Why I Stopped Caring About Politics

I wore a MAGA hat to school.

People were angry, offended seeing a half-Asian male roam between classes with my red hat on.

Then, Grade 11-12 rolls in and I tune out of the politics.

What happened?

I finally realise how useless it was to debate others about politicians and government policies.

From then on, I took a more side-lined approach with these political conversations. Emotionally maturing and understanding that not everything has to be a fight.

The energy I put in: following the news, following what today's politics had to say, would create an outcome that would not make any impact on my life.

The Exposure I Had

I do not want to go into every political belief that I have. What I will tell you is the kind of person I was going into the political space.

(Much to people saying I should start a channel discussing political topics.)

In Grade 9, I started watching Steven Crowder, a right-leaning comedian and political commentator. After watching his Change My Mind I tried getting into a political debate every other day until the end of Grade 10.

In hindsight, I was being a 'dick' who masqueraded his amusement and desire for winning as intellectual sparring. And, I wouldn't be lying if I didn't say I liked the attention I got from my controversy.

However, in all that time I was debating, I was not actually pursuing the Truth.

I had no intention going in with an open mind. I'd only listen to their words in order to dismantle their arguments and win.

Which is a cardinal sin as I see it now. Using the tools of debate for recreation rather than the outcome of getting to the bottom of things.

The Approach I Take Now

My number one rule I take is from How To Win Friends And Influence People,

The only way to get the best out of an argument is to avoid it.

Recalling one instance, there was a girl in my year 12 Digital Solutions class who asked,

"What's your opinion on abortion, Denzil?"

I immediately shutdown the possibility for debating by saying,

"I do not have an opinion."

The old me would have dived straight into the question with a controversial answer. However, I steered the conversation saying,

"The topic is too complex that I choose not to take a stance."

(Which to a degree is false. Of course I have thoughts, but I steer away from binary thinking.)

I think people forget you don't need to express or have an opinion on everything. The criteria for what I have an opinion is on things I find important.

Because politics isn't that important due to its lack of impact on my life, I don't really have an opinion.

What I value more is the truth than who is right or wrong.

In saying that, I definitely have political beliefs stored away in the back of my head. However, I don't think about it on a daily basis simply because it does not affect me.

Like, what good comes from thinking about problems of wider society if my problems as an individual are not being addressed by me? What makes a governing body believe it has more knowledge, wisdom and competency to create a positive impact on my life?

The needs of the collective are made of the many needs of individuals. If the individual can address his needs by doing the work, the group is in a better position moving forward.

Perhaps I'm more ruthless than I think when it comes to solving one's problems.

To dismiss any problem to be solved by the individual, rather than elected individuals who are supposed to represent me.

What about those who are disadvantaged by circumstance?

I can think of many examples: the homeless, the drug addicts, the alcoholics, the less-performing populations.

Whose fault is it? That is the wrong question to ask.

These questions tend to lean asking who is the oppressor and who is the oppressed.

Like, an invisible force that is marginalising people from achieving the most out of life, thinking they do not get enough support or benefit from someone else.

Government, is pointed at for that. But, I dislike giving personal responsibility away.

"Power follows the blame finger. – Alex Hormozi"

I do not like giving power to something I have no control over. Thus, instead of anger towards politicians, I don't care as much.

The Only Time I've Been Angry About Politics

A classmate from my Digital Solutions mentioned a peer of ours during his Philosophy class.

She had her water bottle in a stubby cooler. It said "I <3 Free Speech", with the words 'Free Speech' crossed out with a pen.

Our classmate asked why she crossed it out. She said free speech shouldn't exist.

After hearing that, a red mist engulfed me.

Living in a Western country, she has the privilege to say that. To criticise her government, politicians and other people without the fear of violence.

True oppression is when you want to speak the Truth, but a violent ideological authority called 'government' stops you from exercising truth.

Free speech is THE fundamental human right.

Without the ability to debate and speak freely, the human rights conversation could not occur in the first place.

Inability to speak freely leads to oppression of the soul.

And, how about saying it to the face of those who face persecution for freely speaking?

Saying it to the ones who fought to protect that right? Wars have been fought to keep oppressive regimes from indoctrinating their ideologies.

That's what made me angry. With history written of Totalitarian Governments rising and oppressing the people, how can she be so blind and spit in the faces who protect our very right?

The Big Lesson I Learnt From My Political Phase

When I did bring my MAGA hat in Grade 10, I'd put it on my desk in History class. Then, my History teacher would walk past and say,

"I'll take that. Let me put it on my desk, and you can pick it up after class."

I didn't retaliate. In fact, I was unfazed, thinking she wanted a reaction from me.

I got my hat at the end of class, and she asked,

"You want reactions from people, don't you?"

My reaction encapsulated the word 'sure'. I didn't want to openly-admit to it, but there was an element of getting people's reactions that compelled me to wear it.

Then, in the same History class, we had a group activity that involved role-playing government representatives tackling a controversial issue.

My teacher told me directly to 'not try getting into any debates' during this class activity. Which, I did.

Nonetheless, the bell for lunch rang. Before I left through the door, my History teacher asked,

"What did you take away from today's activity?"

"To listen more."

I made that general comment, and probably didn't understand the prolificness of it until now. If you can put away your pettiness of wanting to be right, what the other side wants is to be listened to.

Of course there are degrees of right and wrong, but what most sides must understand is the common goal is not defeating the other side.

It's pursuing the truth with someone who might have a different perspective from you.

Not government.

My tendencies lean towards individual action having a larger influence on one's life than government.

And, I sometimes think, there are some people who do not want to be helped, or saved from the fate they currently live.

More people helping more people who want to help themselves.

Also known as entrepreneurship.

(If ever one of your teachers ask what do you want to do after high school, I find saying 'philanthropist' get some positive reactions.)

[BONUS] Why Did You Wear A MAGA Hat?

Other than wanting to stir controversy, it's not for ONE particular reason.

Even writing now, I'm a bit unsure why myself.

I could have done it for attention because I was feeling a lack of it. Then, I could have done it to actually make people think about the former president.

Or could have been,

"Fuck it, why the hell not?"

I'd be lying if I didn't say I loved some of the reactions people got from my hat.

Because, the ideas people have of me starkly contrast the ideas they have for Trump.

Like Naval Ravikant said,

"...it’s like if you go to a circus and you see a bear, right? That’s kind of interesting but not that much. If you see a unicycle, that’s interesting. But you see a bear on a unicycle, that’s really interesting, right?"

My being was sort of the bear and the MAGA hat was the unicycle.

In saying that, I respect the man for what he has done in his career and presidency. And to point at his vices, one must look at their own.

What I do like about him is that he is polarising.

You either LOVE him or HATE him.

It can be hard to openly show your support for such a controversial figure.

His actions, his words, force you to take a side. Which, if you've read the article, should not be the point in every discussion.