Politics: Being Informed On The Issues Before Choosing A Side | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Politics: Being Informed On The Issues Before Choosing A Side

How can you put down someone else's opinion if you cant even support your own?

23
Politics: Being Informed On The Issues Before Choosing A Side
www.wbur.org

Just a few weeks after our new president has taken office, it seems particularly relevant to discuss why it is so important to be informed on political issues, even if you don’t consider yourself a “politics person”. This article has nothing to do with a particular political standpoint; but rather it is about the importance of being informed on both sides of the argument, not just your own.

Growing up in a household where one family member is a conservative Republican and another a liberal Democrat, has allowed me to grow up hearing both sides of political issues equally. However, many households contain members that all associated with the same party or all take the same stance on important political issues. There is obviously nothing wrong with this and in fact, it is probably more common. However, for children and teenagers whose minds are in an incredibly malleable state, having such strong opinions constantly in the atmosphere can hinder their ability to form an opinion of their own. Clearly, it would not be right (or possible) to ask people with strong political opinions to silence them in front of their family members. It is our constitutional right to share our thoughts as loudly and proudly as we see fit. In my opinion, it isn’t that families should stop sharing their opinions at the dinner table, but that they should at least explain why they feel the way they do. Give an explanation for your opinion and even go as far as to explain the other side of the argument and why you don’t agree with it. This gives a child or teenager the chance to learn more about the political issue and allows them to start to think about their own opinion on the matter.

Why the emphasis on explanations? Being a student at a liberal arts college has placed me in one of the least politically neutral settings that I have ever been apart of. The most recent election caused a particularly high amount of distress amongst students for reasons that are not relevant to the point of this article. The part of this distress that is relevant, however, is that trying to engage in a constructive and civil political discussion with a peer was nearly impossible for a number of reasons. One of these reasons was that this election struck a particularly emotional chord amongst many students. Another reason was that so many people felt severe hatred towards one or both candidates, but could not explain even one their standpoints on some of the most important issues the country is facing today. After several conversations, I realized that several “haters” of Trump could not name even one of his stances on oil or energy. “Haters” of Hillary could not tell you her stance on health care. I am remaining completely neutral in this article as to whom I voted for because it does not matter. It is natural and expected to favor a certain candidate over another. However, it is our duty as American citizens to look passed the gossip, biased social media, and strong willed family members or other influences. In other words, it is our privilege to have and proudly share our strongest political beliefs. Nevertheless, to form an opinion, or to harshly and with brutally negative discourse disregard someone else’s opinion without first understanding basic current events, seems like an abuse of this privilege. I am not saying that you cannot share your opinion, I am just suggesting that understanding why you feel the way you do makes your argument that much stronger. Before you put other people down about their political beliefs, make sure you at least have a strong foundation on your own.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

293
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

3811
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2332
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201680
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments