It is a week before the election and I have been given the opportunity to attend a political seminar that highlights the peaceful transition of power from one president to the next. Already completing one week has been one hell of a ride. From meeting with policy agencies to panels with CNN correspondents, as a college student, I'm learning a LOT.

This is what I have learned so far and what questions I plan to get answered this historical week.

During a screening of a documentary, "Bring It to The Table," one of the main questions filmmaker Julie Winokur brought to the table was the question of political tolerance. In the eyes of Winokur, she believed she didn't have that and went on the quest many people, like myself, would never want to embark on. She wanted to stop disagreeing and ask the question of, "why?" As the film progressed, I started to understand the message Winokur wanted to bring about: just listen. Listening to someone's political opinions is a difficult task to embark on due to heavy nature of political tolerance many of us don't have. In this political era, to say what party or side you are involved in is a way to immediate label someone and what they believe in. As a person who isn’t even allowed to vote, to observe such intolerance makes me question the direction this society is moving towards. Overall, it seems to be that the inability to listen or engage in a civil conversation comes from the leader of the party him or herself leads.

Do we still live in a society where individuals follow a certain consensus constructed by their party or leaders? When the highest representation of a party leans towards being stereotypical or racist, it gives citizens and followers of that party the okay or green light to live up to the ideology of this leader. If this political era continues to live up to this expectation, we are soon going to be normalizing division. Already, the nation is dividing at a rate that was never experienced and that is "un-American." Most recently, Gallup gathered that 77% of Americans believe this nation is more divided than ever. This record high does not come as a shock, especially when Winokur's film eloquently showed each party's stance on common issues (I.g. immigration, welfare, religion). Watching the simplicity and hearing the logic of some answers seems like common ground and intellectual conversation is one of the most difficult but durable and eye opening debates to embark on. So why do we still build a wall between the other side? Again, while division of ideas is a sensible topic, the idea that "I'm right, you're wrong," is closing the opportunity to be more open minded. Another aspect that gets put into question is when one does have the conversation, what counts as accurate information and what is opinionated.

As a journalist, I see how the media shapes political discourse. I see how issues are overexposed, underexposed, and taken to extremes. Unfortunately, the media is putting forward material that will capture the audience, without making ethical or logistical conclusion, just like when trying to have a political conversation. The issue of bringing up emotion with politics is also another angle that can be involved in the issue of political intolerance. Does showing emotion immediately make the argument presented not have any credit? Quite frankly, emotion is why President elect, Donald Trump, was able to get to the position he is today. The deep, patriotic emotion he was able to arise from the American people and his supporters is how he built his foundation. Many argue that bringing in emotion in politics makes one weak, but just like starting arguments, why does one side get to do the emotion upbringing without negative connotations? Throughout the next few weeks, I want to further investigate the question of gender in these discussions because I believe that gender and sexism is one of the most prevalent issues, especially when dealing with politics and at the highest level. Traditional values and modern values are the bases of each side and argument. To attainpolitical tolerance is part of our democracy, but we are the only ones who can jumpstart the movement to be peaceful and give full respect to the opposing view.