My name is Ali. I am 19, a Filipino-American, an accounting major, a Division 1 athlete, and an aspiring world changer and difference maker. I think it is important as part of Generation Z to voice my opinion about the state of our country.

"Make America Great Again."

This is a phrase that has been constantly circulating in the media and a good amount of people's first reactions when seeing that phrase is to roll their eyes or to at least associate a negative connotation with it. Well, I say this: our country has always been great. We were built upon the idea of being free from oppression, from tyranny, from the hold of someone that we did not choose to be controlled by. Today, I think we are slowly drifting away from the foundation that this beautiful country stands on.

I believe our country is possibly nearing a kind of "modern civil war." In politics today, you see a clear separation between parties. In truth, I think the separation of these two groups is constructive. This promotes argumentation and the spread of different ideas and viewpoints for the betterment of diverse representation for the millions of people in this country. But, what good is an argument if the two sides are not civil in manner and not well educated in the area that they are fighting for? I believe the purpose of argumentation is to present your thoughts to one another to understand the opposing perspective, to determine which side settles with you, and to possibly find some common ground.

Today I believe that there is a diminishing lack of general respect from the youth of today, from us not respecting our elders to not respecting the basic opinions and ideas of others. As I said before, arguments are best supported by evidence, so let's break down the very first amendment of our Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Let's talk about the idea of free speech. Conservative YouTuber Steven Crowder is a great example. He has a segment called "Change My Mind" where he sets up a table and a chair and invites people to discuss topics together. He gives them a chance to peacefully voice their opinion about the subject and pose their argument in hopes of changing his mind. This is a great idea to hear both sides of an argument and have some constructive conversation. The idea is to not only try and change Crowder's mind but after the conversation is over, leave both parties more informed about the opposing argument than they were before. Sound peaceful and civil enough for you? Well, in various episodes there are still people who are rude enough to impose on a civil discussion by cussing and yelling at Crowder trying to drown out his opinion. Is that what "freedom of speech" is today, butting in just because someone doesn't have the same ideals as you?

I will not say if I am a conservative or a liberal but I will say this: I respect both parties, I truly do. I find value in opposing thoughts and beliefs because it broadens our perspectives on the worldview of others and with more understanding comes more peace. But, if you come to vie for your argument, come with facts solid evidence to support yourself. My respect is not for those who come to argue with quotes from what they saw in a tweet that had 500k likes and retweets. My respect is not present for those who yell at others and try and drown them out with chants of the thing they support without having a solid argument behind it.

So my call to action is this:

Ask questions, educate, elaborate, define, discuss, and stand for what you truly believe in.

Don't believe something just because you heard it from a celebrity or what the "normal" thought is on social media. It's okay to be different, just be ready to defend yourself properly. Stand firm. Be strong. Be fearless. You shouldn't be judged because of your beliefs, but don't be caught off guard if you get criticized for believing something just because you are told you should believe it. Facts don't care about your feelings but facts can support them, and there is nothing stopping you from doing your own investigation to find the truth. You are free to build your own thoughts and voice your own beliefs based on facts. This freedom is what truly makes America great.