Everyone can agree that political polarization is harmful to public discourse in the United States. Polarization, however, is an outcome of ubiquitous rhetoric attacking anyone with the slightest apprehension about the 21st-century’s course toward further globalization and multiculturalism, and a refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of grievances from groups categorically described as oppressors. The reactionary current gaining momentum in American society is largely made up of young, white men who lack political power and institutional currency as much as, if not more, than their counterparts on the left who see them as nemeses in a struggle against whiteness and patriarchy.
The critique of Western civilization has been worn out with the constant deconstruction of traditional values and aesthetics, and the time has come for a new political landscape that can synthesize the benefits of our highly modern world without a complete rebuke of previous generations as unredeemable, rather than faulted products of their age. Despite the conservative influence in UT’s administration and governance, the public atmosphere on campus remains consistently left-wing and generally opposed to ‘hearing out’ the right. As the “woke” era — for lack of a better term — falters, it’s important to consider the best path forward for harmony between everyone living in the United States.
Increasingly, the administrations of President Trump and former president Biden alike are understood by Generation Z as failing to address any of their real concerns, regardless of party identification — unpopular foreign entanglements, stifling competition in the labor market, inaccessible housing costs and lack of social cohesion. Instead, as people now see through traditional media’s heavy filtration on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and X, conspiracy theories run rampant as people grasp to understand why reputable institutions and “pillars of democracy” appear not to leave a seat at the table for the next generation of Americans.
I believe it is critical for Generation Z to rally around a new consensus that most people on the right and left can find agreeable. For this to succeed, the anarchical policing of offensive language and searching for targets to cancel has to come to an end. It’s vital our campus protects free speech when these values come into conflict. Political violence and rationalization of violent acts under the guise of “deserving it” for accusations of bigotry have to go too. A consensus can emerge around a deep respect for humanity as the world becomes increasingly depersonalized and people growing up struggle to adapt without feeling disconnected or alienated. I have participated in our campus’s pro-life organization that tables on Speedway; and having conversations with other students, who mostly disagree, has gone a long way in fostering mutual respect. People across the political spectrum have justified reasons for feeling alienated, but this growing crisis won’t yield a desirable outcome without a respect for the rule of law and for the dignity of each side.
Belomestnov is a history junior, Vice President of the Texas Horns for Life and a Legislative Aide in the Texas House of Representatives.
