With the 2022 midterm elections approaching in the U.S., one issue is sickeningly apparent in the Hotchkiss community — political disengagement. For the past two years, political clubs such as the Republicans, the Democrats, and Hotchkiss Political Union (HPU) have faced disappointing turnout. Part of this could be a general sense of isolation in the school caused by Covid, since all clubs, not just political, faced issues with turnout. However, as the 2022-23 school year started with no Covid restrictions, our current issue with political disengagement is not just a consequence of Covid, but a withdrawal from political discourse and lack of acceptance for diverse thought.

Just as the ideal of freedom of speech is a cornerstone of the U.S., so is political engagement. Democracy functions only with the collective involvement of all citizens, not by listening to a few loud voices that speak over others. The very heart of American democracy rests on debate and the conflict of opinions, from which stems further growth and actual progress.

Currently, many students or even faculty avoid expressing their political opinions out of fear of criticism and hate. This is understandable, as the political environment in the U.S. has been increasingly polarized over the past few years; specifically, reasonable conservative opinions come under fire due to being lumped in with more extreme right-wing positions. However, there will always be some sort of backlash to any political opinion, even when it is justified. Conflict is inevitable in politics, and is healthy for political discourse. Being disengaged out of fear of conflict diminishes your voice, and removes diversity of thought from the community. Debate is an important part of political discourse, and we must all collectively re-engage by sharing our opinions in the public forum, even if we fear criticism. Just as Preston Lecture speaker Lesley Blume said, at risk of the possible ire of our teachers, “Responsible dissent is knowing when to make good trouble.”

To be a functioning school community, it is vital that we bring back political engagement. Show up to political discussions, respectfully voice your opinions, actively listen to others, and stay engaged. Disengagement is not an option for a healthy democracy and school community.