Gabby+C’s+2017+OpEd+Article

Credit: Gabrialla Cockerell

Use your first amendment right. No wait, shut up. Freedom of speech! “As long as it relates to my speech.”

Republican? Masochist. Conservative? Xenophobe.

This is no longer a liberal party that has formed such a basis-- but a whole country. Everyone has a right to their opinion… as long as it is popular. This has affected all sides of politics, yet prominent for Republicans in this area. Mutual respect for clashing beliefs? Is that a joke? Republicans inevitably deserve the labels as following: masochist, xenophobe, racist, bigot, sexiest. Republican men: no respect for women-- “they will submit to us.” Republican women: no respect for themselves-- always willing to submit to a man. Republican children: poor innocent defenseless and brainwashed… “Not in our state!”

Could the majority of the public name the core beliefs of a Republican? What do they really picture when they see the blue and red elephant? To have a republican view, __should__ look like support of some or all of the following: increases on the military, individual rights, big economy, strong central government, solid federal bank, conservative (on multiple platforms), etc. Not to make generalizations, but the typical non-republicans, whether they be democratic, liberal, green party, even socialist, generally approach this view with a negative connotation: “how could they support a platform.. Those loveless, selfish, people!” They generally only have constructed a view like this in the time of Trump. To have these beliefs, one automatically supports Trump, and if they do support him, they are condoning and conducting the same personal mannerisms and views completely parallel. News flash: not every republican is particularly fond of him. Even if they have picked him over Hillary. When a state is generalized into liberal by majority, that’s how students in up in their English and journalism classes, terrified of their opposition. Opposition in the form of debate has become a taboo-- but in a backwards sense. Debate is “supported”, but not really respected. Republicans have been conditioned to keep their words strained, while liberals are-- for lack of a better term-- throwing up their opinions on any ground and platform possible. And avoiding to be hypocritical, they most definitely have the right to; American forefathers fought for such a privilege in a world of literary and vocal suppression. The public hears daily wails of democrats crying out for Republicans to not __legally__ take away such freedoms; yet truthfully they have taken away some of the same freedoms from their opposers __socially__ and __mentally.__ Seemingly dramatic, but it is truth. Has anyone noticed that portion of the population who avoid a piece in the political talks? They may be the minority, but their mind is swirling with different views, passionate about them as much as the next person. The ones who are brave enough to place themselves in this hostile environment are labelled right away, just starting an alternate view. These conditions may have come about subliminally, but how could it not be noticed now? Where are the efforts to change? When students are questioning their core, weighing the thoughts of “I may be the only person who can see it this way” and resulting that this notion is negative and unsound : ERROR. Wake up world!!! For those who see the opposition of their views-- any slight altercation-- as negative: WRONG. People shouldn’t weigh the thought of “I may be the only one who can see it this way”... they should bellow the statement “I AM the only one who can see it this way!” Because their brains, their consumption of the world and thought processes cannot be compared to any other. Or fit into some pre made mold. Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives, alike should not be afraid to consider these thoughts and be proud to discuss them. Everyone has the right to value the thought, “my way is the best way.” Obviously they agree with that-- that’s the way they think! But when they force it, not offer it, to any other person, it will either dissipate mutually, respectable disagreement into a. A brutal argument or b. The suppression of one side's views. There is no longer a beauty of compromise, only the toppling of each other to both end up bruised, but one on slightly on top. Some Republicans and Democrats cannot even stand to be Facebook friends after such feuds! In areas of the country, the minorities of liberals have been scared to speak out against the popular view, and know they will be knocked out and not only told they are wrong, but right out insulted personally. And in the surrounding circumstances, it is seen being done to Republicans. Political parties have soared over just a section of our lives, a singular view in our minds, to somehow connected to our souls and our worth?! To have rival views has made one an unrespectable connection, and now, more worthless of a person to have around. They have a different light cast upon himself, based on just a portion of their existence. The long simmering heat of political parties has finally boiled over in the last year of so-- taking over a major area of the public's lives and how they view others around them. People have become somewhat careless of others. The generalizations made, without thought. The rants that no one asked for, yet cause those who oppose them to slink further back in the cave of silence. People are angry! America’s society has become one of strong undertones of hate for those who challenge them. No wonder; they have been influenced by the current political bosses use of these tactics. Joint and reciprocated reverence of debate has become basically only an idea; one sought after, yet seemingly far. Maybe the country has been too long influenced by twisted media or political talk shows basically created to trash the other side, but it doesn’t have to be present in Ventura’s homes and schools. These intellectual floors, of people who can actually consider the cliche “agree to disagree” and damn well follow it. Hearing one another out, weighing new ideas and views...It’s your turn to listen.