The recent political climate in the United States has become increasingly divided due to issues such as conflicting interpretations of our fundamental rights. Differences in political opinion are at an all-time high, with people often having different takes on what our government and country should reflect. The political climate of Minnetonka High School is equally diverse, but many individuals in the student body agree that America has never quite been unified. When it comes to America, agreeing on policies and controversies is about as easy as petting a ravenous bear.
When she was asked to describe America in three words, Megan Eisenmann, ‘27, remarked that it is “divided, uneducated, but hopeful.” Quite similarly, Berit Enstad, ‘26, defined it as “divided” as well, but also “ignorant and resilient.” Both of these students agree that the United States is struggling to find a common ground; disagreements and disputes are shamefully common, but these tensions are actually what makes America so unique. In Eisenmann’s words, if we want to bring our society to prosperity, we must “understand that everyone wants what’s best for our country.” The resilience and hope that both interviewees described relate back to one overarching goal: to help America prosper. No matter what background someone comes from, the education they receive, the city they grew up in, or whichever political stance they take, each and every citizen and peer living among us simply wants our country to be the best it can be.
However, as outlined once again by Eisenmann, the “extreme division” we are battling has made members of our society believe that “people who disagree with their views should be seen as enemies.” She stresses that “the current administration is really good at encouraging this division,” which is similar to what Enstad describes as the biggest issue in our country —“the threat to democracy” within our borders.
With all this being said, an obvious question arises with in our worrying society: what can we do to solve this? Well, Enstad offers that keeping an “open perspective” and a readiness to listen to each other’s opinions should enable our country to stay focused on what really matters, understanding each other and, as Eisenmann says, realizing that “no one is perfect.” Eisenmann agrees that we must “be more open minded to hearing out each other’s ideas,” for without this, the disturbing division we are facing will never cease. Although political tensions often call for division, we as a society must push through and realize that at its core, every dispute is simply a longing for greatness.
