Let’s be honest, diversity can be scary — or, if not scary, then at least uncomfortable. I had intended to write about racial, ethnic or sexual diversity this week. Instead, I think I need to take this time to address diversity of opinion. Our campus, along with the world, has been split in the past few weeks over the conflict in Israel and Palestine, with campus interest sparked by the IC View article written by Emily McNeill ’08 and President Tom Rochon’s response. These discussions usually become fraught with emotions that prevent real dialogue. I often try to avoid getting involved with such conversations, but they are an example of how our differences can interfere with our ability to have open, respectful debate with one another.

Recently, I witnessed a heated debate over the situation. As the noise level rose and the tensions escalated, the arguments became circular. People made the same points over and over again. There was no convincing the other, and the end was nowhere in sight — like the conflict itself.

When Rochon replied to McNeill’s piece in IC View, I was upset along with many on this campus. How can we argue for embracing diversity one minute and then attempt to cover it up the next? In this case, McNeill’s position was based on observation and expressed an important and often underrepresented viewpoint. Unfortunately, her article’s value was compromised by the closed-mindedness that often characterizes the debate surrounding this conflict.

The debate about Israel and Palestine is an example of a more widespread tendency to refuse to see the validity in another person’s argument, usually on the basis of emotional investment in the situation. There will always be issues we feel strongly about to the point where we can’t even hear the other side without putting up defenses. In the past few weeks, our campus has been divided on such an issue. I wonder if people are beginning to see the value in the varied arguments, or if, for the most part, these arguments have fallen on deaf ears. I want to believe that we all have a right to our opinions, but I’m a politics major, and in practice that theory doesn’t play out so well. But on a college campus, I believe we should do our best to remain respectful and open to the views of others. We can see examples around the world where violence and conflict grow out of an unwillingness to communicate. When we don’t think the person we’re communicating with has a right to his or her opinion (or a right to exist), we’re putting ourselves in a lose-lose situation. I’m open to thoughts on this, though I’m a little scared of the diverse opinions I’m sure to hear.