I use to despise politics. I thought it was just a bunch of apathetic people fighting over boring policies that didn't affect me. And then I became involved in social activism. Suddenly, I watched politics as much as my favorite TV shows. Now, it has become one of my favorite interests. But I get it. You may not feel the same way about politics.
You may agree with the old me: Who cares about a bunch of whiny people fighting over the economy? And while the basis of politics may just be a whole bunch of people arguing like children, it's actually much more. I totally get it if someone does not like politics. However, they actually affect you more than you may think. So here's five steps to get into politics:
1. Find something you are passionate about.
The issue that got me involved with politics was women's rights. And then it was like a domino effect. Soon, I got involved in all kinds of social justice movements. However, you don't have to do the same thing. Find something else. You really like animals? Learn about the laws that protect our animals and go from there. Like athletics and fitness? Search and find out about the obesity and exercise program our government has. The options are endless. The point is that you need to find a basis to start from.
2. Build your understanding.
This may be the most boring part, but just googling and researching online will help a lot. You don't need to know exactly how the government works, but use your basis to learn more about the politics in our country. Maybe even just search simple questions about your topic that may help your understanding.
3. Tell your friends.
I get it. When you and your friends get together, you don't really want to talk about recent events in North Korea. However, this step helped me a lot. I would tell my friends about how frustrated I was the inequality between and women. It was as simple as that. Sure, they made fun of me for a few weeks, but then they started to jump on the bandwagon. Now my friends and I are a feminist brigade that spends its time talking about the latest political meme.
4. Get involved.
No, you don't have to become a crusader for your basis. Instead, just spread awareness. We live in a world where the Internet connects us. Share an article on Facebook. Join a group at your school or near you that connects your interests. This step is not mandatory but it definitely will get a lot more active.
5. Spread your horizons.
Now is the time when you throw yourself into the chaos that is know as politics. This is when you immerse yourself in current events. You don't have to know everything that is happening, but you should have a good understanding. This is where you should be able to stand your own in a debate about your basis. For example, if your original interest was modern medicine, now is when you should be able to hold a stance on your topic. You should be well informed and in turn can debate your position. Also with this new information, you should have broadened your understandings and can now enjoy random political conversations.
And that's it. Will these steps work with everyone? No. Not everyone can enjoy politics. It's like how not everyone enjoys sports. However, using these steps you might find a new found interest. Plus, a basic understanding of politics will help you in a lot of ways. I believe that people who are more informed create a better society. Like my first article entitled "Why You Should Not Vote" says, you shouldn't vote unless you actually understand basic politics. So, in the end, my goal is to not get everyone forced to like politics. Instead, everyone who could like politics, should get involved. Who knows? You may find a new passion like I did.
