“The true nature of the progressive is the willingness to shift and change ones own ideas and beliefs in order to suit what is best for them and for others.”
Zachary Antoyan
[follow id = “CPMustangNews”]
Zachary Antoyan is a political science senior and Mustang News liberal columnist. These views do not necessarily reflect the opinion or editorial coverage of Mustang News.
Political scientists use political spectrums to understand a lot of things. By placing people under the “isms” we have created on either side of such a spectrum, interested parties can glean a lot from where others stand on the line. But it’s never as simple as saying: “Cross to this side of the room if you believe vaccines cause autism,” and then, poof, you’re a crazy conservative who listens to Michelle Bachman. Which you shouldn’t do. So don’t listen to her. Just don’t.
One of the more poignant lines from a South Park episode where Cartman freezes himself into the future because he can’t wait for the Nintendo Wii goes: “We realized ‘isms’ are great for those who are rational, but in the hands of irrational people, ‘isms’ always lead to violence.”
Now, an association with ideology doesn’t always result in violence, but this quote highlights two points: The level of rigor necessary in the thought process of aligning oneself with an “ism,” and the possible harm of blindly following “isms.” The line of questioning we can then raise follows: Do Americans think rigorously about their political stances? Does our culture encourage or discourage political entrenchment? Is there even a wrong stance? Are political spectrums stupid? And, perhaps most important, will Zach wake up in time for class tomorrow?
Answers to these questions are obvious: no, encourage, no, yes and probably not.
Once again, a pop culture reference is pertinent, this time from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” When Mac is trying to convince the others that evolution doesn’t exist, he says “These liberals are trying to assassinate my character. I can’t change their mind, I won’t change my mind, ’cause I don’t have to, ’cause I’m an American. I won’t change my mind on anything, regardless of the facts that are set out before me. I’m dug-in, and I’ll never change.” Clearly, this is hyperbole, but I thought it was a funny connection. It is so easy to accept the “isms” thrust upon us early in our lives, and easier yet to establish these ideologies as part of our characters. And when we accept one, the other ideas that surround it on the political spectrum become just as easy to receive. So we place “isms” on the spectrum, and then we foolishly equate the other side with the other, or the political enemy.
The political spectrum is archaic and breeds conflict. Rather than people taking stock of their beliefs and examining them, we use them to define groups of people and individuals. Most of the time, talk of political concepts revolves around the formate of the right and the wrong. Whereas my views are clearly correct, yours — if they differ from mine — are blatantly wrong. Unless I’m talking about Chris Christie, the whole purpose of this column for me is to write convincing and compelling arguments for or against a political this or that.
This, however, does not mean that I am incapable of understanding and considering the position and stances of those that think differently from myself. In fact, the more I become confident in my beliefs, the more I want to experience challenges and opposition. The more I know about the beliefs of others, the more I shape and change my own, and I am quickly learning that my own beliefs are all over that damn political spectrum. We can learn to control the definition of the “ism,” rather than allow strict interpretations of the term.
The true nature of the progressive is the willingness to shift and change ones own ideas and beliefs in order to suit what is best for them and for others. It is an acceptance that there is a world of lives and stories outside of our current perception. Lives filled with love, hate, anguish, fear, happiness, anxiety and laughter. That each one is valuable in the most intrinsic way possible. The true nature of the progressive is one that can both separate themselves from the whole, and yet still value their place within the lives of others. It is the understanding that the justifications for one ideology are just as real and true as the justifications for another.
Stagnation in our political environment is the unwillingness to accept and understand the positions of the political enemy. The true nature of the progressive is the willingness to change one’s own stance when presented with new ideas, changes, and perspectives. The true nature of the progressive is adaption and connection.
This is Zachary Antoyan, spending the night on the P, pretending to be a mountain goat. Have a fantastic week everyone.