Putting our dissenters in a box

As a student, I feel like I have little power to influence change at our university.

We tend to talk a good deal about issues, and yet we never make a move. We like to over-analyze and beat topics until they are obliterated. The only action we are willing to take is to "keep dialogue open." Is this out of fear of constituents? A fear of student rebellion? Oh, my! What might happen if we give the students too much say over how this institution is run? We might end up encouraging employment of once-shunned and "less-favorable" persons. Hmm...

But what exactly is the underlying problem? Maybe a fear of an opposition voice to the "majority." How can The Opposition point out issues and be "radical" without being labeled a threat to the cohesiveness of the university? I have met several people who are extremely passionate about one topic or another who feel that bringing up one of these issues is like running into a brick wall.

Even faculty members' voices are being suppressed. Professors and other staff have been reprimanded for sharing their personal beliefs on a variety of subjects. Excuse me if I am wrong, but I didn't realize that the boundaries of a Christian life were cut and dry, and that EMU stands for all the "right" things.

We are turning out strangely like the current U.S. government - if a subordinate opposes anyone in power, those in power do their best to silence them. Only, as Christians, that doesn't mean declaring war on them - it just means shoving them back in a little box where their opinions are bleached from existence. But then, on top of all this, individuals are challenged to step out of their box; to get out of their comfort zones. Weird.

So, who is this invisible dictator? Who is playing the part of the "power"?

Maybe it's the EMU board or the Cabinet. Maybe it's Virginia Conference. Maybe it's institutionalized religion. Maybe the Mennonite church as a whole is moving towards the ever-evil homogenous super-church.

But can true Christianity claim a dominating power? Where is God's even playing field? There can be no discrimination or favoritism. Instead of subjecting people to sealed boxes where they are restricted from believing something they are passionate about, why not re-evaluate our own beliefs? Why not double-check our reasons for our positions? We don't always allow ourselves to see opposing ideas, out of fear that they might just be right. Reality Check: The other person isn't always wrong. (Hard to believe, I know.)

But until change and challenge of this invisible power is sincerely encouraged and instituted, maybe I'll just keep my mouth shut and stay in my little box.