Unserious.

I have recently become passionate about the potential of our society. However, I often wonder: what is our society like now? I wish that in the United States, our primary focus was on providing genuine education for our youth and for all people. I believe that safety and mutual care are essential, but those qualities arise from understanding how to foster them properly.  

As we age, we increasingly recognize our influence on the society we inhabit. When we become parents, we become acutely aware of the impact we have on a child's entire life. Uneducated adults often raise uneducated children, perpetuating a cycle of ignorance. When people say, “I don't need to learn more about that because I already understand it,” they are mistaken. Without a deep understanding of certain issues or concepts, and relying only on superficial knowledge, they risk perpetuating negative consequences in society—and possibly for their own children. 

I understand that education requires time and effort, and some people may only care about themselves and their immediate families. Our culture often distracts us from what truly matters, tempting us to spend hours scrolling through screens and promoting a sense of complacency. I view society as a house: it remains healthy only when we care for it, which requires understanding how it functions.  

Many fail to realize that a healthy society is necessary for our survival. For those who have been fortunate, this may feel less urgent. But for those lacking the same opportunities, they depend on society for support and aid. Just as a homeowner relies on someone knowledgeable to fix broken pipes, we must also recognize our collective responsibility. 

I am not suggesting that it is anyone's obligation to rescue every unfortunate individual in our society, but perhaps we should at least strive to understand their struggles. As we witness rising youth frustration and ongoing discrimination, who is truly to blame? Can we fault a child who lacks a true understanding of society?  

It is crucial how we educate our youth; education provides power that many may not find elsewhere. Education is the truth amid a sea of lies, and it has the potential to change lives. But what does education really mean? 

When we say our education system matters and that the way we teach our children is important, does that mean all children must have the opportunity to learn English, math, history, and science? Yes, it does. These subjects are essential for a child's intellectual development—extremely essential. But what is our system lacking? Clearly, there is a gap in the United States education system. 

If you disagree with that statement, I would love to hear your perspective on why anyone might believe our education system doesn't need improvement. 

Assuming we can agree that it does need work, where should the changes occur? Better math teachers? Improved English teachers? Enhanced science teachers? Hold on—maybe better history teachers! No, that's not the solution. Good luck finding a way to ensure that every teacher in the United States is "perfect." That isn’t how we cultivate good educators. There are outstanding teachers in this country who deserve all the recognition and support we can give them! So, what is the issue? 

Could it be those liberals who want our kids to engage with films and literature on racism?  

Could it be those conservatives who don’t want our children to learn about racism?  

No! It’s those who wish to shield our children from the truth about our history. And it is both party’s fault for making our childrens’ education so political. When it is VERY serious. Adults and politicians in this country debate what they BELIEVE is best for our children not what they already KNOW is best for our children.  

Are you serious? THIS is how we approach youth education in America? We make it POLITICAL?! 

We politicize the most innocent aspect of human life—education. 

That is incredibly frustrating. As I express my views on education, I want to emphasize that I don’t care whether you identify as liberal, Democrat, Republican, conservative, independent, or if you don’t vote at all—I DON'T CARE. 

What matters to me is the truth—truth that many of us choose to ignore out of ignorance. We often overlook crucial educational aspects and then still speak up on topics without a well-rounded understanding. That’s appalling, regardless of who you are. 

I grew up in a small town where 90% of our education consisted solely of basic English, math, science, and history. For most of my life, I believed this was the only kind of education that mattered. Was that my fault? No, we raise our children in this environment and then blame them for the consequences. But isn’t it true that teaching more truths, sharing more documented history, providing more explanations, and making more discoveries would benefit our children? Wouldn’t that empower them to think critically and help our society progress? 

Do we genuinely want what’s best for our children, or are we too focused on reproducing ourselves? 

We tell our sons they can't play with baby dolls because those are for girls. Then we wonder why so many men resort to violence; they were never taught to nurture. They are pressured to be tough. It's simply absurd. I'm grateful that I don't allow my political beliefs to dictate my social beliefs, but many people are afraid to acknowledge this because of politics. What are we doing with the way we raise and teach our children? What exactly are we doing? 

When we think about it in simple terms, our goal is to raise children who can discover their true selves. Parents do not know their children better than the children know themselves; claiming otherwise is a toxic belief. Just because parents witnessed moments of their children’s lives does not mean they truly understand what’s happening inside their minds, even though many act as if they do. Parents should help children comprehend their physical bodies and boundaries, and teach them about love and care, but how do we go about doing this? 

