I’m just going to say something radical. Something that will probably blow your mind. Your politics do not define you.

Make no mistake, having a political opinion is wonderful, it makes an individual an educated, informed citizen. One whose able to make decisions they deem best for their country. But in an era that is willingly abandoning objectivity and rationality, and accepting ideologies through a misplaced sense of love and identity, is it possible for people to have a civil discourse when political views are so intertwined with identity?

Civil discourse, especially in regards to politics, is a tricky thing for many reasons. Politics is a subject that affects each and every individual, and the legacy that individual will leave as part of a nation. Identity politics, political policies and alliances based on specific gender, race, religion, etc, emphasizes the personal nature of politics and teaches people to seek policies and political parties that align to benefit their specific needs.

There is no better example of the irrational identity politics that plagues America than the reaction on college campuses across the nation after the election of Donald Trump. From Cry In, Protests, Group Therapy Sessions and even Teddy-Bear Playdates, the future generation of America demonstrates their profound inability to express themselves and their political opinions rationally, and their failure to engage in civil discourse.

With the rise of identity politics and little to no educational experience in critical thinking or reasoning; it is increasingly impossible for people to engage in political discourse without resorting to personal affronts or feeling personally offended.

As Winston Churchill said, "Everyone is in favor of free speech. . . But some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage."

But here’s the kicker, someone can disagree with your political views, and it is not a personal attack on you. Similarly, you can disagree with someone’s political views, and not dislike them as a person.

As Annie Holmquist wrote in an article for Intellectual Takeout, “The first is that schools are not teaching students how to engage in rational, reasoned discourse. . . Instead, we provide them with emotional counseling to work through their feelings or provide them with safe spaces to which they can go when they feel threatened.”

Without training in critical thinking and the ability to separate politics from self, the rise of outrageous reactions on college campuses, from violent and aggressive to infantile and coddling, it is imperative that millennials take back their political autonomy.

Your gender does not define your politics. Your race does not define your politics. The media does not define your politics. Your politics do not define you. If Americans learn to view politics as only one aspect of their personhood, people will be able to engage in rational conversations that will lead to true open-mindedness.