Don't be an idiot

For a school that prides itself on its commitment to civic engagement (or at the very least its commitment to branding itself based on those projects), I see far too many idiots at Duke.

Now, before anyone takes the wrong kind of offense, let me clarify what I mean by idiot by delving into its Greek etymology. Coming from “idios,” meaning private or personal, an idiot in Athenian democracy was one who was concerned mainly with private affairs. This was opposed to a citizen (or “politês”) who, according to Aristotle, was distinguished by being involved in the political process. An idiot would rather concern himself with his own selfish interests than deliberate with others for the good of the “polis.”

It’s easier to distinguish an idiot in a direct democracy like Athens. An idiot would not spend that much time in the agora and had poor judgment regarding public matters. Or possibly, he just didn’t participate in the many opportunities for consensus building. In our modern liberal democracies, however, idiots are a little harder to identify. On our campus, a student can be involved in several organizations, maybe even one that claims to represent and advocate for the entire student body, and still be an idiot. A student can vote, but vote idiotically. A student can even go halfway across the world on an all-expenses paid trip and return a global idiot.

We live in a world where these various activities are done in the mindset of seeking personal gain, rather than the public good. It’s a condition that isn’t that surprising in a society where so much emphasis is placed on the individual and his or her ability to succeed. A shift away from idiocy requires a radical shift in values as well as a change in the way in which we engage with our communities. Instead of asking ourselves “How can I best position myself for what I would like to do?” we should start asking ourselves “How can I best serve the needs of my community?” Ideally, the answer to the latter question should inform the former.

There are times where Duke proves that it has an engaged and critical student body and a healthy civil society. For instance, when Duke administrators decided they could no longer support the unsafe environment known as Tailgate, students responded in a way reminiscent of the Arab Spring youth. They gathered in forums, both online and off, to discuss the issue. They planned ways of collectively expressing their discontent. It’s a public issue that many students informed themselves of and are still discussing to this day. It’s refreshing to know that we still have a sense of what’s important: our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in the form of unhealthy drinking habits.

I don’t want to be unfair. I don’t think Duke students are completely idiotic. I think we have plenty of democratic spirit; we like to gather in groups and discuss and revel and feel like we have an effect on our surroundings. I just think we’re way too into ourselves.

We will be less idiotic when we mature a bit and realize that even if Tailgate may have been fun, it really was an unsafe environment that was nearly impossible to regulate. Or when we stop being infatuated by all the exotic places Duke students get to visit and start asking critically what we’re actually accomplishing in going there. Or when we take a step back and start asking pointed questions of our administration and their decision-making processes. And above all, when we can challenge ourselves to do something for others, even if there’s no immediate personal gain in store.

Despite all of the exciting statistics and brochures with smiling faces, we should really question our commitment to civic engagement. Is working on a community housing project once a month or spending a single summer in some developing area of the world the same lifelong commitment we place in our own personal development? Just as we continuously strive towards personal success we should constantly be cooperating with others to address the collective challenges we face.