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Editorial: Political tolerance at Uni
Gargoyle illustration by Lor Sligar (click to enlarge)Published: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 1:08pm
A TOTAL OF six Uni students will be eligible to vote today. That's about 2 percent of the total student body.
This, compared to other schools where nearly all students turn 18 during or around their senior year, is a small number. Even fewer are actually planning to take advantage of their voting privilege.
The vast majority of our student body will have no direct effect on the outcome of this election, yet politics is still a main topic of discussion heard throughout the school.
Some of these conversations eventually turn into arguments, with students sometimes going so far as to insult other people in order to get their political views heard and supported.
Do these discussions achieve anything? Is an argument going to change someone's mind?
Uni is reputed to be extremely open-minded, but it seems that many of the more outspoken students are the liberal ones, who generally support Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and loudly question those who support Republican John McCain.
In addition, the majority of Uni students tend to be liberal politically, as evidenced by the overwhelming backing that Obama received in the Gargoyle's recent mock election.
All of this means that conservative students tend to feel outnumbered even before a discussion begins. They often feel like they have to get defensive if they want to have their voice heard — and then everyone gets angry.
Conservatives are not the reigning majority here at Uni, but does this mean that they should feel uncomfortable voicing their ideas?
Many Uni students claim they are open to what other people have to say, but is this really true? We pretty much listen. But doesn't it still seem as if the conservative voice is suppressed? How many conservatives do you hear speaking out? One? Two? How willing would you be to voice your opinion if you felt as though you were going to immediately get shot down?
As Uni students we have to understand that it can be hard to voice your opinion if it doesn't support the majority. If a conservative student says something that a liberal student doesn't necessarily agree with, then yes, the liberal student does have the right to respond. But, when it comes down to one conservative having to defend himself or herself against multiple liberals, isn't that a little overwhelming?
Although we may not intend it this way, it's easy to disregard the notion that someone else may be feeling oppressed; students who get bombarded with a bunch of "you're wrong" comments may feel like they're getting attacked, even if that was not the intention. As Uni students we're known for openly expressing our opinions. "If I disagree with someone, why shouldn't I have the right to state that?"
It becomes a difficult situation, because everyone should have the right to voice their opinion. At the same time, though, we have to make sure that we're doing it in a way so that everyone can feel like they're able to do so.
We've all undoubtedly had a time in our lives where we've felt like we should just move into a corner and keep our thoughts to ourselves. But having experienced that we know how uncomfortable it is; it's not a good feeling. At Uni we're good at discussing, but we need to make sure to diversify our discussions to include the minority opinion.
Sometimes it's hard not to shoot back with a harsh response when someone says something you blatantly disagree with. This is not to say that those with the minority opinion should have any privileges over anyone else. They too should be respectful with what they say and how they say it.
But, when all is said and done, we need to try to take a walk in the other side's shoes. We should try to be more accepting and not just break things down into conservative, liberal, Democrat, or Republican categories. Not all people who classify themselves as part of one group share the same exact opinions, and we should make sure all voices are heard and feel as though they're comfortable enough to share their thoughts.
By tonight or tomorrow morning, the results of the landmark 2008 election will be in, and the country will know who will lead us through the next four years. Some of us will be disappointed, and arguments are sure to be heard in the hallways. How will you handle it?
Comments
Even the teachers inject
Even the teachers inject their political (meaning liberal) opinions into class time. Uni may be tolerant in some ways, but it is certainly not tolerant of the republican party as a whole (not just conservatives). Republican students have been threatened, belittled, and brushed off as lesser people with unimportant opinions. It is perplexing to me that we are treated so badly when so many democrats at our school don't even watch the news.
We don't "feel" like we're being attacked. We are being attacked. We've had propaganda about President Bush shoved down our throats for years; we've had propaganda about McCain for the last year and a half; and when the next election comes around, it will all start again. We shouldn't have to ask for respect. However, some of us have had to literally beg people to stop treating us so badly.
Haven't you ever noticed that the republicans at this school don't say bad things about liberals, only try to defend ourselves with solid facts?
The treatment of Republicans at Uni is just wrong.
Being "more accepting" isn't enough. At the culture fair, are you trying to be "more accepting" of certain cultures, ethnicities, races that you previously discriminated against? No, it is a given at Uni that you believe those cultures and ethnicities and races are equal to yours already, you're just displaying information for people to understand the culture better. The same philosophy holds true for politics. We should already be your equals.
I'm a liberal, but I
I'm a liberal, but I completely agree with you. And the whole teacher thing, what is up with that? I can tell you the political opinions of almost all of my teachers, and thats because they yell it out in class, make jokes about candidate (sarah palin..), and its just kind of ridiculous.
When you defend yourself
When you defend yourself with "solid facts" however, it usually helps to have a political ideology that hasn't been wrong about 90% of the time.
Opinions on candidates
Opinions on candidates cannot be "wrong." They might not seem the best to you or me (I admit, I lean to the liberal side), but opinions are not ABLE to be wrong, unless versus fact. In your case, it is not versus fact. Opinions and statements like this are what makes Uni such a torment for some Republican-leaning students.
Teachers
I'm not sure that State of Illinois employees (Uni Teachers) are ethically allowed to express their own personal political opinions while on state time (in the classroom).
at the same time, aren't you
at the same time, aren't you guys being, well, not very tolerant towards the teachers' views when you say that?
freedom of speech is for everyone
It can be hard to speak up
It can be hard to speak up against teachers but at the same time I'm glad that Uni has the atmosphere in which we're able to discuss political topics in class. Some times it might not exactly be a "discussion" but I'm glad that our teachers are able to keep us informed; even if you don't agree with the statements they make, they're still keeping you on the balls of your feet. I understand that it may be particularly hard to argue with a teacher, but I still respect Uni High for having the open atmosphere where we don't just brush aside current events.
