Political Discrimination

“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” — John F. Kennedy. Throughout political history, people are constantly trying to find a side to blame for any and all issues, whether it was truly someone’s fault or not. Discrimination has been a popular theme throughout U.S. history, whether it be gender, race, sexuality or something along those lines, but another form that is much less talked about is discrimination against political parties. In the past, opposing political parties have been much more pleasant towards each other, but in this modern-day and age, the animosity between the two has grown to an all-time high. Not only is this discrimination happening in our own country, but people also discriminate against other country’s political systems. Showing how discrimination against opposing political parties is growing more common in America.

Discrimination against opposing political parties is becoming more common in America because Americans used to show bias towards Communists. In the nonfiction book Bomb, written by Steve Sheinkins about the building of the atomic bomb, he writes “It wasn’t illegal to be a Communist. But it seemed likely American Communists might feel allegiance to the Soviet Union. Could a citizen be a Communist and a loyal American at the same time? The FBI thought not.” (30)

The idea that one could have a differing political belief and not be a member of a country, is wrong. America is a country based on freedom, just look at the first amendment. If the FBI believes that one could not be Communist and American, then they are discriminating against the Communist party. When ‘American Communists might feel allegiance to the Soviet Union’ it means that they don’t feel accepted in American society because of their political views, and choose to associate with the country that would accept them. If America had been less discriminatory towards Communists, then perhaps the American Communists might have felt more pride for their home country and there might have been fewer spies during the building of the A-bomb. Furthermore, this view of Communism has not changed and relations with Russia are still shaky, due to the judgemental views of America. Along with that, this view of Communism has allowed people to believe that viewing any political party in that light is ok.

Another example of discrimination against opposing political parties becoming more common in America is how modern-day Americans are prejudiced against opposing political parties. In a study conducted by Shanto Iyengar and Sean Westwood, 1,000 people were presented with two high school senior resumes and were instructed to choose between them. 80% of the Democrats and Republicans choose the resumes with the same political party. Despite the Republican having a higher GPA, he was only chosen 30% of the time by the Democrats and when the Democrat had a higher GPA, the Republicans only chose him 15% of the time.

Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin. They have been each other’s half for years. While their views and methods may vary, they all have the same ultimate goal of making our country the best it can be. The similarities between the two parties make it hard to believe that they can be so against one another. In the study conducted, when the subjects were shown to choose the candidate simply because of their political party shows how judgemental each side has become. Furthermore, it also shows that this discrimination and hatred is not a one-way street, both parties had shown a bias. There have been moments in history, where this separation and bias have been justified, such as during the Vietnam War, when both parties had strong beliefs over the war, but in modern times, there is no unnecessary conflict tearing the parties apart; they’re doing it themselves. Democrats and Republicans make active choices to judge the other, such as in the study conducted; each party openly choose a candidate, not because of their resume, but because of their party. If there was no discrimination between the two, then the results of the study would have been much less biased.

The discrimination in politics is in no way life-threatening or dangerous, but it is clear in American history how it has played a role. First with the discrimination towards communists, and now in modern times, political parties discriminating against each other in their own country. This is not a singular American thing. If people take the time to look at any country’s history, they would find the same animosity and hatred between opposing parties. Looking back at John F. Kennedy’s quote he says ‘Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer.’ Meaning while both parties may have a solution or answer to some issue, it may not be what is truly needed. There is no right and wrong, the world isn’t black and white. Modern society is constantly changing, and warping politics along with it. Any and all political parties need to be able to change with it and let go of animosity and hate.