Although The Daily Collegian is a small, provincial publication, it well illustrates a growing national trend. The American public seems overly willing to surrender what is, or at least used to be, a source of great national pride ... freedom of choice. Examples of such are readily visible in any given issue of the Collegian, but the Monday, Jan. 20 release provides an especially poignant case.

The Page Seven article, "Liability lawsuit against tobacco companies goes to trial Tuesday," tells the story of Richard Rogers and his struggle to quit smoking. Rogers successfully quit, but was diagnosed with lung cancer and died soon after. Prior to his death, Rogers filed suit against cigarette manufacturers, "claiming they caused his illness." The suit later increased in scope, charging wrongful death.

This case is a wonderful example of misdirected blame. Rogers was a victim of himself, not the cigarette manufacturers. He made the choice to smoke and in so doing, paid the consequences. The resulting legal action implies doubt of the individual's power to exercise choice. Rogers' suit suggests that the average person does not possess the choice-making ability necessary to defend him or herself from commercial appeal and must rely on a legal entity to do so. In short ... Americans are inept.

Two pages later, Eric Langborgh presents a sloppy argument regarding the future of public subsidies allotted to non-profit organizations. He claims, "No one wants to see an AIDS-infected man's back ...," "... no one wants to hear the multicultural, revisionist history...," and "The loss of this taxpayer-funded garbage won't offend anyone..." Langborgh, in a single paragraph, declares his willingness to limit both his selection of choice and that of others.

Richard Rogers lived in Indianapolis, Eric Langborgh lives in State College. This geographic spread indicated a national problem, not just a local phenomena. Nor is this problem a device of partisan politics. Just as Langborgh represents a right-wing movement to limit choice, anti-gun legislation serves as its leftist counterpart. Several contemporary examples exist. Pro-life advocates, the banning of "unsuitable" literature in elementary schools, and even Gary the Willard Preacher endorse absolute truths in which choice is denied.

Fundamental to the basic fabric of our political system is freedom of choice. For that which Richard Rogers took and Eric Langborgh takes for granted, desperate people worldwide struggle endlessly. They know what many of us have forgotten ... Choice is Freedom.