It goes without saying that our world is pretty crazy right now. So, let’s all take a collective deep breath.
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Better? We hope so. For now, take this as a formal reminder to breathe more often, especially during a time in which news headlines, the daily weather channel and “the word on the street” leave us all wondering what else could possibly go wrong. Overshadowing this pressure of simply keeping up with the news is something arguably worse, too: the pressure of having to take a side, especially with charged issues like Venezuela, Greenland and ICE shootings in Minnesota. And if you take the “wrong” side? Yikes.
We are in the age of rapid-fire — and insanely polarized — media; between CNN, Fox News and the BBC, it can be easy to absorb one-sided coverage of current events within minutes of any incident. Not only does this quickly thrown together, relatively thoughtless system feed into extremism, but it leaves no time for such news stories to develop nuances. It is rare for the quick facts to be 100% correct.
Thus, we here at The Vanguard have a challenge for you all: When inundated with fast facts and NEWS HEADLINES THAT LOOK LIKE THIS TO CAPTURE YOUR ATTENTION, take a breath. Do careful research, cross-reference multiple sources and wait a moment for the situation at hand to develop itself. You do not need to have the “correct stance” right off the bat (because who ever does?). In the true spirit of our school, think critically while drawing on different perspectives on the matter.
Ms. Stokes’ AP United States Government and Politics class does this well through mock courts; you are given a perspective that you must research and support, no matter your personal stance on the issue. Dr. Lippard’s “Beyond the Echo Chambers” Senior Spring Project seminar embodies this idea, too. Through discussions with students in Louisiana, seniors learn about political issues through the lens of high schoolers with often opposing opinions.
As students and faculty, let’s embody a patient approach to the news. Know that complex issues need never be put into black and white, as it is possible to hold multiple perspectives. Be willing to truly UNDERSTAND multiple opinions, DO your research and THINK critically. And one last time, let’s BREATHE!
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