Polarization: Growing Through Ideological Strife
On the night of my tenth birthday, voting took place to decide the 2016 presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. That night, I watched attentively as votes were tallied and candidates amassed electoral votes. I was devastated the next morning as I saw on the local news that Mr. Trump had won. After all, it seemed as though all of my advocacy and support of Secretary Clinton had amounted to nothing.
The following school day, November 9th, a friend approached me in the hallway, beaming and strutting with pride. “Are you happy that Trump won?” he asked earnestly. I stared him down, trying to process how he could possibly be excited or joyful about Mr. Trump winning. “Are you serious? You have to be joking!” I screamed out at him. “How could you possibly think that I would be happy about it!” Instead of resorting to silence, he began to inform me of all of the positive change that the Trump Administration would bring to the country, discussing immigration, healthcare, and several other issues. I immediately stormed out of the hallway in a rage, almost feeling proud of the way I had handled the situation. As I ate dinner that night, I informed my parents of what had transpired at school earlier. “Why would you storm off like that?” they asked furiously. “Why wouldn’t you show your friend any respect for his views?” “Because they were wrong!” I retorted. My mother sighed, shaking her head. “Ravin,” she started, “just because someone disagrees with you does not mean that they are wrong. You may be uncomfortable with everything that they are saying, but that means that you’re growing. And that’s a good thing.”
I realized that she was right. No matter how much I disagreed with my friend, I could not deem his opinion as any less valid than mine. It would not only be respectful of me to hear his thoughts, but also right. So, the following school day, I spoke with my friend about the election, the candidates, and everything in between. We disagreed on virtually everything. And although hearing the ideas that I vehemently disavowed made me uncomfortable at times, I realized that, just like my mother had predicted, I was growing. I was maturing. I was bettering myself and my understanding of the world around me.
As I grow, I expect to hear ideas that I disagree with and interact with students of different political backgrounds/affiliations. I expect to be uncomfortable at times. But, as time and experience have shown me, it is that discomfort that allows me to grow.
Ravin Bhatia is a rising high school sophomore at Brookline High School in Massachusetts and a Next Gen Civic Fellow. Working alongside several progressive groups and movements, he has developed a strong passion for politics and grassroots organizing, and enjoys discussing free speech and civil rights. In his free time, he plays tennis and spends time with family.