Katie McMullin just voted in her first presidential election. A 2022 HHS graduate, McMullin was co-Editor-in-Chief of The Viking Views her senior year. Here are her thoughts and opinions on moving forward, in her words.
“I think that [we] can all agree that [people] want things to be cheaper; gas, groceries, general cost of living. It is something I hear the most that everyone can agree on, even if they cannot agree on how to get there. I do not know that I personally could say there is anything else everyone can agree on because politics have become so polarized, and every issue is a political one. More often than not, people do not even realize what it is they want from a political candidate because they’ve been fed so much information from the media. I believe that political activism can evolve by actually listening to one another, and not shutting people down. I know that doing that is hard, especially because there are many issues that people are incredibly passionate about. A big step is to encourage people to educate themselves on politics. Politics should be discussed in school when appropriate, and those conversations should be moderated appropriately.
Local leaders can encourage more community building. Unite people based off of their beliefs, not based off of their affiliations. Most people do not have different political beliefs, they have different political affiliations, and that has only gotten worse with time. Zooming out of Republican versus Democrat is a good place to start. I am able to see who supports what, and then I can align myself with someone. A lot of people need to be comfortable with the idea of being wrong, and need to know how to course correct. I have been wrong so many times before in my life, but I have also done the research to correct those wrongs. I talk with the people around me and see how they are feeling. Even if we are all overwhelmed, we know we can talk to one another and vent our frustrations. It is also very beneficial to stay off of social media, or when I am on it, I try not to focus too hard on doom scrolling and overwhelming myself. It is important to be educated, but it is equally important to let yourself breathe. We need to participate in active listening more to foster that culture. Teach it in schools and outside of schools, and utilize that way of listening even if no one else is. When you find yourself in a position where a debate could occur, try and redirect to active listening. Respond to one another with care, and actually listen. A lot of people begin conversations by immediately wondering how they can oppose to whomever they are talking and store questions and rebuttals in their heads. Instead, open your ears fully and take it all in, even if you really do not want to. Working together instead of being pitted against one another is important to lessen the political polarization in our country. We as a state, and as a nation, need to look beyond the parties.
The aftermath of any election season is always a difficult period with people split over their opposing views, leaving communities feeling divided. Ohioans must recognize the long-term goal of ultimately serving all citizens. Regardless if we agree on Issue 1 or on other ballot measures, these efforts open doors for continued public dialogue about how to improve the system. Despite one’s viewpoint, these conversations and debates show how Ohioans care about shaping democracy. While we continue to move forward, remember that the strength of Ohio rests in its residents. Everyone should be heard. To that end, it is important to engage in respectful conversation, have open minds, and collaborate. Ohioans can all agree that democratic progress is an ongoing journey that requires communication and patience while listening to others. Remember that strengthening Ohio does not only depend on the laws but also on collaboration and uniting citizens together.”
— Katie McMullin, HHS Class of 2022
