Martin challenges students to think critically

Award-winning journalist, author, and CNN commentator Roland S. Martin addressed the issues of politics and religion on Oct. 7 at South Campus.
About four hundred FCCJ students, faculty and community members attended the event, held at the Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts.
Martin described himself as a devout Christian. He made sure to clarify with the audience that he was "neither a Republican, a Democrat, conservative, nor liberal, but a man with a brain."
Martin said that when it comes to religion and politics people need to begin thinking critically.
With an energetic tone and affable attitude, Martin presented the issue of how faith and religion intercept with politics.
He said many people of faith are interested in more political issues than abortion or homosexuality.
"There's more to care about such as the war in Iraq, the environment, education, and so forth," Martin said.
He encouraged listeners to ask themselves: "What is really my moral view?" and "How will my decisions impact our future generations?"
Martin said that when a person runs for office he or she has to swear on a Bible to uphold and protect the Constitution and not his or her religious views, and sometimes his or her theological view is going to be in direct opposition with his or her constitutional view.
"Political figures shouldn't use their political office to oppress people of other faiths," said Martin. "They are sworn to defend the Constitution. That covers every one of all faiths."
He emphasized the importance of choosing a candidate in the upcoming election based on the issues that the person cares about the most, and what candidate has a solution or a plan to resolve these issues.
"We wanted to bring somebody that had a different perspective and that could share different ideas of what's going on," said Robert Greene, chairman for the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. Greene is a member of the committee which organized the event.
The presentation was followed by a question and answer section directed by Steve Piscitelli, a Downtown Campus professor of History, in which students from North and Downtown Campus stepped to the stage and asked the speaker about his opinion concerning constitutional matters as well as the role of faith and religious beliefs in politics.
"I though it was very thought provoking," said Piscitelli. "What he did is what professors try to do in the classroom - make the students think critically."
"I thought he did a great job outlining social justice and the interrelation of politics with religion," said Rachelle Wadsworth, professor of history at Kent Campus.
Wadsworth continued saying that her students got a lot out of it and that she was glad that Martin was able to come at a time when it is an election year, so students would be better inform about these elections and decide to vote.
"It struck my interest because his statements and opinions were so down to earth, and real," said Adam Smith, 17, a dual enrolled student at Kent campus. "He was honest and bold in his statements, and kept it real with the audience."
The Scholar's Round Table presented the event which was sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and by the FCCJ Faculty Senate.
"The purpose of the scholar's roundtable is to bring in nationally known speakers to our students and faculty, who would make us think about the world we live in, and just expand our perceptions of the world," said Tessie Bond, an FCCJ professor of psychology.
The day after the main event, Martin went to Downtown and North Campus to personally discuss some of the issues talked about on the event, give career path tips, personal responsibility, how to develop relationships with people, among other topics.
"He wanted to talk to students in a small, intimate group," said Piscitelli.