A few weeks ago, many U students protested the Iranian election and I couldn’t have been more happy. However, not all protests are treated equally. Why wasn’t there a protest over the meeting between President Obama and Hugo Chavez, the communist despot of Venezuela. I wonder why conservative protestors were labeled racist by Janeane Garafalo for having a Tea Party during which protesters creatively opposed new taxes with the Diff’rent Strokes catch phrase “What you talking about Willis.”
It’s good to see political expression by U students on matters important to this country because the U.S. media is often liberal. Its influence on all of us is substantial and tends to invigorate the liberal trend on campus. I believe conservatives represent a large share of the student body, but their voice doesn’t seem as loud.
I recently had an email exchange with Chase Clyde, president of the U College Democrats. I wish I could meet more Democrats like him. We didn’t delve into our issue positions, but he offered some insight from the side opposite to mine that made me think bipartisanship isn’t impossible.
“Turn off cable news and build relationships with those you disagree with,” Clyde said. “One of the best friendships I developed last year was with the former U College Republicans President, Heather Berg. When you make things personal, it’s easier to be empathetic and find some common ground.”
Clyde brings up a good point. Keith Olberman scares little children and house pets, and even I think Glenn Beck oversteps himself. Student political involvement is hurt by the growing divide between ideological sides. Drew Conrad, chairman of the U College Republicans and utahcr.org said he believes that “Without a doubt, the conservative voice is silenced on our campus.” Clyde agreed and cited a poll that many professors have a liberal bias, but he doesn’t agree that professors are indoctrinating.
Whichever point of view you agree with, there is an easy solution. I think conservatives are less likely to raise an opposing point of view because the stigma that might adversely affect the professor’s opinion of the student. But Conservatives could be less concerned if they stand up in large numbers. I feel a responsibility to stand up against gratuitous liberal “change.” Conservative thinkers should challenge liberalism embodied by fellow students and professors. It is the essence of political involvement.
Conrad sums up political involvement when he says “The right must be willing to see the world from the liberal point of view. Democrats hold their beliefs for a reason, and we must allow ourselves to walk in their shoes and gain understanding.” That goes both ways. Political Involvement is pointless if we don’t listen to those who disagree.
I like guns, support traditional marriage, oppose welfare and entitlement spending and side with the anti-abortion movement. I asked Conrad why this makes other students look at someone like me with a shocked expression. He told me conservatives “value their various freedoms and opinions for a reason. It’s not because they are bigots, it’s because they see things in those liberties that other don’t.”
As much as I would like to see the gap close between Republicans and Democrats, compromise and bipartisanship will not always work. In either case, anyone who ignores the opposition will have a weak logical argument and position leading to failure of their influence in politics.
I see this reality by listening to what President Barack Obama says about the stimulus plan and fiscal management and then refute him by reading a book and studying the merit of his economic plan. If I didn’t listen to what the Democrats had to say and only had an uninformed ideology, I would look pretty stupid. Political involvement on campus is more than just a right, it’s a responsibility and one’s greatest use of the First Amendment.
Similar to what Clyde and Conrad said above, responsibility comes with conditions, and in politics, it requires respect and understanding of the basis of disagreement.