Teachers Are
Fully entitled to their own opinions, but not in the classroom. If I seek out a teacher and ask for his or her opinion on a political issue, that's perfectly acceptable. But if I am sitting in class trying listening to them lecture, and all of a sudden there is a less-than-flattering comment thrown out here regarding Sarah Palin or there regarding Barack Obama, I am very likely going to be offended: It's not my teachers' job to tell me what their political opinions are. There's no room for it in the classroom. And, also, it's technically illegal.
-Stef.
The problem is that when
The problem is that when teachers bring up politics in class, it never IS an open discussion. Some of the things that are said are not only offensive but completely and utterly inappropriate. Because of the economic element of this election, I have had teachers who have gotten into money discussions. Is it okay to ask students how much money their parents make?
I don't think so.
It is illegal but there isn't much the administration can or will do about it, unless kids start recording classes.
Freedom
Using group pressure and fear of separation to promote a political belief is not freedom of speech but an abuse of power. Uni seems to promote all areas of diversity except diversity of opinions and thoughts.
Well said. I completely
Well said. I completely agree. People use the excuse of freedom of speech when that freedom is being abused.
-1st commentator
They're just telling us what
They're just telling us what they believe, just like we do when we talk about it in the hallways or on facebook. If you don't agree with what they say, then speak out - you don't have to take it lying down.
By your logic, nobody, should talk the political opinions in any kind of public setting. Just because a teacher states their belief in class, it doesn't mean hat they're trying to force their views on you.
Teachers expressing their opinions is not illegal.
Hi Stefanie and others,
Suggesting that teachers are violating ethics laws by expressing their opinion is a rash and unresearched conclusion.
First, as a student at a state college (the University of Illinois), all ethics laws apply to you as well. In this case, you also should not be expressing your political opinions.
But the fact remains that NO teachers at Uni have endorsed or campaigned for a candidate or party using University resources or on paid time. No teachers have implied an institutional endorsement for any candidate or party.
The first amendment graciously allows for freedom of speech, and that includes ideological opinions. Making fun of one candidate is not the same as endorsing the other.
In addition, there are many topics, especially history and the humanities, where education mandates expressing or discussing opinions.
After some research, I see
After some research, I see that the Illinois State Officials and Employees Ethics Act does not apply to students unless they are also employed by the University. And, there are many more restrictions than implying an institutional endorsement for any candidate or party.
However, using the legal system to set the standard for morals and ethics is not exactly setting the bar high. Teachers are in a clear position of power with the support of the majority of students. If they continually push one political point of view and even make fun of another view or candidate, they are not establishing an environment where a diverse set of ideas can be easily discussed. Is it illegal or is it just wrong?
By the way!
I never mentioned: Lizzy and Lauren, THANK YOU for writing this article.
As can be seen, there are still many issues surrounding this topic, but speaking as one of the few right-leaning people in the school, I appreciate the article. Well done Ladies!
Cheers!
What is political tolerance?
Is the concept of "political tolerance" really valid? "Tolerance" seems to me to be a concept that doesn't apply in a debate that is fundamentally about how the country should be run and what the core values of America are. We need tolerance of cultures, sexual orientations, etc. that are different from our own because those are issues of other people's choices and lives and don't directly affect us. Political views, by contrast, carry an implicit desire to see them implemented. When coming down on one side or the other of an issue that affects not just you but the entire country, as issues in national politics tend to be, you can't ask that other people respect your differences. You picked the opinions you hold and if they are challenged it is your responsibility to either defend them or renounce them.
Remember that you are deciding what you think is the best way to solve major problems in our society, such as armed crime, the focus of the gun control debate, or how to stimulate the economy, the focus of the taxation debate. You may even find yourself arguing about what America's goal and guiding philosophy should be (world dominance through economic means? The creation of an environment of completely unfettered freedom at the cost of protection? A controlled and safe society with the potential for abuse of power? A state dedicated first and foremost to caring for its citizens?) The answers to these questions affect us all and if your viewpoint has too many problems, you shouldn't feel somehow bullied when people point out the flaws in your reasoning.
If you find yourself constantly losing debates, that's not a sign that you're being put upon unfairly, that's a sign that you need to reexamine how you see the world and maybe make some changes. I have limited tolerance for people who don't do that, and I don't think that's unfair.
I agree. There's a
I agree. There's a distinction to be made between people saying "you're stupid for how you look at things" and someone poking holes in another person's views during the course of a discussion. The former could be labeled "political intolerance" because it is an attack on the person, not their ideals. I don't think this is the case, at least not at Uni. Sure, most of my teachers don't share my political views, neither do most of my classmates, but this isn't intolerance any more than the two candidates are intolerant of each other during a presidential debate. This difference of opinions is what keeps us thinking, finding ways to reinforce what we believe while still considering different ideas and fitting pieces of the puzzle together. I do feel that this creeps in to the classroom a bit more than it should, but I'm not here to complain. I welcome different opinions from my own, even in much larger numbers, because only through these outside opinions can we learn that ever-important balance of concrete beliefs and open-mindedness.
Well Written!
I think this is a really well written and important article, good job! And I have to say, although my political views probably differ from Stef's, I feel sometimes that yes, Uni teachers have a bad habit of making political jokes. Yes, some are funny. But there really should be a limit, a stopping point for all people, teachers included. I have heard my fair share of "You're stupid because..." or "Oh, no, you're wrong..." and I usually hear them from both sides, especially in heated arguments. I'm all for debate. It helps generate good ideas and ways to make our world a better place. But when you're screaming so loud you don't hear the other person, that's just disrespectful. I don't care if you're Democratic or Republican. I do care if you are so closed-minded that you won't hear the other side's opinion.
love,
Celinda
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