Told you so

I'm so confused

To the Editor:

I am distressed and disenchanted. I am distressed and disenchanted because I can't seem to find anywhere, whether on television or in print or on this campus, informed discussion. Let me define what informed discussion is. Informed discussion is when two or more parties, with differing views, in a calm fashion, and backed up by certifiable documentation, debate an issue.

Perhaps what I seek is more easily understood by relating what I do not like, what I can't stand. I can't stand the yelling matches on cable news shows. I can't stand hearing people call each other morons and crackpots and making that statement the centerpiece of their argument. I can't stand an expert being shouted down by a novice. I want clarity. I want to get rid of all the bullshit and I want to hear the truth. When someone makes a claim on television, I want to see their proof. I want news anchors to say "No sir, I have it right here, that is incorrect." I want newspaper reporters to do some research before writing an article. I do not want to ever ask myself, "Yes, but is this the real story?"

Am I alone? When I think I am right, I want people to "tell me why I am wrong." I want to hear all sides to an issue because if I am wrong, I do not want to continue to be wrong. I want to know the facts; I want to know all the facts. Please stop the spin, please stop the half-truths, please stop the yelling. Please show me the evidence. Please have informed debate and conduct an educated analysis and examine all the angles. And please do this all with civility. I just want to know the truth for once.

Editor's note: This is, in fact, a real letter by a Penn student. For the record, the author referred to himself 29 times. No wonder he didn't get into Yale.

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