by Demiana Ghobrial
Politics are an exhausting topic. An underlying feeling of dread and frustration persists in discussing political content as it exists in the present day that highlights a certain feeling of helplessness.
But it is essential to engage with politics anyways, political apathy will only worsen global conditions.
Seeing communities both in close proximity to and oceans away from oneself in despair spreads that feeling of melancholy to those who witness that turmoil. These emotions get so overwhelming that they prompt many to turn away from politics altogether.
Some also find politics too confusing or divisive an arena to engage with, and therefore attempt to avoid politics completely.
Echoing sentiments such as “it just got so bad I had to turn the TV off,” “politics just aren’t my thing” or “I don’t get involved in politics” paints political issues as mere talking points or topics of discussion when in reality, they are so much more.
International conflicts such as the ongoing genocide in Palestine, Israeli occupation in Palestinian territories, war in Ukraine, civil war in Sudan and rebel groups enacting systematic violence in Congo are not topics one should disengage from.
By ignoring the tangible effects of political decisions and developments, one communicates not only that political discussions are purely philosophical, but that political control is out of the hands of the masses.
It is rhetoric that is antithetical to the standard of democracy that Americans champion so brazenly. How can one boast that their country is led by the people while simultaneously refusing to lead it?
It is admittedly hard to feel a strong sense of political efficacy when life or death decisions are left in the hands of an elite few, but political involvement is not black and white.
The options should not be either achieve world peace or bury one’s head in the sand. There are countless degrees of involvement between two radically different sides of the spectrum that allow everyone to participate.
Going to protests, attending public government meetings, reading and sharing the news or even simply voting are all ways for individuals to make themselves heard.
Furthermore, abstaining from politics makes one an active participant in censorship. This is especially hazardous when an administration seeks to erase and rewrite information.
In only the first months of President Donald Trump’s second term, he and his cabinet have blatantly attacked the publication of certain information and ideas.
In January, Trump’s agency pulled multiple pages of scientific research from federal websites, including research on HIV, AIDS, vaccination rates and key findings in climate change.
In the aftermath of this specific decision, some research was restored and some datasets were altered to fit Trump’s directives. The CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, used to track risk behaviors and chronic health conditions, showed a disclaimer when it was restored to its website.
“Per a court order, HHS is required to restore this website to its version as of 12:00 AM on January 29, 2025. Information on this page may be modified and/or removed in the future subject to the terms of the court’s order and implemented consistent with applicable law. Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from truth. The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology due to the harms and divisiveness it causes. This page does not reflect reality and therefore the Administration and this Department reject it,” the website said.
In March, Trump’s administration directed agencies to limit or avoid specific words on federal websites.
To name a select few examples from an extensive list, “diversity,” “disparity,” “confirmation bias,” “stereotype,” “BIPOC,” “climate crisis,” “pronoun,” “racism” and “immigrants” were among the targeted words and phrases.
Ignoring crucial developments such as these, which amount to only a few examples of the Trump administration’s attempts at censorship, gives them what they want.
They are aiming to hide this information. However, the public can effectively resist by actively seeking the information out. .
This conquest of information is not as daunting as it seems. One of the benefits of the internet age is its abundance of information; the knowledge is available for those who want it.
Internet archives are actively fighting against efforts to change or remove information by preserving it elsewhere. Most legislative documents are public information and news publications are constantly monitoring offices to report and condense newsworthy information.
Beyond governmental information, social media provides priceless firsthand accounts from people around the world who are witnessing political unrest and exploitation.
It is difficult to maintain the belief that engaging in politics actively achieves change. It is even more difficult not to turn a mental health break from politics into an overall abstention from involvement. That being said, it is also remarkably easy to find the information necessary to stay up to date.
Furthermore, the alternative to participating is catastrophic. To let corruption and human rights violations fester behind a closed curtain is to let democracy erode. The most meaningful defense against being taken advantage of is having an awareness of what is happening both domestically and globally.
It is crucial to keep having difficult conversations and to bear witness to crimes against humanity and freedom. If there is no awareness, there can be no change.