By Harshitha Kothapalli – Editor-in-Chief

In 2008, The Advocate conducted a schoolwide poll to determine who the Jonathan Law community supported for President. In the October 2008 edition of the newspaper, Editor Mary-Elizabath Sabo wrote an editorial in support of Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Editor Joe Pellicano wrote an editorial in support of Obama’s opponent, Republican John McCain.

In 2012, The Advocate also published two editorials leading up to the Presidential Election: one endorsing Obama and the other endorsing Republican Mitt Romney.

In 2024, leading up to the Presidential Election, The Advocate has not endorsed either of the two candidates. 

In today’s world, both in and out of school, we have to tip-toe around big important political topics more than ever. It seems as if trying to make the world a better place by learning and growing is sacrificed for trying not to hurt people’s feelings, opinions, or emotions.

If we as teenagers aren’t able to get uncomfortable and talk about growing issues that will affect our lives today, and in the future, we will never be able to mature fully as adults. Being able to see where other people are coming from and realizing when someone else is right are critical skills that we just don’t have as a generation.

Shortly after the recent presidential debate between candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, I wanted to write an editorial on my thoughts on the event. The reason this article is not on that topic is based on a simple question that came quickly after the idea: “Would the backlash be worth it?”

This “backlash” is the reason we’re being held back as a community and as a generation. Why is it that we’re not able to express political opinions without thinking about the consequences?

It’s understandable that people have become cautious about sharing their thoughts and opinions in today’s society. However, this hyper-sensitivity stems from the fact that these political conversations have become more polarized than ever. 

Rather than fostering discussions that allow for growth and understanding, we often witness arguments that leave no room for nuance. It’s easier to brush past urgent topics than to engage with those who disagree, especially when social media amplifies the consequences.

But we as students need to realize that in a world so interconnected and diverse, avoiding tough conversations will not protect us but just increase the challenges we face as a generation. We can’t expect to navigate the future if we can’t even begin the conversations that will shape it.

So how can we move forward? How do we create spaces where people feel safe to express their ideas without the threat of backlash, while also being able to hold one another accountable? How do we balance empathy with honesty?

The solution starts with a change in us. If we can commit to having difficult conversations with respect and genuine willingness to understand, we can easily change the way society engages with these issues. If we want to mature as adults, we must first learn to have these conversations as teenagers.