Re: Simone

I find Simone to be one of the most annoying characters in this book, but nonetheless, think she represents an important demographic in the college application pool and leads the book to discuss the "preaching to the choir" argument against a attending a school whose political, social, etc. values are exactly in line with your own (Portia also brings this up when discussing her reasons for attending Dartmouth). I particularly identify with this because it was a major factor in my college decision process, but more on that later.

Firstly, why I find Simone so annoying. I think she is firmly rooted in post-modernist complaining mode. Though I'm not sure that this applies to arts or ideals across the board, the post-modernist theater movement was (and to a certain extent still is) rooted in social commentary and, frankly, complaint. Now in theater we see a movement not in a new direction, but father, into a more practical shift. I think this shift would do Simone good. Yes, there are numerous problems with the college application infastructure and practice, but whining about it will not change anything. Colleges as they function today need students like Simone to lead the other students and faculty to question and provoke. The diversity of students and ideas is something I love about Carnegie Mellon, but the lack of action is something I sometimes regret. The G20 was a chance for major political demonstration, and though there was that shanty town at the fence, and a few protests here and there, business mostly continued as usual. That being said, this is not a school of flag-bearers and hunger-strikers (on the whole, I mean, I'm sure its happened), but rather a school of insiders. Although our women may not be burning there bras (perhaps a little dated anyway) they are making advances in traditionally male fields tat would do many a feminist proud. I also think part of the quietness of campus activism is that we are either too polite or too busy to risk offending other people. I don't really like the baby graves the pro-lifers that give out hot chocolate set-up, and yet I choose to look away rather and walk to class, politely turning down their hot coccoa instead of instigating. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I firmly believe these/those people have a right to express their stance on the matter. It is an unfortunate truth that if I were to engage them on the subject, it might seem offensive, when really I wouldn't be out for attack. Maybe persuasion, maybe an understanding, maybe just the thrill of the experience, but not to merely offend. That's just rude. Looking at Susannah's life, I know that isn't the kind of politically active, socially aware life I want to lead (there's the part where Portia suggests Susanah tried out lesbianism, merely for...what? The trend? The experience of it?). That being said, I wish I had the time and energy to stand up for something and moreover, something I cared enough about to stand up for. That being said, if I did believe in something, I know I wouldn't thrash about like Simone does. I know she's high school junior but some one as smart as she is, she seems pretty immature. Although I think lots of very smart people are very immature. But that can be another post.