This has happened to me several times this year. I’m at a party or social gathering, chatting with someone, when suddenly a question or comment comes up: “Are you really with the Vrijmoedige Studentenpartij? Are you seriously right-wing?” It’s usually followed by a surprised look, and then a brief, slightly awkward silence. You can almost feel the prejudice in the air. Apparently, for some people, it’s hard to reconcile: someone who is open to other opinions, engages in respectful conversation, and still considers themselves politically right-wing or conservative.
Yes, I’m probably more conservative than most students. I value traditions, am critical of fashionable ideologies or trend thinking, and I don’t believe that something should automatically be discarded just because it’s deemed outdated or no longer fits into a progressive, modern agenda. However, being conservative doesn’t mean I close myself off to other viewpoints. On the contrary, I think it’s crucial to keep the conversation going. Not to convince everyone of my own views, but because I’m genuinely curious about how others think and, more importantly, why.
Unfortunately, in today’s world, it often seems difficult to engage in conversation about controversial topics without prejudice. The box-thinking mentality strongly contributes to this. Too often, labels are quickly attached, and with those labels, people assume they immediately know who you are, what you think, and how you will behave. You’re having a good conversation with someone, but as soon as they realize you’re that right-wing student, the atmosphere shifts. You suddenly notice how quickly the dynamic of the conversation can change once a label is placed on the table.
This makes it all the more important to find ways to break through these prejudices and maintain an open dialogue, even on controversial topics where our opinions may differ significantly. Within our current student council, we are taking steps in the right direction by having these conversations respectfully.
It would also help if we didn’t take each other so seriously all the time. A bit of playful teasing about political differences is fine, as long as it’s in good humour. For example, I’m sometimes teased for being so-called anti-international, and I tease others about them being too woke to appreciate a joke. As long as the tone remains respectful, it keeps things light-hearted.
Let’s not let outdated labels like left-wing or right-wing stand in the way of really engaging with each other. Without dialogue, prejudice wins, and so does polarization.