I remember taking a quiz in government senior year in high school to see where I fell on the political spectrum. According to the quiz, I identified as liberal, which was true at the time. My junior year in college, I found the same quiz online and decided to take it. After being exposed to new ideas throughout my college career, I was not surprised when my result came back as moderate.
I have as many liberal views as I have conservative views. I am pro-life, but I'm also a firm believer in equal rights for all. I think Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy were both incredible presidents. I think both Bill Maher and Bill O'Reilly are equally ignorant and annoying. I think both Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton are both incredible and classy women, and that they are both incredible role models for women. I believe our society should be a meritocracy, but I also believe in equal opportunity, although it doesn't mean equal outcome. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum, and I have met as many incredible and as many rude people on both sides. I could go on for days.
The point is, I see both sides. Most people become more liberal when they come to college, but I became more conservative. I think it is wrong to demonize either side of the spectrum because you disagree with them, not all republicans are evil misogynists (I'm calling you out Laci Green, calling republicans "rape-ublicans" is wrong on so many levels) and not all democrats are lazy criminals (I'm calling you out Ann Coulter for literally everything you've ever said). I think political correctness is a form of censorship disguised as acceptance, and it drives me crazy that it is everywhere on college campuses. Having any conservative views on a college campus nowadays is seen as deplorable. I'm seen as a traitor to my own gender for being pro-life, please tell me how shaming me for my religious beliefs is pro-woman? I'll wait.
Before this election, I loved politics. If I hadn't discovered my love for journalism I'd probably be studying for the LSAT's right now, and I'm glad I'm not applying to law school. I love history and I love this country, which is why today's political climate absolutely breaks my heart.
With a neutral stance, I see good and bad on both sides of the spectrum, and the political divide that currently exists in this country breaks my heart. The only way to fix this divide is to come together because at the end of the day we're all Americans. I encourage everyone to look at both sides of the political spectrum, even the stances you disagree with because you'll be dealing with people you disagree with for the rest of your life so you may as well get used to it. The only way to get rid of this divide is to try to understand each other and come together. America is the greatest country on earth, and we need to start acting like it.
