A Black Lives Matter protester with a strong message of being deaf but still able to hear the movement and its importance. Photo by Nathan Dumlao, Unsplash
By Iracema Navarro, Political Editor
Politics can be a sensitive subject that tends to be avoided in daily conversations within this country especially in 2020 with President Trump, the Black Lives Matter movement, and COVID-19.
But there’s always that instigator who brings up politics in a gathering.
That person happens to be me.
Why do I always bring it up?
Because it’s a subject that affects our daily lives.
I remember going to my nearby liquor store to buy a bag of chips with a dollar in my pocket, only to return home mad and sad that I couldn’t buy it because it was actually $1.09 because of the sales tax. I would argue to anyone listening to me, what sales tax? The bag says $1. That was the first time I learned about taxes and those who imposed it on a young and innocent child.
Then I learned how to argue, and my mom sure did not like that because I would read and gather information to support my defense. Over the years, I changed the way I entered a conversation.
I would play the devil’s advocate, to question why someone thinks the way they do or to extend the communication as much as it can. I do this to hopefully learn something from it, exchange valuable lessons. Unfortunately, my conversations always lead to either an argument or a discussion.
Politics, I tell you, a sensitive subject but because it matters.
President Trump, the Black Lives Matter movement, and COVID-19 matter. It does not differentiate what “side” they view, it matters big or small.
We have a president that denies systemic racism in the U.S. and re-negotiated a trade deal with South Korea. We have minorities marching against police brutality in the Black Lives Matter movement along with the majority race of white Americans marching for what they want in this movement, equality, a.k.a All Lives Matter. And then we have those wearing masks to stop the spread of COVID-19 along with those not wearing masks because it is a violation of freedom.
A mindset of individual needs are always first on the table to fight for and resolve. The argument of their need is always more important than someone else’s need.
Now, this is the issue. There are so many issues. There are so many people. Not everyone is going to agree with each other, but we sure can listen to each other.
My greatest communication skill, I believe, is not writing but listening. I love to listen to others, respectfully and mindfully because that is the same way I want others to do for me.
If we can just sit down with someone for five minutes who has different views than one whether it be about politics, religion, or other beliefs, the outcome will be different of course but if lucky, an exchange of knowledge can lead to empathy and change.
