Throughout my life I have lived in almost every social situation possible and in as many places, too. From poor to the upper-middle class. From North Carolina to Miami. In each environment I was not only blessed with survival but with a new learning experience.

Throughout these experiences though, no other place has left a more expression able mark than Spokane, Wash., my hometown. Let me tell you why.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Spokane let me speak a little bit about her. She lies on the border of Washington and Idaho and is inhabited by 177,196 people. Virtually unknown, she is fast growing in population and status. A small town trying to exist in the confines of a big city is what I describe her as. From the time that I left, her population was currently trying to deal with Rose Bowl disappointment, while her women were once again being tormented by a serial rapist/killer (the first one being the infamous Green River Killer).

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There are only two words that I can find to describe Spokane:blue collar. She was built on the backs of extremely hard-working individuals. Although her financial state is probably the best that it has ever been, only a few hold the dollars, so many are left to scrimp and save to barely maintain their middle-class status.

Spokane is a microcosm of America. Although the cultural representation is lacking, Spokane embodies the state that America is in. Like America, Spokane was built on the backs of hard-working, exploited, and under-appreciated individuals. Like America, only a few hold the dollars while the rest are left to suffer. Like America, Spokane is full of aggressive, unmotivated youth that have been left abandoned by those that were supposed to be their teachers. And like America, Spokane is full of individuals and governed by officials that would put the blame on external forces rather than see that the problem lies with us.

Spokane attributes her problems to the influx of migrating Californians. America likes to place the blame on things like art and entertainment. Now if Spokane embodies all of that, imagine what the situation is in the more major cities of North America.

Whenever I speak like this, many like to think that I am exaggerating the situation. I have an older brother that likes to spit out facts and statistics explaining how much better America is now. Well, I have a few of my own. Every day, 10 children are killed by gunfire. Every nine seconds, a women is beaten or raped. Drug use in major metropolitan areas is at an all-time high.

Change cannot occur overnight. I want to urge the students of SIUC to realize their personal commitment to society. As you work toward that degree, also work to end the brutal existence that is America. Spokane once again reminded me of the desperation of these days. It begins with us. Have a good semester.