Definitions, Politics, and Social Work

With the exponential increase in political discussions that have risen around me recently, I've noticed something that is making many it hard (at least for me, personally) to reach common ground and sometimes even respect with the people I've engaged with: many of us seem to have very different definitions for the same ideas. This has happened most often with open-mindedness vs. close-mindedness, , and love vs. hate. 

Recently, (but not for the first time) a certified Internet Troll told me I was being close-minded because I wouldn't entertain various racist alternative factoids that he shared with me. I realize that I also found him to be close-minded. I don't know how much research or thought he has put into the ideas he adheres to, but he was as stubbornly stuck to his as I am to mine.

I know we aren't talking about things like whether or not pizza flavored macaroni and cheese is delicious, and that lives are endangered because of the ideas that we had the privilege to argue about.  As I write this, I'm realizing that I don't actually care much whether I'm perceived as open-minded or closed, but it's something that keeps coming up. How should I handle it?

The same happens with love vs. hate. This has been especially clear to me as I've gradually become more open about being queer over the past decade. To some, a "love the sinner, hate the sin" mentality is Christ-like and loving. To me, it is a clear judgment and reeks of conditional love rather than unconditional. 

When the Women's March happened a few weeks ago, many marched with signs that said "Love Trumps Hate" while some who did not march called the rallies themselves hateful. 

How do you, personally, handle these types of arguments? I generally tend to avoid them because they don't feel productive. Are they? Is there a better way to go about advocating for myself and for marginalized populations? 

I wonder if the answer to those questions would be more clear if I were not a social worker. I take my career choice very seriously; it makes up a generous portion of my identity. As a result, I feel that I'm faced with some things: my strongly held beliefs about human rights and social justice, using my privilege and my role to be an advocate for people with a wide variety of needs, my belief that everyone has the right to self-determination, and my desire to help people through providing therapy. The second two sometimes clash with the first two, and sometimes personal and professional bleed into one another in confusing ways.

How do you handle this?

Great, I voted. Now what?

When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step?






Hey, here's another topic that I've been wanting to write about for a while but have been struggling to put it into words. Thanks, reverb!

I was spurred into thinking about this after election day this year. I felt proud and satisfied that I had taken the action to vote (and voted early, too!)

I felt this way until I saw the results on election night. Not only was the governer I had purposefully voted against elected, but the proposition to legalize medical marijuana had been rejected, so I couldn't even take anything to ease the pain.*** I realized at this time how little voting actually does.

My dissapointment, however, goes beyond just election results. It is a pervasive feeling that grows every time I listen to the news and hear about how little is accomplished by the government. I regularly feel that problems and issues continue to grow for the majority of American citizens while the small group of people who represent us fight like children and accomplish very little.

I feel helpless. I feel that I should be able to have more power to change those issues that affect me. So, since election day, I've been searching for options. What can I do to have greater political power? How can I change my city and my country for the better? How can I bring about the positive change that I want to see?

I haven't yet found a clear answer. There is always protesting, petitioning, and writing letters to senators. But I want more! What can I do directly?

*This was a joke. I do not actually smoke marijuana.
**The proposition later passed by 300 votes.
***I still can't smoke marijuana because I don't have a medical condition that causes chronic pain. So I'm back to "square 1."