Tag: Perspective

Analyzing Bipartisanship: Drawing the Line with Unwarranted Division

Simran Sharma ’22

The two-party system in the United States dates back to 1792, with the Federalist Party, founded by Alexander Hamilton, and the Democratic-Republican Party, founded by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. The ideals of these two parties were different from those present in the party system , but the precedent set by their division is one that has lasted throughout our history as a nation. It is worth mentioning that this political divide was foreseen and condemned by the very same men who caused the split. In the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison both detailed the dangers of domestic political factions. Famously, even George Washington detailed the threat of conflict and stagnation associated with political parties in his “Farewell Address”. Had these men heeded their own advice, or the advice of the first POTUS, perhaps we wouldn’t find ourselves in the political climate defining the headlines of today.

Fast-forward to the present day; what is  one of the biggest societal  rules which we find ourselves forced to adhere to? Don’t talk politics. It’s a topic which has been stamped with the scarlet letter, deemed dangerously personal. But politics are simply impersonal. It is the deep-rooted disparities which have manifested into disdain between both ends of the political spectrum that elicit such fervor. Political conversations are considered taboo, not because the subject is intrinsically divisive, but because we allow it to be.

Now, this is not to say that we shouldn’t form and hold firm to our own ideals. The beauty in this modern era is that we have a wealth of knowledge at our disposal, and we can pair this information with our morals to establish our political stances. However, there is a thin line between fierce belief and a closed mind. The polarization which plagues our nation will not be conducive to creating lasting change going forward, but will rather further a climate devoid of conversation.

Politics are subjective, which is why multiple parties exist in the first place. Treating our inclinations as factual has led to the political turmoil we see play out in the media every day. If you’re a Republican, you’re deemed racist, and if you’re a Democrat, you’re a snowflake. These generalizations paired with unwarranted aggression have created a palpable hostility between the left and right. Of course, there is basis to the differing stances on both sides, meaning that disagreement is inevitable. It is how these disagreements are dealt with that has created the deadlock between both ends. In so many cases, it is no longer about coming to a constructive resolution, but rather attacking the other side. Naturally, both conservatives and liberals hold that their positions on issues are the best. This is important to creating legislation in our country, but when no one is willing to listen, it leads to a mundane standstill which is detrimental to our progression as a nation.

The reason why there are clear party lines is because people align themselves with the ideals which they believe are most conducive to the betterment of the United States. In the case of politicians, true morals may be muddled by monetary incentives, but the average American sides with what they believe in. Yet, politics in this country have become a moral battleground filled with genuine hatred. While both sides may not agree with each other, most Americans have the same objective in doing what’s right for society. 

Given, certain ethical issues which are poorly handled under the political microscope deservedly cause outrage, but shortcomings in morality such as racism, sexism, homophobia, etc., can not be wholly conflated with one side and considered a defining trait. Similarly, simply deeming a whole side ‘annoying’ or sensitive because they don’t agree with you is not a valid argument, nor is it helpful in creating any meaningful change.

Gen Z. We’re supposed to be the most tolerant, politically-involved generation to date. While the latter mostly holds true, we seem to be doing no better in the open-mindness aspect – after all, we have been brought up alongside the rise of digital media. This should have cultivated a culture which celebrates diversity of thought through countless channels of communication. Instead, however, we are perhaps the worst offenders in the political war. We are stubborn. While our ability to hold steadfast to our beliefs and our advocacy of these beliefs on social media have done worlds of good, it has been taken to a fault, demeaning others on account of their surface-level political beliefs. We pride ourselves on being independent of the prejudice of our parents, and thankfully, most of us are. However, our generation holds biases of our own.

Ultimately, as with so many historical disputes, the issue lies in generalizations. Once a person is known to hold a certain opinion on one topic, they are suddenly assumed to fit a certain mold. There is so much fluidity in politics, which is why it’s a spectrum, not a binary. While it may be true that certain stereotypes are grounded in truth, they don’t apply to every person. We have imposed certain political boxes into the mainstream, but fail to realize that most people don’t fit these cut and dry labels. While most people lean left or right, it doesn’t mean that they fully align with the traditional Republican or Democrat label. At our core, we are people, not political puppets. Aligning with certain principles towards either side doesn’t necessarily translate to always voting on party lines.

The now normalized way in which both sides abhor each other has led to a nation divided. Amidst the unprecedented murder of George Floyd, there has been a surge in support for the BLM movement and a strong sentiment towards police reform. This has sparked a heightened amount of hostility between the political left and right. While there are certain specific issues which could be points of contention, the basis of this movement, eliminating racism and implementing policies against police brutality, seems to be a given of common human decency. This situation is not an issue of conservative or liberal, but rather of humanity. Yet, still, it has been defaced into a political battle.

