This often means my columns will address issues without the strong “opinion” that you’d expect from this section. I want to avoid being “that columnist” who wrote “that article” about “that issue.”
That columnist
“What should I write about?” I often have to ask myself. More often than not my column ends up being related to Islam, Pakistan and the occasional viral video. I doubt that people will have strong criticisms of my love for YouTube greats, so that’s always a nice thing to write about.
Then there’s Pakistan and being a Muslim in America, which are my “issues,” some would say. There are many reasons why I would choose to write about both of those topics. Being one of the few Pakistanis on campus gives me the advantage of having some credible knowledge about Pakistan, though some might disagree. Pakistan and its politics are important to me, but they concern America as well. In the current scenario, with drones abounding and a CIA agent being arrested for murder in Pakistan, I often feel I have to further the debate from a Muslim perspective to add to the voices on campus that discuss important issues that will affect all of us.
All that’s fine, but for the most part I feel safe writing about Pakistan and Islam. In an environment where we constantly fight to be heard, fight to define ourselves, fight other people’s egos and fight our own egos, I feel safe knowing that I have some authority to say something about my country and my faith.
Perhaps I only write about what I do because I feel I can’t really write about other issues. What gives me the authority to do so?
What gives me the mantle to say something about education policy, or the honor committee or just everyday ways in which Princeton students interact? With some brutal attention that some columnists have received, and complete ambivalence given to others, I must think twice when I choose what to write, what to defend and what to argue and which side of this debate I want to be on. You could say that thinking more about these concerns makes me a better columnist. This might be true, but the greater issue is having to censor myself for fear of negative attention.
That article
But both issues, Islam and Pakistan, are not non-inflammatory, to say the least. I try constantly to avoid saying something controversial. But it is important for me to raise questions and to add to the debate. Because, quite frankly, I am no authority on either Pakistan or Islam. I am just a Pakistani and a Muslim, not an “expert.”
And so while it’s daunting to write to an audience that has been known to be vicious to ill-formed opinion, it is also comforting to know that I can have a meaningful impact by asking questions that I know we are all capable of thinking and forming informed opinions about — even if we’re not capable of answering them.
That issue
Most Princeton students have strong opinions, which is what makes this such a great place to be most of the time. The exposure to differing points of view, the experience of being challenged by other beliefs and arguments is what makes us what we are.
But from controversial issues like Islamophobia and the King hearings, to hummus to the politics department, there are safe things to say and safe places to say them. And many times differing points of view engage very little with each other but find their own cliques where they continue to polarize.
But writing for the ‘Prince’ is like participating in a big precept discussion. Should I ask this question? I hope it’s not too obvious. Should I say I agree with this? What if everybody disagrees?
A great institution has given us a great forum at which to voice our opinions and to listen to our peers and our elders to define and refine our versions of the truth. Surely we can’t be that dismissive of the people around us? Debates on campus issues often get so heated that I feel we lose respect for one another altogether, let alone our arguments. Even this article may be just another effort to raise more questions, with perhaps few answers; after all, I’m just a columnist.
Zeerak Ahmed is a sophomore from Lahore, Pakistan. He can be reached at zahmed@princeton.edu.
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