Frankly, I was astonished to read a quote attributed to UNC Chancellor James Moeser in your May 3 article "5 arrested at UNC-CH sit-in."

While there is much hand-wringing about the "apathetic, self-centered" generation, we UNC-CH alums can be proud that UNC students have been steadfastly campaigning to build a better world. These students want UNC to join many other universities in the Designated Supplier Program, whose aim is to ensure that workers who make UNC trademark clothing earn a living wage and have some voice in their working conditions.

Moeser is quoted as saying, of the campaign: "It's idealistic. It's equivalent to trying to bail out the Pacific Ocean with a teaspoon." Sound familiar? It's almost exactly what was said of Mother Teresa when she picked up the first dying person off the street.

Is the suggestion that we should not bother to envision or work for peace, justice, human rights, if we can't do it all at once? Are we to barricade ourselves in our homes, lock our teaspoons in the drawer and watch sit-coms?

Here's an alternative suggestion: Ocean-bailers unite!

Pass me a teaspoon, and let's all keep working together to bail that ocean, one teaspoon at a time.

Jean Chapman

Bear Creek

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.