Politics are everywhere. Especially after the midterm elections, there has been much discussion of political outcomes among peers when in class, family dinner conversations and online. Like many other controversial topics, people’s political views spark much discourse; unfortunately, not all of it is positive.
Twitter is a social media platform that reaches many types of people and is used as a news outlet for some. After the midterm elections, there was much backlash about specific candidates in which users would tell their followers to unfollow or block them if they voted for a specific candidate who they disliked.
It’s hypocrisy. Why begin to encourage and empower others if one’s intention is only to bring one down after doing so? However, this issue runs deeper than just picking out flaws in a candidate and rudely declaring their dislike for them.
Don Fry, an English teacher at Pleasant Valley High School, has picked up on many actions of his students revolving around political ideas. Fry said, “I have not seen politics in our country as divisive as it is currently.”
He continues to discuss how the separation of parties may affect people. Fry said, “It may be better to politically comply and preserve a relationship than to take a stance different from a friend or relative and undergo the conflict which often results. To many, maintaining harmony in a relationship is more important than arguing about the role of government or the scope of the 2nd Amendment.”
Unlike Fry, many do not think through an argument or post wholly while thinking of the consequences. The outright disrespect to others, whether it be on social media or in person, comes down to a negligence in understanding the differences on a political spectrum and other people.
Because of the normalization of this public shaming, certain individuals may feel there is no point in trying to understand these issues other than in just a topical context. When almost any political perspective is being ridiculed so thoroughly, many may find it hard to form their opinions.
Pleasant Valley senior Hayden Guenzler has witnessed much of the political shaming that has occurred online and in public settings. Guenzler said, “Often times I believe that people just have the same beliefs as their friends without thinking about it. People are scared of not having the same opinion as the masses so they feel defenseless when many people are bashing one specific viewpoint someone may have.”
There are greater issues than this. People group together based on similarities; often politics plays a role with this grouping. Therefore, an area could seem misrepresented based on a popular opinion. If someone has beliefs that oppose those of the masses, it may seem very overwhelming to discuss those beliefs.
Guenzler said, “Social media has so much to do with politics now. Especially with the heavy influence of younger generations on social media platforms, it sometimes seems as though all millenials are Democratic even though this is not the case. It may seem intimidating to certain individuals who are Republican, for example.”
It is pertinent to be able to feel confident, and well educated, on one’s own political beliefs. Very Much to often, individuals defend or strongly vocalize their views without truly knowing anything about them. They support this view just because influential members of society like friends or parents lean in that direction.
Fry has noticed that many individuals do not put enough time and thought into finding a viewpoint they claim to believe in. He said, “If I ask my students why are you a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent, and they can’t give me a reason other than ‘That’s what my parents are’, then that’s a problem. Students need to understand that politics are more important than just rooting for a sports team; they are the fundamental reflection of what we value as both citizens and humans.”
To avoid this hateful way of clashing opinions, it is pertinent to be able to understand one’s own political views as well as others. Discussing differences of opinions can be a very positive thing but it must be done in the right correct manner. There are typical viewpoints on issues that are deemed traditionally Republican and Democratic. Read on to help discover where your beliefs lie so you can maintain an educated stance.
Republicans believe that each individual plays an important role in society and believe the government should be as separate as possible from individuals’ lives in society. It should only intervene when deemed absolutely necessary. Because of this, they think that government should be implemented more so at the state and local levels rather than at the federal level.
National freedom within the United States is the main focus, in the eyes of the Republicans, but they also believe that peace and human rights should be spread throughout the world. There are many other individual issues that Republicans typically follow, but that does not mean that one has to agree with everything listed to identify themselves as Republican.
The Democratic party believes in equality in every aspect of life. They believe the environment should be protected and that any person regardless of their sexual orientation, religion, gender, or race should have equal rights. They also believe that there should be a larger tax gap between the different classes and that there should be a decrease in the spending of the government.
Same-sex Marriage
Republicans typically do not support gay marriage because of the original idea of the institution of marriage; they believe the states have the individual power to vote on these issues.
Much different than the Republican party, the Democratic party believes that same-sex couples should have the same equal rights as heterosexual marriages, including financial benefits.
Immigration
There are many viewpoints on immigration within the Republican party, but it is commonly viewed as an issue regarding legality. They do not believe immigrants who have come to America illegally will not have the same benefits as legal citizens.
Because the United States was a country based on immigrants, the Democratic party supports immigration. Democrats wish to implement changes in the current immigration laws and want to be able to give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.
Gun Control
Regarding gun control, Republicans wish to uphold the Second Amendment and believe that guns should be used for personal protection.
The two parties take different stances on the Second Amendment. The Democrats do not wish to override this amendment; however, they want strict regulations on firearms, and in particular, assault weapons. They believe that the right to own a firearm is subjective and wish to implement laws to ensure that only specific people should be able to own a gun.
Abortion
Republicans hold a pro-life belief. Based on the rights written in the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, they believe that unborn children have the same rights and that their life should not be violated by others.
The Democratic party’s stance on abortion heavily comes from the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case. They are pro-choice and stand behind their belief that a woman has a right to her own body and may abort her unborn child if that is the choice she wishes to make; the party supports this even if the woman is unable to pay for this procedure.
Regardless of where one’s political viewpoints align, it is important to understand that politics is a large part of society. Things will not always run smoothly in the political world, but it is the individual’s responsibility to control their environment; they must effectively convey one’s ideas without tearing down those of others.
