The stereotypes from popular culture may lead us to believe that college is a time when dissidence is in such high quantities that it seems almost like a contagious disease.
In movies, stereotypes usually abound in which some mild-mannered, nonpolitical daughter of the middle class is ideologically transformed from her time at the university. She then comes home for Thanksgiving break, dreadlocked and indignant, berating her parents for their bourgeois lifestyle, proudly touting her new vegan lifestyle and/or a new piercing and her love for all things leftist.
However, as far as reality goes, things don't exactly go to that extent. Though most of us won't go so far as renouncing our Western, capitalist society in its entirety, the college environment does make it much easier to indulge feelings of rebellion, the need to bring about social justice and the impulse to dye your hair the whole spectrum of the rainbow, all in the name of defying "the Man."
Indeed, with the number of student clubs and organizations denouncing everything from child labor in third-world countries to efforts dedicated to saving the Amazon rainforest, it's not hard to align yourself with some voice of opposition. Without a doubt, in the college atmosphere it's trendy to be disagreeable.
However, the road for the young dissenter is not as clear-cut in terms of morals and ethics.
Despite all the rants against the establishment and "the Man" that rebels may have, they owe much to Western society.
Though dissenters rail against the corrupting Western influence of the world in terms of globalization and corporate exploitation of the poor, it is impossible to escape the benefits resulting from our "imperialistic" capitalist system.
Though you can spout off all the rhetoric you want, it would be extremely hypocritical to ignore the fact that capitalism has been good to us Westerners. The CD players and computers that play your music, playing tunes featuring screaming young things saying things like "Down with the government," where and how exactly do you think they are produced? And - just a little reality check for everyone - the automobiles that you drive aren't fueled by your righteous anger.
Though I know I may not be welcomed back into the liberal conclave of my hometown Seattle for saying this, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that a capitalist system isn't that mad. It would be entirely heedless and naive to think that modern life has not been improved through the benefits of capitalism.
However, it would also be faulty reasoning to think that capitalism, as it exists today, is perfect. There is a multitude of sins and indiscretions for which capitalism is responsible. One cannot begin to list the indignities suffered by the environment and the exploited poor of the world.
Yet, to entirely support a world with only one system of thought, either that of complete rejection of capitalism or its full-on support, will not be prudent. What needs to be recognized is the fact that a balance must be struck between the sense of social justice and concern generated by the dissident and the benefits inherent within capitalism.
In today's world, allegiance to a certain political ideology oftentimes limits people to what they choose to support. All too often, moderation between differing ideals is seen as weak and indecisive. Yet, full support of any system shows a high level of irrationality that does not take into account the good points in either system.
It's quite easy to think of the world in terms of black and white, where you can be on one side or the other with no way of mediating the two. In truth, the world should be more like a maddening, swirling sea of gray.
Susan Bonicillo is a sophomore majoring in English who recommends everyone visit the Web site sustainablestyle.org and read "Your Money or Your Life." She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.