Millennial struggle: Can't we all just get along?

It is no secret that all sorts of people are riled up about a lot of things in this world. There are strong, valid feelings that people of all ages, identities, ethnicities, backgrounds, and either side of the aisle are going through right now in our society.

From senseless acts of violence, hate crimes, college campus protests, terrorist attacks around the world, and the fear that is spread throughout this country, we are in a time that is subject to rapid change.

One may find themselves asking, “where do I belong in the midst of all of this?” I am one of those people. I am seriously lost on the root of what the true issues are in our society. Are we actually arguing about what we think we are arguing about? Or are we just arguing for argument sake?

It seems as if contenders on both sides of any given issue have radicals that feel the need to shove their opinions down our throats by way of the gaudy amounts of media that is available to a person literally in the palm of our hands. We are bombarded with opinions from all ends of the spectrum — no matter how hard we try to clear through the muck. If you’re like me, you feel a tug and can catch yourself in an internal conflict of — Is it really what this side says over this side? Or should I believe that group over the other group?

I often find myself not agreeing with anyone, and chalk up all the opinions to a bunch of noise — whether it be the right or the left. For example, with The Evergreen State College. There are so many opinions, and individuals willing to express their opinions loudly, that I feel like part of a small group that is lost in the midst of all the “we’re right, they’re wrong” and the “us versus them” mentality. I’m confused because so much context is missing from both the students side and the college’s side. I do not feel like I belong to an “us” or a “them”. I feel as if I’m an outsider, wanting to help or better the world somehow.

It seems like literally everything can be turned into an argument; including whether or not the earth is flat (seriously, some people still argue about this). Or even the decision to leave the Paris agreement. It’s become a partisan issue rather than something that is factual and something that needs to change. Passion can often cloud reason, and sometimes people get so riled up on one issue that they have poured their hearts into and they forgot how to listen to others. There is a fine art to having a difference in opinion, and listening to the counter argument.Now, people would rather shut an individual down based on who they associate with, what party they belong to, or what Facebook post they shared to their wall, than listen to an opposing view point.

Maybe I am completely alone in feeling this way, but all I want is a compromise. I want our nation and the people in it to start listening to each other again, instead of arguing for argument sake —ahem —Trump and his “huge attendance” at his inauguration.

There needs to be a change in attitude and a shake up of our society that gets us out of gridlock and starts us talking to each other again. Your opinions matter, but not every opinion is right, and not every opinion is true. And when our opinions get in the way of the facts, and prevent any sort of movement towards progress, maybe we need to look in the mirror and do some reevaluating.

This story was originally published June 28, 2017 at 8:40 PM with the headline "Millennial struggle: Can't we all just get along?."