Misconceptions

Conservative

Moderate

Liberal

Our society loves labels, whether it be religious affiliation, ideology, music genre. Growing up, I labeled myself as a proud republican and conservative christian.

My peers in high school subsequently thought of myself as “judgmental” and “hypocritical” and I was “uneducated”.

I progressed through high school and found myself becoming passionate about environmentalism and my religious and political views evolved to become centered around social justice and I labeled myself as progressive.

Subsequently, people accused me of becoming a “liberal snowflake” and being indoctrinated by UNC Chapel Hill.

Labels, once established, force upon the recipient unfair assumptions and stereotypes, typically false and presumptuous. Christians are homophobic, democrats are socialists, republicans are closed minded. These assumptions are omnipresent throughout our society and exacerbated in these hyper partisan times.

These labels create camps of like minded people, pitting our country against each other. These labels, once negative, create animosity towards innocent people. When there are leaders of countries or organizations that encourage hate and division, tragedy strikes.

I am complicit in this. I judge people, create assumptions in my head, and voice my opinions. Like everyone, I am complicit in the divisions of our country. I don’t have a solution, it is human nature to classify others, but we do have a choice in how we approach each other.

Instead of kicking each other, spreading hate online, and bullying in person, we can extend love.

Love. It sounds cliche. It sounds radical. It is, but it is the only solution. When we strip down our issues in society, it is because we either hate, fear, or mistrust someone. Love is far more simple.

When we give, we receive far more.