On the evening of Wednesday, May 6th Congressman Earl Blumenauer visited La Salle to deliver his personal opinion on several current issues. I was privileged to be present at the event, and greatly enjoyed getting to hear Congressman Blumenauer speak.

The library was filled with a large crowd of both students and staff who were eagerly waiting to have their questions answered. Chris Harding, faith officer of La Salle, introduced Blumenauer with gratitude and welcomed him to La Salle.

Blumenauer began his visit by talking about our generation and how our peers will someday have the responsibility of fulfilling the duties of society whether it be it be in the medical field, politics, technology, etc.

His excitement towards new technologies that allow us to be more involved in news was inspirational and drew a connection to many students. It was interesting how he tried to make several connections with the younger audience by giving out his trademark bicycle pins, offering a few instances of comic relief, and telling students how much more productive the United States is now that social media is available.

After spending roughly thirty minutes on his introductory speech, students began to raise their hands for questions. Several questions asked were in regarded to the legalization of marijuana in Oregon. Blumenauer talked about how he supports the legalization of marijuana and believes that it is not an especially dangerous drug.

He stated that “I voted to legalize marijuana, [and] it is far less dangerous than tobacco, which has the ability to kill.” However, following this statement he clarified that “evidence is clear that the adolescent mind is damaged by the use of marijuana.”

Along with this support, he expressed his opinion about how legalizing marijuana across the entire United States could boost our economy and create jobs, rather than fund other countries.

Another important topic that was discussed included his opinion on the criminal justice system. His main concerns were based on the discrimination that young black men typically face. His main stance toward the criminal justice system was that “we have a terrible program dealing with the proper application of the law.”

He explained how young colored men are being thrown into jail a lot more. This is because people in poverty, which often disproportionately affects minority populations, have less of opportunity to have charges against them dropped and to hire lawyers, whereas a person who has a wealthy background can have a better chance of having their charges dropped. Blumenauer said that he doesn’t think kids should be put directly into the criminal system because it leaves life-long implications that can prohibit them from getting an education or a job.

After Blumenauer’s presentation, La Salle students gave him strong applause and many sought him out to ask more questions. The overall turnout was impressive, and many students invited people who attended different schools.  Earl Blumenauer’s appearance was greatly appreciated, especially since he touched on so many important topics that are relevant today. I entered the event unaware if I would gain anything insightful given that my stance on certain topics are firm. However, Blumenauer opened my eyes to new issues in our country and certainly gave me a new perspective.