s
nominee,
and
a
peaceful
confirmation
this
time
around
would
undoubtedly
aid President Donald Trump,
leaving many Democrats eager
to stymie Gorsuch. However,
these purely political concerns
must not dictate the policy of
loyal congressional opposition.
Slowly
but
surely,
the
Supreme
Court
nomination
process has become another
outlet for the left and right to
vent their many incompatible
differences. It used to be that a
nominee need only be qualified
for the job both professionally
and personally. With a few
exceptions, modern nominees
have virtually sailed through
the confirmation process. Fair
consideration was granted to
Justices
Anthony
Kennedy,
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John
Roberts and Sonia Sotomayor.
The man who nominated them
wasn’t a primary issue for these
nominees, and neither was the
surrounding political climate.
The
Republican
stonewall
of Garland can be remembered
as a singular, horribly partisan
handling of the independent
judiciary. But by blocking the
confirmation of an unblemished
jurist, Democrats will firmly
establish that as a precedent.
They will force Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell (R–
Ky.) to end the ability to filibuster
on Supreme Court nominations
— invoking the “nuclear option”
— just to maintain a full bench.
Scrapping
this
important
extra scrutiny for judges of
our nation’s highest court will
not only erode the fabric of the
Supreme Court’s prestige, but
it will send bellicose echoes
through the halls of Congress.
It would be easy to say “an
eye for an eye.” It would be
simple to rally the liberal base
by filibustering the nomination
of Gorsuch. It would be a great
political victory for Democrats
to deny Trump his pick. But
these
short-term
triumphs
would come with tremendous
long-term costs.
One way or another, the
president will fill the vacant
seat left by Justice Antonin
Scalia, who died last February,
with his choice of justice.
It’s now up to Democrats to
either accept reality or face the
harrowing
consequences
of
forcing the nuclear option upon
the Senate and throwing our
American polity into a new era
of uncertainty.
Confirming
Gorsuch
will
send multiple messages to an
anxious
population
fraught
with anger directed at those
of differing political views.
First, and to the benefit of their
party, Democrats can show
they are willing to sacrifice
partisan animosity for the
benefit of the nation. It would
show the American people that
our government is willing to
come together, even if it means
allowing the president to claim
a political victory. Additionally,
Congress would be able to
declare they are committed to
the orderly execution of the
functions of a well-working
government, no matter the
ideological differences.
Eventually, citizens on both
sides of the aisle need to realize
a successful government action
can be considered a win for the
nation rather than a political
party or one politician. Could
one
construe
a
Gorsuch
confirmation as a victory for
Trump? Yes, but that view is
short-sighted.
The
peaceful
confirmation of Gorsuch would
be a victory for the integrity
of the Senate, bipartisanship,
the Supreme Court and the
nation. This view, I’ll admit,
is optimistic at worst and
understated at best.
It is understandable to see
the current political atmosphere
using
the
former
approach.
Cynicism is abound in every
corner of the nation, in liberal
urban enclaves and Trumpian
rural towns alike. Yet, if we
change our attitudes toward
one another, toward the way
we discuss political differences,
toward the way we conduct the
business of government, I believe
we can reach a more congenial
form of politics.
It
has
been
said
that
politicians look to the next
election
while
statesmen
look to the next generation.
Republicans were politicians
when they refused to perform
their constitutional duties of
advising and consenting to a
new justice. Democrats can
now either prove they are just
as petty as their opposition
by playing politics with our
judiciary, or they could set an
example and act like statesmen.
Michelle Obama once told
Democrats, “When they go
low, we go high.” Talk is cheap.
Let’s see if Democrats can act
on those words.
Opinion
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
4 — Tuesday, February 7, 2017
I
t was move-in day. I
was
a
sweaty,
naive
freshman whose biggest
concern was making sure my
carpet matched my
bedding.
I
looked
forward to a fresh
start in a new place
with new faces to
greet. On that sunny
day in September,
I had no idea how
much
I
would
grow,
learn
and
discover in this first,
transitional
year
from
high
school
senior to college student.
As a freshman, I was sent
off with a kiss on the cheek
from my mom and a stern
look from my dad that said
“work
your
hardest.”
As
these constant reminders and
support from the people you
love start to fade after move-in
day, it is only up to you to push
yourself to make the most of
your college experience.
