The pressure to “pick a side” and align yourself with the right or left has increased in intensity on account of recent political controversies, though some are choosing to avoid the conversation altogether.
The rise of politics into popular media, in spaces such as streaming, has been undeniable in recent years, to the point where influential figures who have avoided speaking on politics are forced to either share their opinion and risk fallout, or experience criticism for not being involved with politics. But some continue to split the divide, not wanting to align themselves with either side.
Senior Athen Damigos says that, “I don’t think [someone’s political stance] matters to me at all, because everyone is allowed to have their own opinion. It doesn’t affect me in any way, and I know that I’m not going to be able to change what someone thinks by spouting my views.”
The use of social media to weaponize both sides has made it polarizing even for those in support of a certain party to share their views. For Damigos, much of the reason he stays out of politics is due to the separation it creates, something that’s become increasingly apparent across the last decade.
“I don’t like talking about politics because of the hate that it spreads, but I do try to be knowledgeable about it because I know that it determines everything. I think that it’s super important to be knowledgeable about politics, whether you like talking about it or not.” he said.
While Damigos prefers to avoid political discussions because of the current levels of division and harsh rhetoric, others avoid political discussions simply because they lack information. To be apolitical might come down to no more than not being into politics, but ‘not being into politics’ is something that is widely seen to be a privilege. The heightened scale of many modern issues, such as immigration or religion, has led to many feeling that being silent or uneducated is no better than the opposing view.
It’s a recurring argument to hear the saying ‘politics don’t affect me’ as an excuse to why so many avoid getting involved, but senior Eunice Luis argues differently.
“Your whole world is revolved around politics. The way your parents make money, the way you make money, everything around you is based off of what the politicians decide for us. We’re all subjects to what everyone up in the White House are doing,” Luis said.
While he may not care to speak about politics, Damigos held a similar view on whether ‘politics affect him.’
“Politics affect everyone, whether you choose to talk about it or not. It affects everything you do. You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for politics.”
When people feel that their voice doesn’t carry enough weight, many look to influence those with a platform to speak up. Over the last few years, it’s become increasingly common to see influencers receive backlash for their silence on a topic, such as the divisive actions of ICE over the past few months. This frustration stems from the fact that many see this silence, or having ‘nothing to say,’ as agreement with the perpetrator.
“I think that their silence is a bigger offense to their viewers because a lot of people’s fans are minorities and people who don’t have that privilege to not speak out. And I feel like if celebrities and people with big platforms aren’t [speaking out], they aren’t giving the people who give them their status that reward back,” Luis said.
No matter what your stance is or how much politics matter to you, it’s important to stay informed upon the state of politics and decide for yourself what opinions to hold and how best to advocate for them.
