The Collegiate Laws of Life Essay Contest asked Penn State Students to explore ethical values and intercultural issues, and their talent for expressing their views in writing.
Below, you will find the honorable mention essay from Aaron Kreider, responding to the prompt: The current political culture in the United States is extremely polarized. What are the reasons for this conflict, and what can be done to fix the gridlock?
The Invulnerability of Politicians
By: Aaron Kreider
Perfection, above all other descriptive nouns, is something for which we, as Americans, strive. We as humans have still not entirely grasped that it is okay to be imperfect; it is okay to make mistakes. According to Brené Brown, a research professor of social work at the University of Houston, mistakes are the birthplace of shame and vulnerability. In order to cover up those feelings of shame and vulnerability, we numb our emotions. In order to numb our emotions we self-medicate, we self-indulge, we drink, we overeat, and most importantly, we avoid any situation wherein we may have to admit fault.
One thing I’ve gleaned through the study of liberal arts is the multiplicity of solutions to complex, social problems. Politicians present one-step-fix-all solutions to problems with complicated social, moral, and economic features. An unwillingness to compromise reflects the social pressures of today’s society. As Brown proposes, in order to avoid situations in which we feel vulnerable, “We make the uncertain certain. Religion has gone from a belief in faith and mystery to certainty: I’m right. You’re wrong. Shut up.” This lack in vulnerability—or an inability to be uncertain—has lead to political gridlock in our nation.
Our society sees vulnerability as a sign of weakness. This allows for very few mistakes on the part of public figures, particularly, politicians. The fear of vulnerability creates a fear of comprise. Thusly, politicians are more likely to not stray from their one-step-fix-all solution, often to the chagrin of the public. In order to forgo the current political gridlock, politicians must recognize that vulnerability is the key to productivity.
We as Americans must recognize that it is okay to not be wrong. We must recognize the complexity of political issues and that only compromise can satiate the needs of the general public. But most importantly, we should recognize that admitting you were wrong is not a sign of weakness. Admitting one is wrong is a sign of intelligence and open-mindedness. In compromise, a politician is able to recognize opposing views as well as his or her own. In doing so, he or she is able to succumb to his or her own vulnerability and admit that he or she is working to propagate the population’s best interest. Vulnerability is seen as a characteristic of the weak and capricious. However, vulnerability can be used as a tool to further the interests of mankind.