At the beginning of this
year, I started small. I set an
achievable goal that I knew I
could accomplish. I promised
myself shortly after laying
down my rug and organizing
my shoe shelf that I would
always take the stairs in an
attempt to stay fit. I lived on
the fourth floor, and I felt that
this was a very achievable goal.
To this day, I have kept my
word. I know that no matter
how horrible of a day I’m
having, I can walk up four
flights of stairs and tell myself
I have accomplished something
productive that day. For me,
making it to the top of the
stairs gives me a feeling of
accomplishment,
like
acing
a test or landing a job. I push
myself to do this simple task
that leaves me feeling satisfied,
knowing I at least worked for
something that day.
The
challenge
of coming to such
a large school is
that, if you don’t
know
where
your
community lies or
what your interests
are, it can be a hard
challenge to push
yourself to learn a
new hobby or meet
new people. But I
kept pushing myself
to meet new people, join new
clubs or try new restaurants
that tested my taste buds.
In contrast, the benefit
of coming to a school with
over 44,000 students is that
no matter how unique your
interests may be, you can
find someone who enjoys the
same things you do. As an
avid “Bachelor” fan, I found
a place to express my love for
the show by joining a fantasy
league. I just had to push
myself to find the right people
who indulged in the same
guilty pleasures as I did.
There have been moments
when I have been scared to
start a conversation, and many
times I have had awkward
experiences of trying to branch
out and try something new. I
have come to realize you need
to know yourself and your
limits. We are all different
and
will
push
ourselves
differently. But I do not speak
for everyone. I know myself: I
am a hardworking, determined
individual who is constantly
pushing
myself
to
be
the
best person I can be. But for
many freshmen — and college
students in general — our
abilities to push ourselves get
fogged with a misconception
that we don’t know if we are
pushing ourselves in the right
direction.
As sophomore year looms
overhead, I wonder if I have
made my time as a freshman
count. While I had an idea of
the things I wanted to surround
myself with, I don’t know if I
have taken advantage of all the
opportunities I have interest in,
and I will try to continue to try
new things in the years to come.
In a world of fear and
fright, we need to take risks
to pursue a new hobby or join
a new club. College is the only
time we are surrounded by a
large majority of people our
age, who are expanding their
views of the world and have
genuine interests in learning
new things. It is through
these experiences of pushing
that we learn the most about
ourselves and our interests. I
have found that by challenging
myself academically, socially
and extracurricular-ly, I have
surrounded
myself
with
a
community I feel comfortable
in. And I think that we could
all benefit from that.
College is a time to grow. It
is a time to get away from your
parents and expand on ideas and
study topics that are interesting
to you. Though choices can
become
overwhelming
at
a
school
that
basically
offers
everything, as students we must
take advantage of this, because
these opportunities will be
harder to find once we leave
this campus.
REBECCA LERNER
Managing Editor
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
tothedaily@michigandaily.com
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890.
EMMA KINERY
Editor in Chief
ANNA POLUMBO-LEVY
and REBECCA TARNOPOL
Editorial Page Editors
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s Editorial Board.
All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
Carolyn Ayaub
Megan Burns
Samantha Goldstein
Caitlin Heenan
Jeremy Kaplan
Max Lubell
Alexis Megdanoff
Madeline Nowicki
Anna Polumbo-Levy
Jason Rowland
Ali Safawi
Kevin Sweitzer
Rebecca Tarnopol
Ashley Tjhung
Stephanie Trierweiler
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Don’t let pettiness reign Supreme
BENJAMIN KELLER | OP-ED
Millennials’ role in global citizenship
ALEXIS MEGDANOFF | COLUMN
Alexis Megdanoff can be reached at
amegdano@umich.edu.
Push your limits to find community
Benjamin Keller is a Public
Policy junior.
Michelle Phillips can be reached at
mphi@umich.edu.
— Amnesty International spokesman Eric Ferrero on the decision
to block President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban.
“
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
This decision is a short-
term relief for thousands of
people whose lives have been
upended… Trump’s Muslim
ban is inhumane, unlawful,
and discriminatory, which is
why the courts and the public
want it to be stopped. ”
MICHELLE PHILLIPS | COLUMN
MICHELLE
PHILLIPS
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