We bask ourselves with the word “maturity” in situations where it doesn’t apply. Yes “maturity” has its rightful use to describe us in the world of understanding – but do we actually become “mature” as we grow older? Is it a mere word to distinguish all adults from children, keep them in their “rightful place”? Do we calm down and become ‘mature’ with age, or do we learn to become a convention of what we believe maturity to be?
Most of us have by now reached the age of majority, or indeed, the legal age to vote. Unfortunately, a great deal of us, as youth in general, do not actively go out to understand the political process.
Democracy is up there as one of the most important societal revolutions in human history – but we’re not doing enough to protect it. Becoming knowledgeable is a pivotal part of this process.
I don’t often talk politics to friends – for good reason. Every time I have done so, I have faced either a great lack of knowledge, or great ignorance in the defense of one side over another. I could be wrong here, but I don’t think many of us (again, as youth) even know the difference between ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ values.
Why is this a problem? Some of you might feel that the issues don’t pertain to you. Or maybe you believe what you think won’t make a difference. Don’t be disillusioned by the process. I see indifference, and that’s why I’m concerned. Politics does affect you.
To illustrate why politics affects us in every day life, I can do no more than to give some stories from my life. Politics has undoubtedly affected me a great deal. In fact, the greatest, if not the only, reason that I live in Canada is political. My family, along with a great deal of other immigrants from Hong Kong (I’m sure you all know many of them), came here and to other parts of the world in order to escape the 1997 return of the former British colony to China. The fear was legitimate, on the heels of the Tiananmen Square debacle (Google it if you must) of 1989. Families were afraid that they would no longer have any say in issues that affected them. So they found a place where they could have that right.
But here I am, in Canada, where the standard of living is one of the best in the world, and people have become disillusioned by politics. I had a few friends who wanted to join the army – and I asked them whether they paid attention to politics. The answer, both times, was no. I was quite shocked. When I questioned further, I found that one of them supported the Conservative party. Perhaps the irony is lost on some of you. The Conservatives have been adamant in sending more troops to Afghanistan, when many Canadians are clearly opposed to the Canadian presence there. Nobody wants to risk their lives – and here I saw how ignorance could lead to that very thing.
The same thing is happening in the States. I hear far too often on TV, the leaders of the country pulling out 9/11 as a justification for the War in Iraq. Do people really not realize that the two things have virtually nothing in common? Those behind 9/11 were most Arab terrorists. Not Iraqis. Of course, that’s in addition to the fact that the war has already been proven to have been started on false pretenses. Iraq had no WMDs, and many army officials and intelligence officers knew that. Then even after the war clearly going the wrong direction, Bush was re-elected for another term in office to continue his vendetta.
I’d go into more examples, and more political debate, but I’m afraid that’ll fill up another post (to come later).
Clearly, politics is an important force in our lives. Sometimes it’s subtle – so much so that it’s hard to notice. It does, however, have an effect. That’s why you should pay attention.
Get knowledgeable – read the papers (please don’t watch TV for political commentary… it’s fatally flawed, read blogs, listen to the debates. Understand the issues, and then go out and talk about the things that are important to you. The most important part of democracy is the spread of ideas, and the prevalence of good ideas. That won’t happen unless people understand, and talk.