I used to think the world was black-and-white. It’s how I’ve always thought, and gray areas were simply escape routes for indecisive people in conversation. There’s this part of me that wants to believe that there’s a right and clear answer for every dilemma, every issue or every problem. What was always clear to me was that I was always right. No room for debate.
This is not the case for the most part. While I consider my quest for truth admirable, I often formed opinions without considering outside information. Unfortunately, this is a problem that many people face today.
It’s especially evident today, given how polarized our two primary political parties have become. Many can’t discuss opposing political views without getting into fist fights (look back to video footage of Donald Trump’s or Hillary Clinton’s campaign rallies for evidence). Republicans look down upon liberal scum. Democrats turn up their nose to the backward conservatives. This is at least something we can all agree on.
I get why we have different political parties; different people have different ideas. Surprise, surprise, there are people out there who think differently than we do! However, I think some who have pledged loyalty to a particular political party have become so accustomed to having their views affirmed by their buddies that any other view offered seems stupid, if not downright ludicrous.
Take, for instance, the issue of poverty. Let’s say we’ve got an impoverished man in his mid-30s, healthy, of sound mind, but just down on his luck. Traditionally speaking (and this is purely hypothetical), a Republican might suggest that if he’s able to work, then he should go out and find a job. The Republican might go so far as to give the man an application or even set up an interview. That way he can provide for himself without relying upon others to do it for him.
On the flipside, a Democrat might be more inclined to give him aid, whether that be directing him to a homeless shelter, providing him with a hot meal, etc. He’s hungry now, and tonight he’s going to need a place to sleep. Who’s right: the Republican or the Democrat?
he Republican or the Democrat may believe they are both in the right. The Republican may believe that the Democrat is merely enabling the impoverished man by satisfying his immediate needs and not his long-term needs. The Democrat may believe that the Republican is cold-hearted, neglecting the immediate needs and assuming the man’s condition came as a result of laziness instead of bad luck. Who do I think is right? It’s irrelevant; the goal is to help the guy out in whatever way we can.
The problem is that there are a lot of impoverished people out there, and both parties are so focused on proving the other wrong that they neglect the bigger issue. We’re so sure that our opinions and our positions on different issues are right that we neglect to hear what the other side has to say. We neglect to do our own research and form opinions based on fact rather than the opinions of others. I’m certainly guilty of it, and I’m sure a lot of you are, too.
I’ve changed my opinion about certain issues after conducting my own research in the past, and I’m sure I’ll do it again in the future. We’re always acquiring new information, and oftentimes that changes what we’ve thought about something. People thought the earth was flat for centuries before they were proven wrong by science. Some children believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows until they’re introduced to chocolate syrup. I thought I could make straight As this semester until I attended my classes. Our opinions change all the time when given new information.
Republicans could learn a lot from Democrats, and vice-versa. Both parties have great ideas on solutions to different problems, and even if they have different views, that doesn’t mean the opposing views are mutually exclusive. Sometimes both ideas could work; sometimes no one’s idea works. As long as the focus is on improving the lives of Americans, it shouldn’t matter who’s right. So stick together, America. We need everybody if we’re going to make this a better place.
Written by Opinions editor, Katherine Carter
