It is that time of year again when we all embrace the good campus of Oklahoma State University as our home.
Some of us are returning to this habitat, while others are arriving for the very first time.
Of course, this would fit the description of you freshmen (unless you didn't receive enough credit hours your first year).
For many freshmen, this is your first time to be on your own.
For the first time in your life, you get to run your life the way you see fit.
I imagine that most of you will go wild, disregarding everything your parents taught you, while few others will actually attempt to maintain some level of decency.
Some of you may adopt the insane notions that it is cool to stay up until 4 a.m. every night, that it is cool to miss class, and that it is cool to wear shorts in arctic temperature.
While these things are certainly the cool thing to do (not!), there is a price to pay for each of them.
Is it cool to stay up until the wee hours of the morning?
Be ready to walk around like a zombie the following day.
Is it cool to miss class?
Be prepared to take responsibility for flunking out of school.
Is it cool to walk around in arctic temperatures with shorts on?
Be prepared to come down with the flu, pneumonia, and heaven knows what else.
For all "cool" things, there is a price to pay.
These above examples demonstrate the concept of responsibility, a word that most people don't like to hear.
Since we're all now "out on our own," it's time to start taking responsibility for our actions.
Most of you freshmen will soon learn responsibility, but whether or not you choose to live responsibly is solely up to you.
There are definitely upperclassmen who still haven't learned to take responsibility for their actions.
Unless they change their ways, they will eventually become the whiners and complainers that inhibit society.
That sounds like a good way of living, doesn't it?
Responsibility is a concept that applies to all facets of life.
Let's look at two of my favorite topics — premarital sex and abortion.
In this case, the irresponsible position is to say, "Oh, I wasn't planning on having a baby.
A child would inconvenience me. It's my choice to dispose of it by aborting it."
Well, I'm here to tell you today that you made the choice when you hopped in bed.
Don't tell me that you didn't know that the hanky-panky leads to pregnancy.
You knew good and well what you were doing when you "got it on."
I realize that the abortion fanatics out there are going to start whining, "What about all those rape and incest cases. Those girls didn't have a choice!"
And that claim is absolutely correct.
However, let me just make one bold statement — look me in the eye and tell me that 100 percent of all abortion cases are rape and incest.
What's that? I don't think I heard you correctly.
Did you say that 1.07 percent was the percentage of abortions involving rape and incest (according to the Alan Guttenmacher Association)?
That's what I thought.
Basically, the point of this illustration is that you made the choice when you did the dance, now it's time to take responsibility for that action, even if it means giving birth to an "inconvenience."
Girls, if you want to go out and have sex like a bunch of prostitutes, then be prepared to take responsibility for diseases and pregnancy.
Guys, if you want to prove how studly you are by bagging as many girls as you can, then be prepared to take responsibility for diseases and fatherhood.
Abortion is a cop-out.
This is the meaning of responsibility.
Another case which demonstrates responsibility, or lack thereof, is drinking.
Being on the college set, I am acutely aware of the fact that many students feel that beer is the most important thing in life.
You know who you are.
Regardless of how important beer is to you, I'm here today to tell you that beer is way overhyped.
Everywhere you look you see commercials that have basically the same message, "Be cool. Drink beer. Get babes."
To date, my observations have shown that beer drinking will guarantee you only two things — a fatter gut and a slimmer wallet.
That sounds cool to me. What do you think?
As is the case with all alcoholic beverages, there is a level of responsibility to be maintained.
The most intelligent decision, of course, is to refrain from ingesting the only legalized drug left in America.
However, I realize that not everyone is capable of making a rational decision such as that.
This is where responsibility is key.
If you want to start boozing it up, then be prepared to take responsibility for DUI offenses, car wrecks, undesired sexual encounters and idiotic behavior.
It's a small price to pay, isn't it?
There is much that can be written on the topic of irresponsibility.
It's time to wake up to reality and start living responsibly, otherwise, your really do need mommy to wipe your tush.
We all know how cool that is.
Think about it.