In my untrained estimation, my favorite teen granddaughter primarily has conservative viewpoints. We spent hours discussing world problems and one thing she said stuck out to me:
“I’m afraid to voice my opinions.“
Of course, not only does that piss me off, it also causes me wonder how we got to that point in the U.S. in the first place. And then I realized I also stay quiet (except for here) when I’m faced with those who hold a different opinion than I do on most every issue. I’m one of those “YOU DO YOU” people, but I’ll admit I’m fed up.
Not all liberals feel fearless, and not all conservatives stay quiet — but studies consistently show conservatives report higher fear of speaking openly.
There’s a difference between, “I disagree with you,” and “What you believe makes you a bad person.” Sadly, many conservatives stay quiet because the second reaction has become more common. Think of this… speaking out feels safer when you expect applause rather than punishment.
basically, it’s cultural power VS political power…
It’s a fact (per Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT, & a bajillion other sources) that even when conservatives hold political offices or win elections, liberals often hold more cultural power—in education, entertainment, media, nonprofits, and tech platforms. Cultural power shapes what feels “acceptable” to say out loud. Conservatives (who often value tradition and social harmony) are less likely to “poke the bear,” whereas activists on the left may view vocalizing their stance as a moral duty, regardless of the friction it causes.
Politics has merged with identity — political views are no longer opinions, they’re often treated as reflections of character and morality. You’ve seen it too if you’re on any social media platform. “If you voted for Trump just unfriend me now.” Is that the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard of? That would be like me saying, “If you eat the green M&M’s don’t come back to whatifitdid.com.” 🙄
I WANT to hear why you believe what you believe… but I don’t want you protesting inside of churches, accosting congregations as they depart a place of worship, or spitting on anyone. Once you resort to that, your chance of helping me understand your position is gone.
I can’t single-handedly change the national temperature — neither can you.
What we CAN do is model calm disagreement. I’m open to disagreement, but not being treated like I’m immoral for wanting laws enforced. Cultural climates don’t change through shouting—they change when reasonable people refuse to become caricatures.
Now you know: Before 9/11, US airports were public social hubs where you could walk to the gate, eat at food courts, and watch planes without a ticket or ID.