Speaker addresses importance of asking questions
After mentioning Marilyn Monroe’s sixth toe, James E. Shelledy, editor of The Salt Lake Tribune had the attention of Utah State University journalism students. He addressed them with a speech titled, “It’s okay to ask questions, even in Utah.”
It is a common analogy for people to say, “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it,” he said.
People overlook the possibility of improving it, he said.
“If we had accepted things as they are, there would be no cures for cancers. Columbus wouldn’t have found America,” Shelledy said.
In order for the world to improve, the men who went before had to ask questions such as “why?” and “how?” People today still must ask similar questions, he said.
“By nature we do not like to challenge answers. In accepting just one answer we limit ourselves to just one way of doing something,” Shelledy said.
Shelledy mentioned Martin Luther King Jr., Mohammed Ali and Joseph Smith as religious leaders who challenged the beliefs of their time. In asking questions about their current beliefs, they were able to improve their own religious beliefs.
“When you challenge other people’s ideas you help them challenge themselves. You may help them improve their basic idea,” Nicole Ashment, a sophomore majoring in physical education said.
Remember to be reasonable when you challenge things, Shelledy said.
“It is plain nuts to challenge everything. You don’t need to debate how to place your toothpaste on your toothbrush. Decide what is important in your life,” Shelledy said.
“In life there is no right answer. In things such as math there is one correct answer. In life there are second and third right answers,” Shelledy said.