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The inauguration of the 45th president of the United States-President Donald J. Trump-have brought out the best and worst in people on both sides of the aisle.
I cannot remember a time in recent history that I have seen and heard sentiments as strong as I’ve heard within the last few months since the results of the election in November 2016.
Building up to the inauguration was a synopsis of what was to come. What we have seen and heard seem to be consistent with the tone of the outcome.
With this said, I have remained resolute about my political views, which were never political in the first place. They haven’t waivered.
There are 3 reasons why this is so.
1. They were not dictated by a party or the person occupying the White House.
If my views were to change since the inauguration, then I would have to question the basis on which they were formed. Were they formed because of the person who emerged as the candidate to support or oppose? Were they formed by the message of a particular candidate?
Having views that are based upon a party or a candidate, will forever be in flux and will create indecisions, inconsistencies, and confusion.
2. They were simply my views and not someone else
Whenever one’s views are based upon another person’s views, it puts that person in control of yours and my life.
I grew up hearing this mantra: If you stand for nothing, you will fall for everything. What this means to me is that I need to have strong convictions about what I believe. I need to know what the non-negotiables are in my life.
There are some things in life that we is neither here nor there to me. It doesn’t matter much whether someone replaces or let remain something that we disagree about. I can live with that decision.
However there are other things that I’m going to do whatever is in my power to make sure you know my feelings about the decision you’ve made. These are the things I feel strongly about. I might not change your decision or action, but you won’t have any doubts on where I stand on the issue. Those are my convictions / views.
3. They were not political in the first place
The phrase political views are used to describe a view that happens to be in line with one party or another.
Some people have used the words conservative and liberal to differentiate the viewpoints that we hold. If you are someone who opposes either views, you are looked on in a way to suggest there is something wrong with you.
Even though most people would consider themselves as independent thinkers and do not want to be put in a box, yet their behavior betrays them. They tend to blend in and accept the labels constructed by others, which becomes a part of their new identity. They now wear the label conservative or liberal.
These labels tend to put people on either side of the spectrum and unfortunately create animosity. If one doesn’t believe a certain way they are castigated as an enemy.
This is what give place to the emergence of a political viewpoint.
What if my views are based on my religious beliefs, which so happen to be aligned with one party or another, are they now political views?
What if my views are based on my cultural beliefs and is aligned with one party or another, are they political?
My point is that if they were not “political” in the first place, then the inauguration makes no difference. They still stand.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images
Even though most people would consider themselves as independent thinkers and do not want to be put in a box, yet their behavior betrays them. They tend to blend in and accept the labels constructed by others, which becomes a part of their new identity. They now wear the label conservative or liberal. These labels tend to put people on either side of the spectrum and unfortunately create animosity. If one doesn’t believe a certain way they are castigated as an enemy. And that’s why political discussions fall apart so frequently. Instead of trying to get an idea of what… Read more »
My political opinion hasn’t changed either because I didn’t support Trump. I opposed Clinton. I didn’t know what Trump would do to / for the country. I knew though that it would be different for good or ill and sometimes any change is better (You have to break an egg to make an omelette. Who dares wins. You have to affect the universe or it will affect you., etc.) I opposed the Iraq war, but could understand the idea that since nation states support terrorist organizations officially or unofficially, you’ll never defeat the scourge of terrorism unless nation state are… Read more »
I believe you are confusing “political” with “partisan”. I political view is not innately partisan. A political view is a paradigm in which you frame your view about society and how individuals should operate within that society. This will include your views about law, ethics, economics, etc. So I’m sure your views were “political”. People who don’t engage in “politics” are still political, they just choose to give over that authority to the masses and figures that have a higher interest in controlling your framework. Partisanship, on the other hand, is a grouping of political frameworks, often conflating one aspect… Read more »