Young Republicans
We, the leaders and members of Young Republicans, would like the EA student body to have a more clear understanding of the current goals and activities of our group. We feel that sometimes our beliefs are misconstrued or invalidated, so we would like to clarify our organization’s goals and intentions, as well as call for open political discourse among the student body.
Young Republicans is a club where people can come together and express themselves freely. Because the state of politics today has become particularly divisive, the goal of Young Republicans is to challenge negative stereotypes surrounding political affiliations and create a community in which every voice is heard and respected.
America is a special place where people can express their opinions freely, but we believe that the current “cancel-culture” is interfering with this right everywhere in the nation, including at Episcopal Academy. We believe that this social trend is contributing to the misunderstanding and division towards the Young Republicans, as it prevents ideas and perspectives from having a chance to be expressed and heard.
A school should be a center of learning, not only from lectures and textbooks, but also from each other. We are all diverse individuals with unique thoughts and beliefs. The advantage of living in a country with so many backgrounds is that there are an unlimited number of perspectives. The student sitting next to you in class knows something you don’t. By listening to everyone’s take on a matter, we all leave with a new and broader understanding. However, many in the Young Republican group feel that they have been bullied and silenced for voicing opinions or sharing perspectives that others disagree with. Nik Athwal ‘24 comments, “People should not be bullied just for having a differing opinion.”
As a community, it is vital to be aware of differing ideas and opinions. Members of our club, therefore, seek to create a welcoming environment in which all voices are heard and respected, regardless of political affiliation. Whether in the classroom or with friends, having an open mind towards different positions will strengthen our community. To have a truly open discussion, we all must see and respect the humanity and background of every individual.
One of our favorite activities this year was implementing a flag memorial with Young Democrats on Veterans Day. In the future, the Young Republicans hope to invite members of clubs with differing views to participate in our meetings. However, Young Republicans cannot do it alone. In order to affect real change, the Episcopal community must listen to all sides of an argument before passing judgment. We must engage in respectful dialogue and respect everyone’s opinion, regardless of political affiliation.
Today’s political climate is full of animosity, stemming from extremists on both sides of the aisle. However, disagreement is a healthy characteristic of political discourse, and something to be encouraged. Without disagreement, we, as a society, could not advance intellectually and politically. Episcopal provides opportunities to engage in political and social rights conversations with clubs such as Young Democrats, Young Republicans, QSA, AASU, BSU, and other affinity groups. Members of Young Republicans encourage peaceful discourse with and between all of these groups as one of our main objectives. As a club, we spend time talking about events, both domestic and international. As we enter these conversations, we acknowledge the importance of not merely hearing, but listening to others so that we can be exposed to various perspectives and experiences.
We believe that an educational institution for young adults should be open to new ideas and the opportunity to learn. One cannot learn without making mistakes and being corrected by their teachers and administrators. Learning how to engage in conversation about serious topics such as politics is an important life skill that Episcopal should encourage. It is also our belief that nobody should be silenced, regardless of where their views lean. We believe that Episcopal should support the student body in learning how to express their views in a respectful and non-accusatory manner.
Students on both ends of the political spectrum can attest to the fact that comments regarding politics have been used against individuals. An educational institution should be a safe place to learn and grow. We offer an invitation to open up dialogue; we should work to converse with clubs that may hold opposing views. We think that this dialogue will help us learn to become better United States citizens. This editorial is both an explanation of the beliefs of the Young Republicans group and a plea to foster an environment in which we can better understand one another, free of ridicule, and contribute to our society.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Yu