We all have been subjected to it. The person that brings up the topic of the oh so relevant and inescapable politics.
You hear them as they begin to share (and shove) some strong opinions down your throat. Unbudging, loud and confident about the words that are rattling out of their mouths about some new scandal regarding the election, that seem to have the purpose of converting their listener rather than simply sharing.
Do they know they're just regurgitating words, and that they truly have not fully grasped idea of what the hell is truly going on? I mean, really. Do you know where your political opinions come from?
If you tell me you have read policy after policy, studied presidents' pasts, and can carry on more than a "Trump sucks" surface level conversation, by all means you have my attention.
I'm not arguing that we are all ignorant. No, we have the potential of being very intelligent. But truthfully, one of the most unstable and ever-fluctuating groups in the world is college kids. As we are just being introduced to politics, and for most of us this is only our first or maybe second election that we are able to "fully" fathom, we are still fetus' in the years and history of elections and politics.
Okay, sweet. We can vote, we can have a voice, so what's wrong with the guy who's constantly rattling off his extremist left opinions in the library or an extremely liberal woman that can't say enough crap about the notorious Donald Trump at a pep rally?
I'd argue, everything. Everything is wrong with college kids attempting to pretend that we know everything. That, because we can finally verbalize big words within our everyday vocabulary and have taken our first finance or business classes, that we understand the real world.
No. Not quite, and it's quite amusing hearing 20-year-olds attempt to refute arguments or promote their stubborn opinions on something they simply aren't ready to debate.
Most political opinion for friends of my own come from the voices of their most influential and respected figures in their lives... their parents.
They have gotten good at taking on opinions they hear from the angry voices of their parents and loved ones, constantly yelling at the television or laughing at a candidate's most recent statement, and spitting them back in the faces of individuals they feel they can also influence.
What I challenge you to do is to open your eyes. Realize that having strong opinions and stances is a great thing, but that to start this young in the ever-downward-spiraling fight the Republican and Democratic Parties have slipped into is something you must become aware of. It has become common in this country to be on one team or another, and to view the other side as the enemy.
Not to say that I'm preaching everyone should just "get along" because perfect harmony doesn't push a country to grow. But the hatred and animosity of a Republican versus a Democrat simply for being associated with one party or another has been rapidly growing out of control. The intolerance for "the other side," especially among opinionated and untrimmed college students is quite eye-opening.
I understand that both parties hold different views that the other does not agree with. I understand that college kids will continue preaching views that originate from places in society they may not be aware of.
What I hope is the result of this rant is that my peers--young college students--find a new way to express our views. Rather than discussing why one candidate would make you pick up and leave the United States without the actual reasoning behind it, why don't we just skip all the drama and exaggeration and think about really what's up our butts about all of this. The reality is, it's that regardless of the candidate, if they are of the opposing party, we will ridicule and shame them. I find this almost laughable.
Be wary the next time you're openly sharing your opinions with people whose opinions you already know do not align with your own. Don't deny their retorts that will undoubtedly fly your way.
To clarify, I am not someone that has strong political opinions myself, either. I can truthfully admit I don't spend enough time researching and educating myself on issues and the politics in America.
But I would attest that I have enough common sense and a good enough B.S. radar that I can tell when someone is speaking from their own opinion and when someone has really done their research.
Don't be a person that is in love with their own voice. Be in love with continuing to grow, continuing to challenge yourself on issues you don't understand. Be inspired by things you want to know more about, but do not fall into the all too common pattern of the performance of persuasion, especially in regard to politics.
Quite frankly, it is dense. It is predictable and repulsive to those that simply don't want to debate, but rather have opinions they pride themselves on simply because that's who they are.
Don't bully others into believing an opinion. Keep them, cherish them, pursue them. Pushing your beliefs on others will not only backfire and stir anger within you, but it will also continue this cycle of acceptance of ignorant big-talkers because the small guys don't give enough of a sh*t to express their opinions.
This next election, I encourage you to take time and educate yourself on the issues that are being presented. I myself am going to attempt to unbiasedly do the same. Issues that you care about the most in relation only to yourself and your morals are the ones to start from.
From there, let that guide your pencil to bubble the "right" candidate for you. But don't be dense. And do everyone a favor and don't pretend like your deafening voice will have more than one vote here in the land of the free.
