Junior biology major
Feeling safe and secure are important priorities in our lives; some would even argue they are the highest priorities. But feeling safe for the sake of safety is shortsighted and out of touch.
Any reasonable human being would agree there are things in this world worth risking ourselves for. Our soldiers risk their lives not only to protect our safety, but also our dreams. Some of our opinion columnists even risk their reputations to incite conversations, albeit incendiary ones, that aid our collective search for truth.
Indeed, “truth,” or “veritas” in Latin, is an enterprise worthy of risking our feelings of safety and security for. A life lived in lies is no way to live, no matter how cosmetically comforting it might seem.
Some might scoff, roll their eyes and shirk the mention of “truth” for it is elusive, abstract and not often rooted in reality, but we as university students should be especially dedicated to prioritizing truth above all else.
Truth alone embodies the essence of higher education. Harvard University’s official motto is simply, “Veritas.” In fact, this ideal, in its many translations, finds itself as the official motto of universities in almost every country in the world. Why then, are we so afraid to work toward it? Why are we so reluctant to attain it?
In our reality, we can only hope to obtain truth through knowledge, experience and discourse; these qualities alone require payment in blood and trials of sacrifice; it necessitates a fearlessness in us all. Unfortunately, at our university and others in our nation, much effort is spent on fostering safe spaces, inclusive language codes and tones of neutrality to hide students from potential offenses.
Instead, we should be provided the environment and tools that allow us to seek truth unhindered. Often, this requires our ability to explore ideas of extremism, to clash with and question opposing viewpoints and to use language that elicits unease and insecurity to reveal our most suppressed thoughts. Ironically, in the quest of our nation’s universities to establish tolerance, they have reacted to intolerance of these measures.
Last fall, when Wendy Kaminer, a white lawyer and author, spoke at a panel discussion for Smith College alumnae, she used the n-word as an example when arguing against the use of euphemisms in teaching American history. In her Feb. 20 Washington Post column, she mentioned how [she] was quickly branded a racist, and [she] was charged in The Huffington Post with committing “an explicit act of racial violence.” Smith College President Kathleen McCartney even had to apologize because Kaminer’s words made “some students and faculty … feel unsafe.” Later in Kaminer’s column she writes, “At Brown University, a scheduled debate between two feminists about rape culture was criticized for … undermining the University’s mission to create a safe and supportive environment for survivors.”
Many have strong opinions about whether one should ever utter the n-word, or whether rape culture exists, no one perspective of any of these issues, or any other controversial issue, can so easily be assumed as “truth.” These perspectives must pass the test of scrutiny and evaluation, which can only occur through discussion and sometimes even action. Our universities should be a safe place where we can dive headfirst into these sensitive issues without barriers.
Truth is not about what is good or bad; it is about bravery. It is the test of our indomitable spirit and the courage to let go of our insecurities and apprehensions. It sometimes requires one to look another in the eye and say without regret or apology, “You are wrong.” Other times, it requires one to back down with humility and say with courage but never embarrassment, “You are right.” In the end, the truth might still elude us, but it is the battle for it that matters.
As I write this column, protestors in Baltimore are risking their safety to confront police brutality. Although the violence that has erupted on the protestors’ side is regrettable, I do not think all of it came from acts of aggression and vengeance. I believe it is deeply rooted in a desperation to understand why police brutality still persists and why again it has taken another innocent life. Sometimes these answers of such moral importance cannot be found through civil conversation. Sometimes it requires one to grab another by the collars and stare into his eyes, and sometimes certain ways of expression can only be conveyed through violence.
Ultimately, these acts are for the sake of understanding, for the sake of knowing; and only when we understand the truths of what plagues our world, then can we experience the true feelings of safety and security.
Patrick An, opinion editor, is a junior biology major. He can be reached at patandbk@gmail.com.
