John Trudell, a poet, singer and activist for Native American rights, spoke Monday as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series to an audience of several hundred students, faculty and community members at the Wisconsin Union Theater.
Speaking in a broad style, Trudell addressed a wide array of issues including philosophy, politics and religion.
His political remarks provoked enthusiastic applause, his self-deprecating humor aroused bouts of laughter and his opinionated style prompted some audience members to trickle out of the theater throughout his speech.
Trudell devoted the bulk of his hour-long lecture to explaining his philosophical viewpoint. For instance, he explained his opinion on the value of words.
\Words have power because they're sounds in a vibratory reality,"" he said. ""We should be careful about using them frivolously.""
Further, he repeatedly stressed the importance of intelligent thought.
""It is better to think than it is to believe,"" he said. ""Using our intelligence clearly and coherently is our responsibility as human beings.""
Trudell suggested people use their intelligence to make distinctions among concepts. For example, he explained his view on the difference between freedom and being free.
""The reality of life was never about freedom. It was about the responsibility of being free,"" Trudell said.
He also discussed the difference between power and authority.
""Authority is a mutation of power, but it's not power in its entirety,"" he said. ""Knowing who we are-that's our relationship to power.""
Trudell voiced his dislike of the American political system and he invited the audience to show their dissent by refusing to support any candidate.
""I don't vote and the people that vote try to blame me for the political situation,"" he said. ""They don't realize that the largest political party in the U.S. is the non-voters.""
Trudell also blamed male god-centered religion for the prevalence of sexism in mainstream American culture.
""I think sexism is religion-based,"" he said. ""It exists because of our technological religious relationship with the planet earth.""
Jake Petranek, a senior at UW-Madison, found Trudell's speech thought provoking.
""I think it was pretty interesting stuff, a lot of stuff you don't often think about,"" he said. ""I was agreeing with most of what he was saying.""
Jacob Boersema, a graduate student at UW-Madison, was less impressed with Trudell's performance.
""I didn't like it as much,"" he said. ""I liked his positive attitude, but he didn't seem to have a good sense of what's going on in the world.\
