I don't talk about politics to argue. I loathe arguing. I hate conflict. In fact, I just want everyone to get along. I'm an introvert-- if I could stay silent, believe me, I would.
But I've come to a point where because I want everyone to get along, I talk about politics.
Because it's a learning experience that I understand. I'm a former religious righter who just didn't understand these deep, complex issues that our country and world faces. I didn't understand how my beliefs actually HURT others. And I didn't understand how my religion and politics actually contradicted my personality and my faith.
I read and listened to only radically right sources that picked apart at the radically left. I didn't look at the root causes for outrage of moderates or left leaners. And I have a natural inclination to try to see from others' perspectives so I was in a constant tug-of-war in my brain that led to constant self-justification. From a young age, I was asking "why" (sorry, Mom and Dad), so not having answers was rough on me, and I looked for quick answers that were directly in front of me and stuck to them with loyalty, which is a deep part of my personality.
I feel like I'm at a place in my life now where I can keenly see the lack of understanding that comes from both the left and the right. People from both sides of the spectrum are upset, and have reason to be. But this is a longer conversation to have later.
As I grow older, I've learned to embrace my own emotional intelligence I've embarrassed about for most of my life. It's helped me establish a moral code to see life through, but I haven't always allowed it to help me see life through many shades of gray. Let's just say, it has full reign now, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Because with this emotional IQ, I can see that people are hurting. And people are especially hurting right now under this fresh administration. Racist rhetoric is now thought of as okay because it's spoken by America's leader. "Alternative facts" can be used as a justifying jargon so you don't have to look into why you're being opposed-- rather, you can use lies to create an "us vs. them" mentality to serve you. Gays can be prayed into straight people (as if they haven't already tried that...), because they must just want to choose to love the same gender even though they will face prejudice in America. And refugees left to flee death in their beloved home country, where they grew up with the families they love, but if they want to leave the country again to be reunited with their families, they can't come back-- because they will apparently be indoctrinated by the same people they were fleeing from in the first place.
When I talk about politics (or current events, really-- politics is a stigmatized word), it's because I see how current events are harming people... including many people that I love... including people that I recognize as non-genetic family. When I talk about politics, it's because I have listened to the hurts of actual people, not just the words from right news sources. When I talk about politics, it's because I have taken in a large portion of my religious upbringing, and still believe strongly in Bible verses like Proverbs 31:8-10:
When I talk about politics, it's because, more than ever before, I know what is happening. Thanks to my four and a half years studying English and Writing, taking Honors liberal arts classes, working in a Writing Center, and becoming a librarian, I know more about research! I'm not going to pretend I'm an expert, but all of this has changed my life and thinking patterns drastically.
And you know what? They were right when we were little: Knowledge IS power! It's freeing to not be within the confines of just one ideology. It's okay to recognize that I don't know everything, but I can look up sources from different news sources, from different viewpoints, from different countries, etc. and take the time to understand what's going on.
And the more I learn, the more I realize how much I DON'T KNOW! It opens up the world in front of me and I can see it from many colors, not just the colors of a Crayola box of 24 crayons.
And the more I learn, the more I realize how so many people just DON'T know what is going on. They hold their bitter, angry opinions because they have no idea why progressives are upset. They don't listen to the root causes. The more I talk with Trump voters, or Women's March opposers, or refugee ban supporters, the more I realize that they have NO IDEA why people are upset. They don't understand how people's lives are being affected. They don't understand how it's a human rights issue. And I understand this thinking pattern. I used to think this way. I've had to relearn some information because of bias.
But I've come to a point where because I want everyone to get along, I talk about politics.
Because it's a learning experience that I understand. I'm a former religious righter who just didn't understand these deep, complex issues that our country and world faces. I didn't understand how my beliefs actually HURT others. And I didn't understand how my religion and politics actually contradicted my personality and my faith.
I read and listened to only radically right sources that picked apart at the radically left. I didn't look at the root causes for outrage of moderates or left leaners. And I have a natural inclination to try to see from others' perspectives so I was in a constant tug-of-war in my brain that led to constant self-justification. From a young age, I was asking "why" (sorry, Mom and Dad), so not having answers was rough on me, and I looked for quick answers that were directly in front of me and stuck to them with loyalty, which is a deep part of my personality.
I feel like I'm at a place in my life now where I can keenly see the lack of understanding that comes from both the left and the right. People from both sides of the spectrum are upset, and have reason to be. But this is a longer conversation to have later.
As I grow older, I've learned to embrace my own emotional intelligence I've embarrassed about for most of my life. It's helped me establish a moral code to see life through, but I haven't always allowed it to help me see life through many shades of gray. Let's just say, it has full reign now, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Because with this emotional IQ, I can see that people are hurting. And people are especially hurting right now under this fresh administration. Racist rhetoric is now thought of as okay because it's spoken by America's leader. "Alternative facts" can be used as a justifying jargon so you don't have to look into why you're being opposed-- rather, you can use lies to create an "us vs. them" mentality to serve you. Gays can be prayed into straight people (as if they haven't already tried that...), because they must just want to choose to love the same gender even though they will face prejudice in America. And refugees left to flee death in their beloved home country, where they grew up with the families they love, but if they want to leave the country again to be reunited with their families, they can't come back-- because they will apparently be indoctrinated by the same people they were fleeing from in the first place.
When I talk about politics (or current events, really-- politics is a stigmatized word), it's because I see how current events are harming people... including many people that I love... including people that I recognize as non-genetic family. When I talk about politics, it's because I have listened to the hurts of actual people, not just the words from right news sources. When I talk about politics, it's because I have taken in a large portion of my religious upbringing, and still believe strongly in Bible verses like Proverbs 31:8-10:
Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.9 Speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.
When I talk about politics, it's because, more than ever before, I know what is happening. Thanks to my four and a half years studying English and Writing, taking Honors liberal arts classes, working in a Writing Center, and becoming a librarian, I know more about research! I'm not going to pretend I'm an expert, but all of this has changed my life and thinking patterns drastically.
And you know what? They were right when we were little: Knowledge IS power! It's freeing to not be within the confines of just one ideology. It's okay to recognize that I don't know everything, but I can look up sources from different news sources, from different viewpoints, from different countries, etc. and take the time to understand what's going on.
And the more I learn, the more I realize how much I DON'T KNOW! It opens up the world in front of me and I can see it from many colors, not just the colors of a Crayola box of 24 crayons.
And the more I learn, the more I realize how so many people just DON'T know what is going on. They hold their bitter, angry opinions because they have no idea why progressives are upset. They don't listen to the root causes. The more I talk with Trump voters, or Women's March opposers, or refugee ban supporters, the more I realize that they have NO IDEA why people are upset. They don't understand how people's lives are being affected. They don't understand how it's a human rights issue. And I understand this thinking pattern. I used to think this way. I've had to relearn some information because of bias.
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