CHOCOLATE AND…

When I began writing this blog, I did so with the intention of combining my aptness for writing with my passion for the array of ventures I was constantly immersing myself in. Over the years, I have written posts on food, fashion, relationships, and more. Truthfully though, I have not adhered totally to my original intent. After all, the name Chocolate and Politics was meant to illustrate the two sides of myself I hoped to represent: the fun-loving, creative writer and the staunch, analytical, and political thinker. I do not mind that I have veered more into free-flowing articles based on lessons from my daily life, but it does make me wonder whether that political enthusiast ever did exist.

In high school, I fully understood the importance of following national and global politics. I would listen to NPR religiously every day on my drive to school. In sophomore year, I posted on my Instagram story and attended protests. In junior year, I was quick to voice my opinions in rooms filled with those who shared them. In senior year, I listened to the voices of my peers at school board meetings and read about how our current laws came into existence through history.

While I have always loved learning about politics, I must also admit my naivety. Living in a politically divided country and era, I looked at issues as one-sided. I had an open mind, but, ultimately, it became easier to follow the majority than to admit that I did not always have the answer. Like politicians vying for popularity, our political views seem to take on a similar function. Oftentimes, we hold opinions because of the way we were raised or the people we spend the most time with. In turn, politics has come to equate popularity.

As I grow older, I have become exhausted with the quest for acceptance. I am not in high school anymore. I am stepping into a world where I will be hit in the face by others’ thoughts, opinions, and experiences that will hold just as much verity as my own. The key, I have concluded, is accepting that I do not know… and that I maybe never will. Meeting new people and hearing their stories has softened the stubborn attitude I once held about topics I knew little about. It is not to say that I was uneducated but more so unaware.

While politics continues to be a passion of mine, it has now broadened beyond the limited scope of red and blue. I now see political issues in terms of lives lived and populations of individuals. I have opinions I find difficult to put into words because they live on different planes and with varying intensities. I will no longer agree with someone to appease them, but I also will never negate their thought process without considering how they arrived there.

The recent Supreme Court ruling Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College/UNC, for instance, held that “race-based affirmative action admission policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina were unconstitutional”. So far, I have heard a number of opinions both supporting and scrutinizing the idea of removing privileges bestowed upon previously discriminated against groups. For some, it is a step backward that affirms a conservative eclipse dawning on America. For others, it is a more equitable playing field for every individual based on an objective criteria. For me, it is a learning opportunity. As someone directly affected by this case, it is critical that I study and understand its facets and implications. Still, it is also critical that I understand its effects on my friends and classmates that are on my path, but under different circumstances. In addition, I must weigh the pros, cons, and, of course, loopholes around the ruling. More than a chance to form an opinion, I see it as a time to listen and learn. Now, I have heard from my family and friends who have survived admission processes as Indian Americans. Equally, I have learned about the lack of diversity that can occur in both a university and professional setting without the correct measures in place. I have witnessed arguments against test-optional policies and snide remarks belittling accomplishments due to race. So, as of now, it is a topic I cannot fully comprehend, although I hope to acquire a well-rounded view of it as I continue to listen.

Politics, like most subjects, is an intricate web of facts and questions. Most look at it as a banter between the educated and uneducated. Today, it seems as though both sides are equally as uneducated, and the winner is merely who can yell the loudest. As part of a new generation, I hope to see a shift in the way politics governs our lives. You don’t have to be an activist or politician to be involved. All it takes is the ability to admit that you don’t know… but that you are open and ready to learn.

Happy Independence Day

“This nation will remain the land of the free only as long as it is the home of the brave” – Elmer Davis