Focus on the issues, not appearance
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to Mr. Harold Mock’s letter from the November 4 issue of The Colonnade. In his letter, Mr. Mock suggested that the aesthetic appearance of residences supporting Mr. Zach Johnson and Mr. Ken Vance in the recent council election should play a role in voters’ decisions regarding which candidate has the best interests of the community at heart. I disagree with using this factor as a measuring stick for the legitimacy of individuals’ concerns and stake in their community.
I take very serious issue with the belittling of student’s contributions to the community and their place as stakeholders in its future on the basis of external appearances and housing conditions.
To suggest that students do not care about their community or that their voice is less significant on the basis of their housing conditions is akin to saying that the votes, views, and lives of economically disadvantaged families are less important or should be taken less seriously than those of higher-income individuals.
In addition to connecting students’ concern with the aesthetic appearance of their off-campus residences, it is a serious misjudgment to make the further association that such appearances are reflective of a candidate’s worthiness and qualifications. While I make no indication of support for one candidate or the other, I will say that such superficial evaluations are misguided and distract from the larger context of the very real issues at hand. Using Mr. Mock’s method of inference would lead one to conclude that his preferred candidate is an elitist based on the views that Mr. Mock personally espoused. Obviously, such an inference is erroneous and should not be given credence. It is much more important to understand a candidate’s philosophy and problem-solving abilities than it is to look at how well-cut their supporters’ lawns are. Focus on the candidates, not on their supporters’ homes.
As a student who has been heavily involved with campus life and has worked in various ways to make GC&SU an even better educational experience for future students, I am appalled at the implication that the condition of my residence is reflective of my concern for the future of my community. As an off-campus resident in the Milledgeville area, I have first-hand experience with the difficulties of persuading landlords to take an active role in what could be considered primarily aesthetic maintenance. Even more significantly, despite any of my desires to improve the appearance of my residence, my rental agreements prevent me from making significant changes; furthermore, I simply do not have the financial resources to undertake those improvements.
For most students, paying for food, ren, and utilities are a higher priority than the landscaping and that fresh coat of paint.
Finally, while Mr. Mock is correct in his assertion that the relationships between the city, historic district, university and local government are significant, it is an incorrect (not to mention insensitive) suggestion that students, including this “four-year squatter,” lack an appreciation for Milledgeville’s historic value. I am personally aware of students, on individual and organizational levels, that take steps to be active contributors to the community and be good neighbors to our fellow citizens. These students have a voice that has every right to be measured on the basis of merit, not on the length of their grass.
Sincerely,
Mike Madison
Senior
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Nov 11 2005. Filed under Opinion.
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