I went to a brief part of the IU Republican versus IU Democrats Debate tonight for just a little bit to show my support for both groups. As a moderate on a campus that tends to have the extremes and very little middle ground among a lot of the more politically oriented people, I was ready to hear some things that I liked, and some things that I did not like. But I was prepared for such.
Typical partisan behavior...
When I arrived, however, I was still surprised. I knew a few of the participants and I have to say that I was a little surprised at how each of the groups answered the questions that they were allowed full access to before the event. Although I was only there for a short period of time, I still felt like there was a voice that was missing up there, that something wasn't complete about the whole thing. And when I thought about it long and hard, I realized that it was a voice with real political "gravitas", or 'depth' in layman's terms.
Now, please don't think that I am out to insult either of the group's positions (although I did disagree with views on both sides) and please don't think that I believe I am any better or smarter than they are. But my point is this: where is the style? Where is the fun in this political discussion? One thing that I hate about television pundits and commentators is that the majority of them take themselves far too seriously. Why? Because it is ridiculous to try to persuade someone that opposes your view. Most people can't change.
And I think that this reflects on a larger theme, as well as a development that we are beginning to see. If you look at a lot of people who really engage themselves in politics, you will see a lot of people who pick their affiliations for the wrong reasons--because it's 'cool' or everyone else thinks that way, because their parents told them so, or because they are afraid to think about things in new ways. An open mind is part of what makes college great.
Although this article was so serious (which almost defeats the point--but I promise that the future will have lots of laughs), I want to convey the idea that political discussion is only pertinent to those that have gone through transformation in some way or another. This may be in their actual views or just in how they look at things, but when it comes down to it, if you've only ever been one thing, you'll always be that thing and perhaps miss out on some truth.
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