Don’t fence me in
There’s more to life than left and right
I am not a fan of small spaces. It’s not a phobia, but I can’t easily be lured into areas that restrict my movement. Lifts and I have had a somewhat turbulent relationship, and it is a rare occasion that I can be coaxed into one. Cable cars, trolleys and the sleeping compartments on European Railways are similarly shaky.
I’m equally uncomfortable with being constricted in the metaphorical sense. Labels obviously have their uses: stuck on jam jars or paraded on catwalks. Within the political sphere, though, they are often brandished as tools of accusation or devices with which to ostracise.
I acknowledge that what I write in these pages is often overtly ideological and quite probably dismissed by some as left-wing propaganda. In case I left you in any doubt, I will exit the closet now, publicly and unashamedly. I get called a Liberal, and yes, I do have a dream of equality and tolerance and ethical governance. And yes, as I say this, I have a rousing soundtrack playing in my head that only I can hear. None of this makes me naïve and uninformed, and it does not make me self-righteous.
The real issue here, though, is not which side we subscribe to or our tactics for defending it. It is the fact that we “take sides” at all. Schisms and divisions seem to dominate the political landscape, and as a result, a trend for name-calling prevails.
Sometimes, this is purely affectionate and flippant. One of my closest friends, whose political views differ to mine, has been known to inquire if I can take any medication to dull my passionate leftie tendencies, whilst denouncing any non-Tory organisation as an “extremist” group. She is a true blue, and I love her for it. Moreover, we are only jesting. However, such banter can also be thrown around with bitter and acidic intent. A belief or value should not be utilised as a mindless slur. We already have so many barriers in society to overcome. Why create more for the sake of sensationalism?
Such a gridlocked naming system isn’t subtle enough to cover our views anyway. The very fluidity of our thoughts means that we are not dealing with Marmite preferences: Politics is rarely a yes or no answer. We are at the peak of our intellectual journey and, surrounded by such a diverse range of fellow travelers, campus is a place for discussion that embraces other opinions whilst fortifying our own.
I was once told by a York graduate that while we are young, we should occasionally be fickle in our views as we are still learning. We should not cling to one ideal for all eternity. We cannot benefit from all that is academically on offer if we refuse to step out of our designated segment on the political spectrum.
Aside from all of the above, the “left/right” argument is just terribly impractical. Definitions are subjective and vary between people. Clinging to archaic interpretation is dangerous, as we effectively draw ourselves as caricatures.
A?university is an ideas factory. We should not feel forced to define who we are within a pre-agreed and limiting construct. A myriad of morals and values, some conflicting, make up who we are. Let’s just leave it at that.
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