Although our world has always revolved around politics, it seems that since President Trump’s inauguration two years ago, everybody and their mother has become more heavily opinionated on how the government should be run. While this isn’t inherently a bad thing, it has become evident that many people have become wary of politics taking over every discussion no matter where they are. When celebrities come out for or against a candidate the first responses that you tend to see are usually angry comments from people telling off the celebrities to ‘stay in their lane’ and ‘stick to what they’re good at’, as if they’re not allowed to have an opinion just because they’re famous.

Unfortunately, it is intensely disappointing that this is how society views the discussion of politics when it is quite possibly the most important conversation of our lives. Granted, it is certainly not always an easy conversation to have, as it is notorious for causing schisms in relationships, but talking about politics is one of the most important ways to stay connected and involved with how our country is run. Regardless of what your political viewpoints are or how you feel about discussing them, nobody can argue that politics don’t shape our lives to a certain degree. When laws threaten to put certain groups of people at harm, it is the least we can do as citizens to talk about what is going on with each other. It should be our civic duty to, at the very least, to remain politically educated, and one of the best ways that we can do that is by sharing our outlooks on what’s happening with each other.

It is very disheartening that so many people view the discussion of politics as an exasperating topic met with groans of annoyance when brought up at the dinner table when it is such a hugely important conversation. Many people’s excuses for not wishing to talk about it is that they simply don’t want to start a disagreement over separate beliefs, but how do you expect to educate yourself on other points of view if you don’t have an argument every now and then? Sometimes all it takes is listening to another person’s stance on a topic to make you change your mind about something that you thought you knew everything about. We shouldn’t be afraid of getting into a spat if it’s over something as important of a topic as this.

Of course, there’s a time and a place to discuss it-I’m not telling you to launch into a debate over what political party you stand with at your niece’s wedding. However, I am telling you to not be afraid to speak up when it is necessary. Having a voice is one of the most important things you can have as a human being, and it’s time to speak up. Next time you have the chance, don’t back down from a political debate, instead, take the opportunity to educate others or learn new things yourself.