No matter your political affiliation, living in our current political climate can be pretty scary. It may seem daunting to understand entirely what’s going on and if you’re like a lot of people, you may stick to the old “ignorance is bliss” mantra. This, however, does more harm than good. It lessens your power and detracts from your rights as a citizen to work toward a country that you’re proud of. Staying politically and socially aware is an important responsibility that all young people have.
Read the news and do your research. With smartphones, accessing news sources is incredibly easy and quick. Every once in a while take out your phone and read through some of the articles suggested in the news. If reading isn’t your thing, turn on a tv and watch an hour of news. While consuming this media be aware of bias that reporters or organizations may have. Try reading two or three sources about the same topic to get a well rounded, accurate idea of what’s going on.
Talk about it. Being politically aware doesn’t mean starting Facebook arguments about politics whenever you have the chance. It does mean applying your knowledge to real life conversations while respecting everyone’s opinions. You shouldn’t feel uncomfortable talking about what is happening in your society as long as you’re speaking honestly and truthfully. Talking about difficult subjects can make them a lot easier to process. Talk to your friends, parents, or join a club at school that is specifically designed to talk about politics in a safe environment.
Participate in the Democracy. Put your knowledge and opinion to use by actually participating in the government. After doing research, go out and vote. Elections happen so often on different levels of government that it’s fairly easy to get to the polls. You can also help campaign if you’re passionate about a particular candidate or issue. Another way you can get involved in between elections is by contacting your representatives about important issues. A simple internet search will provide you with the names and contacts of your area’s representatives.
Help your fellow citizens. When disaster strikes, as we have seen in the last few weeks, there are usually ways to help out. Although the problem may seem so far removed from your world, it can often have effects closer to home. If you look hard enough, you can always find someone who has a connection. Look around your campus and community for ways to help out. Even if you can’t donate money, you can donate time, blood, supplies, or kind words. These things go further than you may think.
A perfect society in unobtainable but a strong, informed community is not. By participating in government and helping your peers, positive changes will begin to occur.