It’s that time of year again. Or, that is, it is that kind of year again: election year.

Enter cliché promises, flag-waving, red-herrings, bandwagons, the straw man, ad hominem, tu quoque and every other fallacy known to humankind. Expect new ones to arrive, too.

Not to mention a blender of bizarre claims, mud-slinging, sudden religious furor and the public’s renewed interest in geography (in places like Asia and the Middle East).

Amidst all the heartless chaos, another nemesis will arise out of its cage: controversial topics.

Controversial topics are notorious for stirring up tempers. Often just mentioning controversial topics like abortion, gay marriage or a religious view drops baking soda in a bottle of vinegar. Soon the room reeks and all that’s left is a tingling sizzle of the last remaining reactions.

Such is often the end result of talking about such topics. Side “A,” vinegar, will gush into side “B”, baking soda, and vice versa, leaving stains of bitterness and severed friendships.

Many people, however, have suggested leaving the discussion of these topics out, serving milk and cookies instead, keeping the vinegar and baking soda to the side.

Sophomore Nick Rolling, a communication major at OU, disagrees with both of these views, and offers an alternative.

Rolling is no stranger to controversial topics. He is president of Students for Life at Oakland University, where he has encountered numerous instances to discuss the abortion debate. Raised in a Catholic home, he is dedicated to his faith and has been supporting the pro-life movement since he was young.

He believes such topics should be neither avoided nor should the methods of discussing them be abusive.

“I wouldn’t say I deliberately try to stir things up or pick fights with people about views,” Rolling said. “If I am asked about them, I will definitely tell you.”

However, he says such topics must be brought to discussion.

“If you see a problem in your country, you want to fix it,” Rolling said. “I believe those things are wrong. I have a duty to tell people that.”

The goal in the discussion of such topics, according to Rolling, should be kept to the presentation of the differing viewpoints, not necessarily a debate.

“Winning arguments doesn’t change anything. To change something you need to present your beliefs and give reasons why,” Rolling said. “(Students for Life) isn’t trying to bash people, we are trying to foster discussion. You win by letting people come and experience your message so they can think about it.”

The idea presented by Rolling isn’t that of relativism, however.

“I don’t believe that everyone’s truth is right. I think there is objective truth, but you don’t have to wave it in other peoples face to make a point.”

He does recognize that some people will be offended by even just hearing the other side of the story, and that speaking what he believes is true will ruffle the feathers of many more.

“(Students for Life) wants to spread awareness of the dignity of human life,” Rollilng said, speaking for the organization. “Some people are offended by that. We have a strong stance, but we don’t try to offend or hurt people as an organization.”

Regardless of one’s view on the abortion debate, or any other controversial debate, one thing should be made clear: it needs to be discussed. Life isn’t all milk and cookies. Sometimes the bitterness of vinegar and the choking baking soda does us all a little good. Sometimes mixing them is good.

Look, for example, at the way the world handled Hitler’s rise. They were so afraid to spark a fight they did virtually nothing at all, in the name of “peace.” Here is a quote from Neville Chamberlain, when he returned from signing the Munich Agreement in 1938:

“My good friends, this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds.”

While the world was sleeping in their beds, the Nazis were preparing the slaughter of 10 million Jew, gypsies, homosexuals and mentally handicapped. Plus they were planning to take over the world.

Perhaps the wisdom of Winston Churchill should be revived:

“[The] truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it, ignorance may deride it, malice may distort it, but there it is.”

Please understand I am not labeling either side of the debate as being akin to Hitler, it is just an example of what happens when a problem is left untouched for fear of strife.

Remember, although truth may seem impossible to find, there always have and always will be facts. Seek the facts.

This election year will be the same as all the rest, filled with the usual clichés, insults and, well, lies. Let’s just be honest.

Make it different this time. Take a stand. Find the facts. Bring on war. Release the nemesis of controversy.

Yes, it might get ugly, war always is, but don’t avoid the controversial topics in exchange for softball financial woes.

After all, some of these topics are a matter of life and death.

 

Contact Nick Rolling at [email protected].