Last Monday a Loyola student and two members of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps offered their time to share with the Loyola Community their experiences working with migrant workers in Florida who get paid 45 cents for each bucket of tomatoes that they pick. Some people came not to listen but to mock.
Last Friday, a Loyola student wrote a very biased and disrespectful response to that forum in The Maroon, stating, in references to the presenters and supporters, “I have little else to do but laugh at this complete and utter display of invincible ignorance.”
The issue of boycotting Taco Bell and the plight of the workers in Florida is not something I want to re-hash. I think it’s best if we agree, if even only for the time being, to disagree on opinions and philosophies on the issue.
What has been most disturbing to me and to many others in this situation has been the lack of respect shown to all parties involved.
At Loyola, we love to talk about how we’re a “social justice university” and a “critical thinking university”, but in the last week, we have failed to live up to those titles. We failed to respect our peers and their ideas, much less think about them.
My purpose is not to blame the free-market groupies but to establish expectations and to make a commitment for the future.
It is good that we talk about issues, debate topics and philosophies – in a sense, it’s the Jesuit way. Critical thinking calls for us to challenge viewpoints, beliefs and the world around us.
However, it is important to remember that, to think critically, we must listen critically as well.
Screaming, shouting, interrupting, insulting and mocking are not part of the recipe for critical thinking.
Bringing in “Taco Bell dogs” and Taco Bell food to a presentation given by students boycotting Taco Bell is not respectful or mature.
The purpose of last Monday’s presentation was to share personal experience; it was not supposed to be an ideological debate. The purpose was not to present and argue economic theory.
The differing opinions between the social justice supporters and the free-market groupies are bound to be a place of misunderstanding in the future, as they have been in the past. I think that both groups can learn a lot from each other; if nothing else, we can hone our arguing skills.
However, in the future, if we can’t come willing to listen, prepared to act with maturity and to treat fellow students and presenters with respect, maybe it’s best for us not to come.
Social justice is part of the Jesuit philosophy and the goals of this university. We are not a group of liberals making this up as we go along – just like free-market economic theory, its something to be educated on, something to read about.
I hope next year we all, as a student body, handle ourselves more professionally in these types of forums. After all, this is not about burritos and tacos and tomatoes – it’s about thinking critically and acting respectfully.
~ Tara Hinds is a music therapy junior and associate chair of LUCAP
