Yoo Vee Ay

I like UVA. There is lots to like. The lush lawns (at least in the summer), the friendly students, the corner (a group of coffee shops and restaurants near the centre), the libraries.....the list goes on. Now, I must qualify this opinion with the confession that I haven't really attended any other US schools. But I feel I have some basis for comparison - having attended 3 other Universities in India and the UK (seems like I've lived my entire life inside Univs!).

For the sake of argument though - let us assume that UVA is just like any other american University and I would like those too. Extending this a bit further - let us assume that what is good about UVA represents, at least in some way, what is good about America (hmm...this is becoming a bit of a stretch). What are these qualities then?

For instance, one of the things that I really like about UVA is the way it encourages its students to think.Something that is conspicuous at UVA is a passion for free speech. The kind of debate I have seen around issues like war, terrorism, racism, minimum wage etc. is vigorous, free and open. Even when people disagree violently – they passionately defend the right of their opponent right to express his opinion. What is especially notable is the presence of romanticism – a strong desire to change things; to imagine what could be and argue that we strive towards it rather than accept ‘reality’ and ‘let things be’. Perhaps this is just a function of our age - the young are always idealistic yes? :-)

However, sometimes excessive romanticism can impede objectivity. Strong opinions coupled with insularity and a power to impose ones will, can lead to a dictatorial attitude. It is easy to see how American foreign policy in the last 50 years has suffered from some of these pitfalls. More recently, the effects of extreme romatisicim can also be seen reflected in the actions of jehadis or islamic fundamentalists. Idealism and Extremism - sounds like the same thing innit? Sigh...some questions even Nirvana Bhai must leave for the Guru to answer…

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

-George Bernard Shaw