Parting is such sweet sorrow

Shh... baby, don't speak.\nIt's better this way, dear readers. We both know that it's my last column of the semester. And while parting is such sweet sorrow, rest assured I will do my best to be back and better than ever in January. Oh, how I shall miss the opinion page until then! \nEven as I get ready to settle into copy desk again next semester, I secretly pine for those sweet summer days as the opinion editor. Ah, the sheer power! Opening up letters@indiana.edu, reading who thinks what and why. So many thought-provoking e-mails and letters, so little newspaper space. \nContributing every week also has its perks... I honestly can't believe that those suckers at the IDS actually pay me to tell you guys what I think. I write about food and forwards, for crying out loud! \nBut even if I don't have a column next semester, I will keep up with the opinion page every day, as I have since I was a freshman.\nI love that we have this open forum to express our ideas, beliefs and suggestions about the way this world should work. I love that every person has an equal opportunity to make his or her voice heard.\nPolitics, Starbucks, Coach Knight, Kirkwood, the quality of the IDS, IU President Myles Brand, sweatshops, God, the administration, traffic, dimpled chads, holidays, sports, the economy... we have a lot to consider, congratulate and condemn.\nNow... what are we going to DO about it?\nIf you wrote in because you were upset about poor voter turnout, what are you going to do about it? If you contributed because you want the community to support small businesses more, how will you promote that in the next year? If you think that it is outrageous that the president of this University makes more money than the president of the United States, how are you going to implement change? If you wrote in because you don't like my columns... well, please don't do anything about that.\nMy point is this: We are quickly becoming a nation of complainers. While it's wonderful that we speak out against what we feel is wrong, we must be willing to take action. Please, by all means, write a letter. But also find a way to improve the situation you're concerned about.\nI'm excited about a new semester and a new year. While New Year's resolutions are notoriously not achieved, I challenge you to make a few you can really stick to this year.\nTopping my personal list are voter registration, giving blood, promoting AIDS awareness, encouraging literacy and teaching others the joy of Shakespeare.\nIt is indeed better to take arms against a sea of troubles, as good ol' Will said, than to drown in them for lack of action.