Do we teach children the wrongness of violence by isolating them for hours when they make mistakes? Do we inflict pain upon them? When a child breaks something in school, do we respond with in-school suspension, or do we seek proper help for them? I mean, are we really serious about this? Our education system and some parents perpetuate emotional neglect, inflict pain, and create sorrow for innocent children who don’t even grasp the meaning of life! At this early stage, we should be helping children understand what life truly is. The problem is that many adults haven't taken the time to understand it themselves because they are trapped in the same cycle they impose on their children. 

What children learn now is based on societal influences and the messages communicated by our systems. The youth reflects our society, and we have the power to shape how we address this. 

I used to think very differently than I do now, and I often wonder why we ignore issues like racism in our classrooms. I wish I had been educated about it at a young age. How can it be considered any less serious than a math problem? It exists, it impacts lives, and to all the ignorant people out there: it is absolutely wrong. I realize it may not be entirely your fault; I've been uneducated myself at points in my life. I accept my share of that responsibility, but I also hold the system accountable. As I began to see the truth, I made changes. It’s disturbing that there are still so many older individuals who never grasped these concepts. Teach my child the truth; provide them with every truth about every topic in this country. Educate them about their bodies and how they function. Teach them about sex; do not subject our children to sexual neglect. TEACH. THE. TRUTH. Because the reality is that until we change our classrooms, the cycle won't change in our homes and society either. I could go on about that for hours. 

Many people often say, “That child is not ready to learn about that,” which leads us to completely dismiss the topic—until when? Most of the time, it's until never. We miss the opportunity to lay a foundation for future education at a young age and to establish a process for teaching important subjects. Instead, we often choose to ignore the issue altogether. 

I wrote another blog post about education, but I felt it was important to provide some context before diving into the main topic: politics. 

One thing that frustrates me is how we tend to separate before we educate in this country, and this occurs on many levels. I want to discuss a highly controversial political issue in our society today: the transgender community. 

I've found myself on both sides of this debate, and this is where I see a significant issue. When I mention the transgender debate, I'm specifically referring to the fundamental question: Is being transgender a choice? I'm not addressing the who, what, when, or why of the topic, but rather the basic discussion that we still struggle to advance beyond. I find it perplexing that we are still debating whether being transgender is a choice, as there should be a clear answer. There has to be an answer somewhere. 

So, why are we arguing over a question that even professionals are struggling to answer? This does not sit right with me; we are separating before we are educating. I could cite numerous instances in U.S. history where this has happened. It seems we assume that if something is new or unfamiliar, it must be impossible. This trend suggests a lack of trust in education, in the truth, and in one another. What is happening? We are being stubborn, and I don't care about your political party or your stance on this issue. 

Here’s why this issue matters: your opinion affects others—people on both sides of the debate. Your opinion impacts real lives. So, take accountability for your beliefs. Too often in this country, people advocate for positions they do not fully understand, which can harm others. Simply believing something doesn’t equate to being educated on the matter. Statements like “I believe being transgender is a mental disorder” or “I believe being transgender is not a choice” are problematic. One of these must be based on fact; we are simply arguing opinions. When will we start debating what we already know? This ignorance is appalling. 

As for me, I will listen to both sides, but I will learn from facts and from professionals. I will question studies and their methodologies to ensure they are unbiased, as it is crucial to maintain scientific integrity. I believe in progress and human rights, but I stand firmly with the truth and with people. Science has failed us in the past, complicating the transgender debate, but our society often neglects scientific understanding. If we were to recognize the flaws in scientific discourse from previous decades, this issue would be clearer. However, there are still many unanswered questions that scientists cannot yet resolve, not just in this case but across various issues we debate in this country, often aggravated by media influence. 

I would love to explore this topic further, and I will, but I am using it as an example to illustrate how unserious we can be about important issues and how serious those topics truly are. 

Why do I bring this up, and why tackle such a controversial topic? It’s not because I have all the answers, but because I believe that one day we will. To prevent history from repeating itself, we must approach these issues with seriousness. We should always remember that answers may emerge, though the hardest truth to accept is that they might not come within our lifetimes.  
 
Society and culture can remain stagnant in certain ways during our lives, yet we play a crucial role in their potential evolution. We contribute to the cycle, shaping society and culture so they can ultimately change the narrative. Just like with our children, we nurture them with the hope that when we are gone, they will continue to influence the world. We teach them strength, provide love and care, and encourage them to pursue their dreams. In turn, the world around them can also evolve.  
 
We are the creators of our youth, and they are the architects of our culture and society. This responsibility is significant, and we must take it seriously. It is essential to separate politics from society; we cannot allow politics to divide us.