Recent headlines such as “Protesters Killed” and “Prime Minister Exiled” that regard the countries of Ukraine and Thailand are emotionally charring. Happenings such as these instances force us to realize, if we haven’t already, that the stability of our political institution is remarkable in contrast to the many unstable areas found all over the rest of the world.
A recent study conducted by Transparency International ranked 176 countries from the least politically corrupt to the most politically corrupt. In this study, the United States was one of the top-rated countries. In other words, we are one of the least crooked.
However, it is too often that we take the basic freedoms present in the United States for granted. Among many freedoms, our country protects and defends the ability to speak our minds without fear and allows us the privilege to elect the people that represent us in our government.
Students’ lack of appreciation for the country in which they live is exemplified in the manner in which students often mock the United States by shouting America’s newest cultural slang identifier, “‘Murica,”
This subtle phrase seems harmless; however, the slogan is representative of the broader issue that people see patriotism as a sign of ignorance. CHS students associate the name of their country with stupidity as they refer to America with the improper utterance.
Although the United States has major issues that need to be solved, we also believe that people often forget to be thankful for past generations that have toiled, fought and even died for their country.
Similar to a lack of appreciation for the United States, the lack of education on political issues is also disrespectful to the country in which we live. In this way, people display that neither the state nor the nation in which they live matter to them.
Very few people can actually claim to understand the complicated politics that surround the largest governmental democracy in the entire world. However, many adults and students alike use the excuse that the stressful and perplexing issues found in politics are “too difficult” to figure out.
But for those students who are of voting age, failure to understand political issues will leave this country unable to solve the difficult pressing issues our country currently faces. These include immigration, abortion and balancing the budget. We must have an educated community on which policy makers can depend.
And for students that will be able to cast a ballot soon (the right to vote is another privilege that we often take for granted), these people will inherit our nation’s complicated issues. It is our duty to take the time to understand the decisions that will shape our country.