Socialization paper - Essay Example

A Mixed Political Belief My political belief is mixed. It is not solely favoring the rightist nor the leftist. Instead, it is a combination of both of them. To note, being a rightist means that an individual is supporting the traditional set-up of the society (Smith and Tatalovich 30). It pertains to a person who adheres to the current method of governance. He or she thinks that there is nothing wrong with the present system. Stated otherwise, the individual believes that it would be better to preserve what has been generally accepted by the community for a long time.

In other words, a rightist does not want change. In common understanding, a rightist is someone who supports the principles of the current administration. In contrast, a leftist refers to an individual who desires for change (Smith and Tatalovich 30). It is the person who wants to change the existing social and political set-up of a certain community. It is his or her aim to belong in a society where there is justice and equality. Basically, a leftist person is someone who has no more confidence with the present administration.

This is the reason why there are activists. Activists are generally considered leftist. They oppose the present order of things to achieve greater equality. In a sense, to have activists in a community is advantageous. Activists are the reason why people are able to enjoy some civil and political rights at this moment which they did not actually have before. They are the cause why issues of governance have been exposed to the public. This is to say that they are like the active voice of the people.

My family has greatly influenced my contemporary political belief. I can say that I belong to a family who is very socially and politically aware. My parents always encourage us, the siblings to read the newspaper everyday and watch news on television every now and then. I grew up with this kind of environment. Thus, I can really say that I am a citizen who knows what is going on in my community and around the world. Being such, I observe that there are some aspects of governance that should be changed.

This implies that there are aspects which I do not want to be modified. There is a sense of loyalty that exudes in me. This could have been due to the kind of schools that I went to. In school, I see national slogans and symbols posted in every classroom. Also, the teachers are requiring the students to do activities which enhance their confidence towards the government. These facts could have affected my loyalty towards the present set-up of our government. Nevertheless, when I was in college, I became more critical in considering the different social and political issues.

This was the time when I learned to appreciate the relevance of activists and other movements in the society. I have been a critical observer too. The kind of community that I grew up with has also influenced my political belief. There are members in our community who are not in favor of conducting rallies and demonstrations. It is their contention that these political activities only disturb public peace. They consider such behaviors as an unacceptable method of voicing out one’s concern. According to them, rallies and demonstrations do not bring good to a community.

They alleged that rallies are composed of people who only want public attention to make their group famous. Nevertheless, there are community members who appreciate the role of activists. They consider them as an important actor in a political system. They contend that these persons enlighten the public of the truth and promote justice in every sector. For them, activism forms part of the foundation that balances the political system of the country. Significantly, the culture of being individualistic has affected my political behavior and belief.

American people are described as individualistic. This is to say that they care for their own selves first before others. This characteristic is relevant in politics. When one is individualistic, he or she has the tendency to impose what he or she believes into to other people. The person likes to advance his or her personal interest before the public interest. Nonetheless, as I observed, the citizens of America do not consider individualism this way. They perceive individualism as an opportunity to grow and be a good citizen of the country.

Ultimately, my political belief has been influence by three factors. These are the following: family, media, school and community. All together, they have shaped my personality and thoughts. Work Cited Smith, Alexander, and Raymond Tatalovich. Cultures at War: Moral Conflicts in Western Democracies. Canada: University of Toronto, 2003. Print.