nal paper: “My conception of what being a good citizen is has greatly evolved over the course of [our course]…I now think that it’s even more necessary to not just understand your own opinions, but also those of other people. Too often, we see politicians, media elites, and even citizens weaponizing our differences as political ammunition for one side or the other instead of appreciating the various perspectives. It certainly takes a lot of conscious effort to approach political discourse with an open mind and resist the urge to argue during the charged political environment we live in, but I’ve come to understand that this is a crucial step in creating a well-functioning democracy.”
Perhaps rather than worry that students on UW campuses are being indoctrinated, we instead should listen to them and follow their lead: Don’t believe everything you hear or read. Take the time to listen to people and understand where they are coming from. And perhaps most importantly, enjoy the feeling of people treating each other with respect.