To the Editor:
I am very frustrated and angry with the Oberlin Review's coverage of the campaigns and debate leading up to the elections. First, there was so much emphasis placed on the Republican voice (or lack thereof) on campus, as if the rest of us agreed wholeheartedly and happily with the only other choice, the Democrats. Secondly, the only mention of third parties or alternative choices was in an editorial which only said that voters "don't really know a lot about" them. WELL, EDUCATE YOURSELVES! I talked to a few students on election day who had voted for Bill Clinton and the confession of those votes always carried a tinge of dissatisfaction or frustration. These students felt as if they had no other choice in the matter, and settled for the lesser of two evils. However, there are so manv resources available for students, especially to educate themselves about alternative candidates. For instance, the Review failed to cover or mention a Left Party Debate sponsored by the Oberlin Socialist Student Union, which attempted to educate the campus not only about the varied progressive parties, candidates, and choices available to voters, but also to point out the absurdity and rigidity of the lesser of two evils political strategy. And to this extent, the Review was continuing a long history of exclusion of political disagreement, dissent, and discourse in this country. It is no coincidence that nothing seems to change in this country and by the time elections roll around, voters are thoroughly ambivalent and cynical. The last thing mainstream media, controlled by the multi-million dollar corporations and their interests, wants is a challenge to the status quo and their agenda. So no matter if there are a multitude of candidates running, which there were this election, only those supporting the present system of "liberalism" will be given air time.
I was under the impression that Oberlin was a very open-minded and progressive campus. Though I have been proven wrong about this in certain areas (e.g. Asian American Studies and need-blind admissions), I am completely horrified by the lack of discourse and questioning of the elections. What happens to democratic participation (and all the symbolism and supposed power behind the vote) when we feel trapped, almost forced into perpetuating an exploitative and oppressive system? The vote becomes meaningless, powerless.
In Revolutionary Struggle.
Copyright © 1996, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 125, Number 9; November 15, 1996
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