Is it possible to sit on the fence? Or does the Devil own the fence?

Everyone has that one friend. The one who is unwilling to engage in any political discussion. The one with friends with both right and left-wing views. The one who is too scared to take a side in case they offend someone, or perhaps they just genuinely don’t care about who runs the country. Some go for rants about “why can’t we all get along these days?’ or they’re “sick of all this politics talk”.

Well I’m sorry, friend. But your ‘staying out of politics’ rant is privilege. It’s not that you don’t care about politics, it’s that you don’t have to care about politics. Just simply not ‘caring’ is a privilege act, the same way that having light skin, being a cis male, or sitting within a comfortable tax bracket is privileged. Because of who you are, you get the choice to care or not to care. You are not threatened and you never will be. And, slyly, it may benefit you, so you remain quiet. Your privilege grants you to remain living a non-political existence. Your wealth, race, ability, gender, and lived experiences all will likely allow you to avoid being the target of bigotry or oppression in your lifetime. 

For many (if not all) minority groups, politics govern their way of life. Politics determine whether or not they can get married, own a home or get a certain job, based only on their sexual orientation or their gender identity. Politics can govern whether someone gets to return to their home country based on their religion. Evidently, some individuals don’t get the option to turn a blind eye to politics. 

However, we have to acknowledge the reasoning behind some people’s negligence. It is fully possible to hold a set of views that are not linear. According to Pew Research Center in 2017, approximately one-third of Americans hold a roughly equal number of liberal and conservative views. In addition, a remarkable percentage of Americans are not significantly partisan. Yet, the media has made us believe that we have to pick a side. But in reality, there is no urgency. Take your time to develop your own views and know that they are valid. Is there any wiggle-room for slack?

With your privilege comes responsibility. If you’re not voting for yourself, vote for someone else. You’re turning away minorities in your community that have to fight for their lives due to politics. Those subject to discrimination by those in power’s only way of taking action is through political action. So, right now, go check your privilege. It has to be nice knowing that there will always be cultural and political shelter for the white privileged males amongst us.  

Looking past your privilege and standing up for others is long overdue. It’s a choice not to vote, and not voting means relying on your privilege to insulate you. I just hope you consider the people around you who do not hold that same luxury. By choosing to not see politics, you are choosing to not people of colour, transgender people, or other minority groups who aren’t as privileged as you. Instead of hiding behind your position by remaining silent or seeing political debates as a place of division and debate, inform yourself, recognise these inequalities and speak up for those hushed. Please keep this in mind during these troubling times. 

And let me remind you, have you registered to vote? 

 

By MEREDITH RAE