It’s OK to Not Always Have an Opinion

A Message to Politically Conflicted and Confused Young Adults Regarding Political Stance and Current Events.

Photo by Mark Clennon

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, you don’t always have to have an immediate opinion. Yes, in order to be a fully functioning citizen you must develop these beliefs and affiliations over time and through experiences, but it’s not one of those things in which you pick a side and roll with it. 

You cannot rush into a political view. And most importantly it has to come from you and not other people. Everyone’s political developmental process is different, some develop theirs effortlessly, while others require more time and information to truly develop a steadfast opinion. It would be foolish to assert that everyone must have an opinion from the get go.

So in other words, take your time to truly understand the complexities of the political spectrum and its relationship with different topics before you “pick a side.” Individuals, specifically young adults, must not be rushed through this process, because it’s not one that can be rushed. The reality of things is that it's not easy deciding what political stance speaks to you, the complex field of politics is easy to get lost in, it’s understandable to not always know where you stand. 

We are young. 

We are susceptible. 

We are vulnerable.

We should use our teenage years to our advantage.

The world that we are growing up in is a complex and imperfect one, it would be immature to assume that as young adults we understand every aspect of the political spectrum. Use these years to navigate self discovery and to build a basic understanding regarding all beings and their relations. You shouldn’t focus on understanding every crease and crevice of the world, but you should focus on how all of this relates to your life as a whole. 

“We are not the makers of history. We are made by history.” -Martin Luther King Jr. 

While there’s two sides to every argument, there’s also always history behind every argument. Whether it’s a societal, political, or economical argument, these components play an incredibly significant role and must be studied and understood. As a young adult living in the 21st century, we must understand our roots as well as current events to reach that evident and necessary political consensus with oneself. The tools to reach this conclusion are out there, a world of technology and opinions are there for the taking, so utilize it to your benefit. It is your job to educate yourself on the history of America and the relevance and influence of current and past events on a grand scale. Having a comprehensive understanding of the world around you is one of the most valuable attributes to possess in this day and age. 

Jumping to conclusions, relying on generalizations and giving into other’s beliefs won’t get you anywhere; in order to truly understand what political party and topics you either agree or disagree with, you must strive to understand the history and differentiating perspectives fully through the utilization of resources. Without a basic understanding of these topics, one will never develop worthwhile and meaningful political opinion that is truly personal to them.  

Photo by Mark Clennon

Recent events regarding the Black Lives Matter movement have only furthered this need for political awareness and the importance of adapting a personal belief system. The quote “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” has been floating from social media account to social media account, proving to be a well known yet slightly controversial statement. Black lives do matter, of course they do, but one should not feel pressured to speak out about a topic until they are educated on the matter. Silence doesn’t always mean being an oppressor, silence can also represent a time of thought and a strive for understanding. The movement has only proven that young adults should practice participating in societal and political movements, but should do so in an educated and well versed manner.Yes, speak up for what you believe in, if you know your stolid beliefs go out there and change the world, but if you are confused and are not sure exactly where you stand, you are allowed to give yourself time to absorb political events, ideologies and actions. 

It’s ok to not know where you stand and to be confused, because at the end of the day it’s impossible to understand the complexities of political tides instantaneously. Either way, humans are behind each argument, belief and situation, these humans have gone through their own political self discovery, just because they’re done with their’s doesn’t mean that you must be as well. 

We are young. 

We are susceptible. 

We should use our teenage years to our advantage in all aspects of our lives and society.