We were discussing “The Green Mile,” and she made a complaint that the movie made Death Row guards seem like “normal people.” She considered these guards “enablers,” and made a comparison to the guards in Nazi concentration camps. Debate over the death sentence aside, my mother surprised me because this was one of only a few times I have ever heard her express a political opinion.
My mother hates debate, and her solution is to be a-political. Discussing current events is practically taboo in my house. In some ways, this has been good for me, because it has forced me to make my own decisions. On the other hand, my mother’s example for a long time made me extremely shy about expressing my political views. Luckily, a year at UC Berkeley has mostly cleared me of such reticence.
The politically charged atmosphere of the campus led to many private conversations about politics. Talking to people at school forced me to state an opinion about political issues. Having to discuss my views forced me to both have an opinion, and to be able to support it.
And this process caused me to strongly disagree with my mother�s a-political stance.
If you never have to explain your views to another person, you�re denying yourself of an opportunity to teach and learn. You can�t help someone locked into one viewpoint look at an issue from another stance, and perhaps change his or her opinion. And another person can�t help you to change your opinions or become stronger in defending them.
It�s ok if you can�t always see eye to eye with others. Don�t be afraid to have an opinion. Talk with other people about your opinions. If you�re wrong, admit it, if you�re right, teach others what you believe. If you don�t know, don�t be afraid to admit it.
Communicate. Teach. Learn. It just might change the world.