I have always heard that two things you are not suppose to talk about are politics and religion. That might be good advice since both of these topics are considered volatile and can cause conflict but I personally find it difficult to be around people who are not conscious of the world around them.
In a phone conversation I had with one of my brothers last year, he told me that he was apolitical. I fully understand why people are fed up with politicians, but when our country and world are in peril, I find it apathetic and not virtuous to never engage in political conversations. How is it a virtue to never talk about something with someone who might disagree with you?
Sure, avoiding political and religious discussions are one way to avoid conflict since the person you are talking to may get upset and might even call you names. But when you engage in political discourse, you have to realize that some people will misunderstand you, or deliberately take what you say and twist it around, or even "label" you in a way to try to shut you up (e.g, the Democrats and Dr. Ben Carson).
But is getting people to think about important issues with political and religious ramifications really a bad thing when some of these issues can affect you for the rest of your life? I think not.
Choosing to be apolitical just to please everyone may have noble intentions but it certainly isn't something that should garner much respect.
In a phone conversation I had with one of my brothers last year, he told me that he was apolitical. I fully understand why people are fed up with politicians, but when our country and world are in peril, I find it apathetic and not virtuous to never engage in political conversations. How is it a virtue to never talk about something with someone who might disagree with you?
Sure, avoiding political and religious discussions are one way to avoid conflict since the person you are talking to may get upset and might even call you names. But when you engage in political discourse, you have to realize that some people will misunderstand you, or deliberately take what you say and twist it around, or even "label" you in a way to try to shut you up (e.g, the Democrats and Dr. Ben Carson).
But is getting people to think about important issues with political and religious ramifications really a bad thing when some of these issues can affect you for the rest of your life? I think not.
Choosing to be apolitical just to please everyone may have noble intentions but it certainly isn't something that should garner much respect.
