Opinion

Debate stifled by entrance of politics

"God is a Republican!"

This cry came as a show of pseudo-support for the Evangelist preachers proselytizing in Library Mall last week, yet it highlights an issue that is polarizing and becoming increasingly important in our political system. With the advent of 24-hour news coverage, the blogosphere, and an ever-increasing number of political interest groups, an important question needs to be asked: are Americans becoming too political? This query is not asking if too many people are getting involved in the political process, but if, by an incipient and urgent desire to include one's political beliefs in every facet of one's life, is a disservice being done to the nation?

This is a sticky issue to confront, yet one that must be confronted nonetheless. Political ardor and passion are certainly not virtues to be looked down on, and because of many people's passionate commitment to their ideals, we today are able to enjoy the abundance of the fruits of their labors. However, passions can sometimes run too high, and the time is quickly approaching when the politicization of everything will be too rampant to ignore.

Here is one anecdote that articulates the manifestations of this problem. Recently, a large box was conspicuously placed in Helen C. White Library. The message taped to the box implored all passersby to donate urgently needed funds to the Hurricane Katrina relief fund. While this attempt to help those in need is certainly nothing to scoff at, the rationale of the message was certainly curious. After the initial call to this noble action, the message reminded all readers that this action was the necessary result of a government too entangled with Iraq and too ignorant of the problems at home. The message was signed by a group called Relief Not War.

While this might not seem like the most outrageous example of political ardor run amok, it shows the growing intransigence of the current political process. By tying a plea for aid to a political message, this simple box managed to create a politically polarizing environment. A donation to the box simultaneously became a donation to its associated political cause, potentially costing the group some much-needed munitions.

This box belies the current unwillingness to surrender one's own political motives and desires in regard to any situation, and it is this reticence where trouble is found. Increased social politicization is a problem because it harms public discourse by stifling meaningful debate. It is rather difficult to debate important issues rationally and thoughtfully when confronted with irrational partisan zeal. Furthermore, and most problematically, politicization creates an us-against-them mentality. Any ordinary issue can become the turning point of the culture because giving any ground to one's political adversary is a defeat. In order to create compromise, it is essential to listen to all points of view, but it is hard to hear them when all that is being said is intemperate political rhetoric.

So are we resigned to a fate where all future actions will be a matter of Democrat vs. Republican, atheist vs. Evangelist, red vs. blue? Hopefully not, but it will take a concentrated effort from all parties to not exacerbate the already tenuous bounds on flagrant politicization from breaking loose. So, in order to create a less discordant social atmosphere, it might not be a terrible idea to sometimes leave your politics on the doorstep.

Mike Skelly (meskelly@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in finance and political science.