The Two Purposes of a Political Science Class

As we enter the fifth week of Political Science 1100, there is something you should know about the class. It serves two purposes: 1) to teach you the structure of your government, how it became the way it is, and give you reasons to get involved and 2) to confuse you until you figure out what you really believe about politics.

There is a saying that is far too often quoted for my taste. It is "Never talk about religion or politics." The reason these two subjects are often avoided in mixed company is because both involve very personal and sometimes controversial feelings. But, if we avoid these subjects forever, we will go throughout life without purpose or direction. There is also a couple of sayings that go something like this: "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything," or "If there is nothing valuable enough to fight for, you must not value anything."

That's where this class comes in particularly handy.

Although I can't do much for you in the area of religion, I can help you form your own political points of view. Interestingly, I have very little if anything to do with it. All I do is facilitate a class for three hours a week where I let you explore your own feelings about tough issues like abortion, civil rights, immigration, judicial review, taxes, and government involvement in your lives. You do the rest.

As you ponder and allow some ideas to marinate in your minds and hearts, you will find an almost religious conviction of the truthfulness or falsehood of tough issues. I suggest you open your minds to the possibilities that you might be wrong. It's amazing what you learn when that happens.

So, in the end, this class will have done one of two things: strengthened the ideas you had at the beginning of this class so much that there is no more doubt OR confused the hell out of you, which is also just as good. As you meander through your confusion with an open mind, you will refine your points of view. You will pick up nuggets of truth that will eventually shape your personal political doctrine. Funny thing, though. The more you seek for the truth, the more it will be challenged. Be prepared to defend it because an idea that can't stand up to scrutiny in the light of day isn't much of an idea.

My personal political journey is still ongoing. My points of view are constantly being challenged and refined. I'm always finding my views shift depending on the knowledge I allow myself to gain. A little advice, let change happen in your search for political truth. You will be a better informed citizen and a truer American.