COLUMN: Is idealism dead in our world?

From Amar Kosaraju's, "And Justice For All," Fall '97 From Amar Kosaraju's, "And Justice For All," Fall '97 When Rosa Parks decided to sit in the front of the bus, I'm sure people thought she was crazy for trying to create a world in which black and white people are equal. I can imagine people telling her to wake up and smell the coffee and that she is living in a dream world for thinking things could ever change. People insulted, swore and physically threatened her for preaching a principle of equality, even though it was a founding principle of our country. My first instinct was to write a column in response blasting his opinion as he did mine, but then I realized the deeper issue. Evidently, it greatly offended him that I idealistically believe in a academic world where teachers and psychologists would be held in the same regard as MBA students. He was outraged because I believe the University should improve the facilities of schools that are unable to generate their own funds. Ironically, the idealism that offended him so much, is the same idealism that thrives on Penn's campus. Through his rebuttal, he gave me a solid Wharton lecture on the "cruel, increasingly capitalistic world" and was sure to tell me that "Utopia does not exist, not in academics, not anywhere." I appreciated his comments, but for some reason, it seems some of his Wharton classmates may have missed that inspiring lecture on capitalism and how utopia does not exist in our world. For the past few years, a large number of Wharton students have taken on the great task of rebuilding houses for people unable to afford housing in their "Christmas in April" program. This project has grown tremendously and has become an University-wide student initiative led by Wharton students. After seeing how offended my friend was with my remarks, I would think my Wharton friend would tell his fellow classmates their desire to build houses is "horse manure" like my own idealistic opinions. My friend would educate them on the "cruel, increasingly capitalistic world" we live in today. He would tell them they are in an "academic-stupor" to believe that building a few houses would solve homelessness. My dear friend would remind his idealistic Wharton colleagues that not everyone should have housing and the "world is not what it used to be a mere hundred and fifty years ago, and societies that lived by socialistic ideas have collapsed." The reality is that Wharton students know they will not solve homelessness with the houses they build or be able to create a utopia with housing for everyone. So the question is, why do they do it? Why do I write a column expressing the differences in treatment between graduate schools, when I know the inequity between schools will always exist? I fear my dear friend will never know the answers to those questions. Our forefathers founded this country on ideals and principles calling for equality, freedom and a basic belief in democracy. Those simplistic ideals have guided our country in thought and action, and is the framework for our present society. We are in essence a country founded on idealism, and it is that which has given authority to our leaders and made our Constitution the law of the land. Why do millions of people come to Philadelphia each year to see a big, old, cracked bell? Because the Liberty Bell represents the idealism, the spirit and the birth of our country. On any Saturday at Independence Square, hundreds of people wait in line and take thousands of pictures of a bell that has not changed in 200 plus years. I cannot blame my friend for being so against my idealism, because he is simply a product of the society we live in today. The days of Woodstock are over; the hippies of the 60's have grown-up; and the Vietnam War is slowly being forgotten. Those idealistic days have been replaced with the greed of the 80s and the egos of the 90s. We are less likely to rock the boat and more likely to jump on the boat and start paddling. We are not taught to be idealistic, but taught to "do what it takes" and "win at all costs." The realism we learn teaches us to look at idealism as a waste of time and unproductive to your future. Why help someone else, when you can help yourself. Why improve a situation, if doesn't improve your situation at all. Idealism is the beginning for change. Idealism is the power that motivates, instigates, and agitates people in wanting to make a difference. It is idealism that brought about the Civil Rights movement and motivated Martin Luther King, Jr. to give his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. It is idealism that has made the Wharton's Christmas in April Program flourish and involve all schools at Penn. It is idealism that motivates the West Philadelphia Tutoring program, the community service work of fraternities and the overall commitment of students to make a difference. I am thankful my cynical friend did not take the seat next to Rosa Parks on the bus, march with Martin Luther King, or sit next to the first Wharton student who started refurbishing houses. I'm sure he would have educated them on the futility of striving for equal rights and equal treatment and inform them their "utopia" does not exist. At the end of his column, my friend offered me "a shoulder to cry on," because I was so idealistic in believing graduate schools should have equal treatment. I will take him up on that offer, because I will cry for him and others who have lost the faith in idealism -- the founding principle of our country.