Granted, some tension between the left and right is fundamental to a two-party system. If there are two defined sides, vying for control to implement legislation based on their beliefs, there is bound to be a power struggle between them. However, the degree to which this tension has escalated is unwarranted. How is it a widely accepted norm for people to attack each other based on their beliefs? This is not a defense of extremism on either side, as the attack on that is warranted. But we have closed our minds to each other, and we are bound to suffer because of that. Is this a commentary on the failings of a two-party system as a whole, or on the antagonizing which we have chosen to succumb to? Is the hostility an inevitable product of the system, unavoidable by human nature? Honestly, this I don’t know, but we should come together as people, not parties, to discuss it.

America, We Have A Problem

Kavin Nakkeeran ’22

These past few weeks have broken us, divided us, hurt us. The United States of America is literally on fire. Atlanta, Bakersfield, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, no, this is not a list of major American cities in alphabetical order, this is a list of cities in active protest. In protest to arrest the three other “complicit” police officers who stood by and did nothing as George Floyd was murdered at the hands of a sociopath. In protest against a system, a system that views some as inferior, as a threat, just because of the color of their skin. Because that is what this conversation is about. It is not about looting and rioting, it is not about CNN, nor Antifa. It is about the systematic racism that has fueled this country for so long. 

I, like so many of my peers growing up in Central New Jersey, have a unique perspective on the issue. I consider myself an American to every extent possible, but it is easy to detach myself from hundreds of years of pain and suffering. I can say “they did that” or “that happened” and remove myself from any accountability. But, by living in America, by breathing here, when so many cannot, I, too, am part of the system. 

When my parents, and a lot of others like them, immigrated to America, they saw what was going on and absorbed it. The Americans did Thanksgiving, so every year, they cut up turkey like their American counterparts and feasted on it. They saw the NBA and kids playing pickup games, so they picked up basketball. That’s how they absorbed American culture, by soaking up what they saw. And they saw a system where blacks were inferior to whites, where everyone was fine with what was happening. My dad had never encountered any race but his own before migrating to the US, so why is it that he got uncomfortable when seeing his black neighbors in Atlanta? And I tell them, the system is broken, we have to fix it, but they just say, you don’t understand, that’s just how it works, that’s just how this country is. But that’s just it. In an effort to be accepted, they accepted racism without questions. That’s the difference between me and my parents. They see the world as it is, but I see the world as it should be.

Truth to be told, they are right, that is how the world is. In 2015, the Hamilton project compiled data stating that around 16% of the black population, compared with around 19% of the white population, used drugs. And while drug usage and selling (both roughly at 1%) were equal between the race, black Americans were 6.5 times more likely to be arrested and incarcerated for it on the state level. Let that sink in. If your skin is a darker color, you are 6.5 times more likely to go to jail for the same offense. 

Nobody is saying that every single police officer is inherently racist. But as a whole, the policing system encourages racial profiling and racial targeting, at the expense of hundreds of lives. That is what ACAB and other organizations supporting police reform are, a manifestation of the frustration against the policing system. Any one who believes that the ACAB is arguing for anarchy and death of police officers is just using a strawman because they do not want to accept the truth. Our country is broken. 

But systematic racism goes beyond policing and criminal justice. We think of redlining as something of the past, but in just 2018, two years ago, Reveal from the Center of Investigative Reporting analyzed that black applicants are 2.7 times less likely to be accepted for homeownership than their white counterparts. This report took into consideration nine other economic factors related to banks lending money, but still found that blacks were denied owning property just because of their skin color. 

The list goes on and on, from health laws to employment, but for me, the most important example of institutionalized racism is education. Americans have long believed that equal opportunity will lead to equality. That is why the United States was the first nation to institute widespread public education. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that linking the education system to property taxes leads to unequal opportunity and inequality. The median net worth of a black household is just 17,500 dollars, in contrast with the 171,000 average net worth of white families. This is caused by centuries of slavery and decades of laws that prevented free blacks from owning property and accumulating wealth. But now, we are denying them the right to escape poverty. Lower property taxes lead to less funding for education systems, which then, in turn, is leading to higher dropout rates, all leading back to the lower net worth of black families. There is no break from this cycle, which has perpetuated in black communities from the 19th century.

Obviously, rioting and looting is not the answer to this beyond complex network that works against some. Historically and morally, peaceful protests have always availed. From Gandhi’s liberation of India to Martin Luther King Jr.’s Civil Rights movement, we have succeeded with calm heads and steady voices. Now is not the time to throw that away.

Racism is not political. These protests are not political. This is not a “leftist campaign for the election.” This is about equality. For 8 minutes and 46 seconds, George Floyd was restrained by a knee on his neck. But the truth is, for over 400 years, African Americans have been oppressed by systematic racism. This is a fight to be free.