Killing other people is wrong. Racism is wrong. Sexism is wrong. Unjust wars are wrong.

Frankly, you aren’t helping though.

I know. We want to help, we are oh so passionate, we have all of the right answers. Right?

I write about these issues pretty much every week. I hear your voices. I hear your complaints. Being blunt, some of you are awful, but some of you—a very select few—have great points.

I am not a perfect writer. I write too slanted sometimes. I write too passionate sometimes. Other times I fail to draw in the entire audience.

This is how you are not helping my friends.

Where we try to meet at the corner of thoughtful discussion and open mindedness, we sometimes take a side step into Facebook.

In my opinion, posting your political beliefs on Facebook, or any other social media, is one of the worst things you can do for progress.

Not only does it alienate people who maybe don’t share your beliefs, frankly, you kind of look like a jerk.

“Look at me, look at what I believe, look how right I am. I’m not the problem. You are. I am so great!” This is all people are able to see.

Notice how the cause is never the center of attention, you are. This is not how it should be. It shouldn’t be about how you are right, it should be about why it is right. There is a huge difference between #blacklivesmatter, and marching in the streets.

Yes, some people don’t share your opinions. And maybe, their opinions aren’t that great or educated. What we fail to understand though, is that language, and rhetoric like this, only serves to divide us.

No one’s mind, no one’s opinion, has ever been changed on Facebook, so pointing fingers in pointless. It isn’t the stage for such debates.

What do we need? We need debate. We need open minds, we need patience. We need to leave Facebook for what it is, somewhere you go to find stupid cat videos, and how-to videos for food you are never going to make.

Look, being passionate is beautiful. Being educated is a gift. Having a craving for understanding, and the truth is a virtue. This makes it harder. Being passionate and educated makes us post condescending Facebook statuses.

Where having a craving for the truth, for what is right, for understanding people, requires much more than an internet connection and a Facebook. This requires action, this requires talking with people who you may not agree with. This requires an honest, open mind.

Very few achieve this, and that is fine. College seems like it is all about saving the world, but sometimes you can only save yourself.

Saving yourself, and being open minded to all of the possibilities, even those that mean you are wrong, is just fine.

We are all young, if we knew all of the answers wouldn’t that be boring. If I knew everything by the time I was 20 why should I even continue living?

Rather we should accept the unknown, and together attempt to answer the questions. Instead of alienation, instead of attitudes of elitist, why not humble ourselves, and work together to find a tomorrow that is better than the one we have today.

We all need each other, we all need differing opinions, and we all need videos of squirrels wake boarding.