Politics are hard. Every policy has intersections of class, gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity and it’s always bound to make someone angry.
It’s supposed to be, because politics effects every single human on this Earth personally. Obviously, some to a much more severe degree than others.
But here’s the thing — you don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to claim to be all knowledgeable on every policy. It’s OK to ask questions, to change your mind, to gather facts and read accordingly. These seem like simple statements, but given the incredibly polarized bipartisan system we have, it’s a lot more complicated and usually ends up one side yelling at the other and nothing actually getting done.
I respect people’s opinions, and am ready to discuss if I am given the same respect in an intellectual conversation about politics, but here’s where I start to get frustrated at the state of political discourse in this country: Apathy.
People who are so uncaring about the world constantly shifting around them and unflinching as they pass by huge opportunities to bring about some real change. It’s also interesting to me that it’s these same people who complain about the garbage state of politics in this country, yet do nothing to change what they’re so angry about.
It’s like looking at a ditch in the road with shovel in hand and dirt to your side and being angry that you keep falling into it.
You have the power to create change. You have the power to fill that ditch.
I understand it’s hard work, but if it’s something important you have to be willing to put in the effort.
Where we would be without the sharing of opinion, activism and heated debate?
What if Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Muhammad Ali, Malala Yousafzai, MLK and Gloria Steinem all just did what they were told and kept to themselves because it was easier and they didn’t want to rock the boat?
Where would we be as a country? As a nation? As a people?
We thrive on controversy whether we like it or not. One of my favorite things about being human is the differing of cultures and ideas. Yes, even ones that I disagree with. But simply not having the empathy or passion to be informed about the current state of the world is shocking to me.
Where along the way have we glorified maintaining some brand of neutrality and celebrated not stirring the pot because of the possibility of being challenged or having thought provoking discussions with friends?
As someone who voices strong opinions frequent and often, I have had lots of people (family, friends, peers, strangers) tell me to relax and that I’m just too much for them.
Well, here is my formal apology.
I am sorry that I care about the fellow humans I share a planet with. I am sorry that I worry for the future of not only myself, but any future children I might bring into this confusing world. I am sorry that I love to pursue knowledge and try to use that to tackle issues of life or death. I am sorry that all of this is considered controversial and annoying.
I hope you don’t let people’s own lack of passion dull your fire in any way. I would rather have people dislike me for my opinions than not have any convictions at all. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like an incredibly average life and I wish to be anything but average.
If you don’t stand for anything, you’ll fall for everything.