The First Amendment preaches the “freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly.” The amendment fundamentally ensures that the citizens of the United States are allowed to express their beliefs and ideas when they see fit. This is the cornerstone of what it means to live in a free society. In Berkeley, this concept is paradoxically untrue — especially when the focus is centered around political beliefs. Our community, especially at Berkeley High School, has made it difficult for students to politically express themselves openly, with confidence that their ideas and beliefs will not be subject to scrutiny or social consequences.
To outsiders, BHS seems to be diverse — racially, socioeconomically, culturally, etc. Politically, however, the school isn’t nearly as diverse as it should be. One viewpoint dominates, and students who think with a right-leaning political viewpoint find themselves standing alone. Berkeley alone stands as the most liberal city in California, measured by the proportion of liberal to conservative voters, according to the Sacramento Bee. This progressive environment naturally sets the tone that directly affects BHS. In a community that prides itself on acceptance, it can be surprisingly hard to speak freely if your beliefs don’t align with the majority.
Many students explained how they respond to backlash against their viewpoints. Aalto Jermyn, a conservative sophomore, shared an instance when he experienced backlash against his beliefs. “We were talking about homosexuality in English (class), and I had mentioned how in the Bible, it’s considered a sin. Most people dismissed me and called me stupid,” Jermyn said, “Most people don’t accept other people’s opinions; People think one way and don’t really accept any other way.” In general, society tends to shy away from others the moment they hear an opinion that differs from their own. In Berkeley, this is especially apparent when it comes from a conservative standpoint. The dismissive mannerism in which many liberals behave towards those in different parts of the political spectrum further isolates Republican students from being able to openly express their opinions. This is problematic because these reactions cause students in this political minority to close themselves off which is a large factor in why BHS is so politically exclusive.
“What I say can be misconstrued,” Jermyn said, revealing how easily beliefs and intentions are twisted or misinterpreted within the BHS community based on pre-existing biases. Too often, students who think differently from the seemingly mainstream opinion are met with snarky comments before their full point is even heard.
Over time, this can create an “us versus them” mentality, perpetuating a cycle of polarization. People with different standpoints begin to believe that different political parties cannot find common ground with each other or understand the other party without having some sort of conflict. This is contentious because it causes an atmosphere of seclusion and marginalization, suppressing open dialogue and genuine understanding amongst students.
Sympathy, respect, and mindfulness are key to a unified community. Because BHS is a school where students commonly lean towards liberal beliefs, it becomes crucial that students that agree with the mainstream opinion allow other perspectives to be heard, not disregarded. When this is not done respectfully, students who lean towards conservative beliefs may experience animosity. This leads to these students mirroring the same tolerance they’ve faced, deepening the divide within the school. BHS junior Noah Sukeforth considers himself conservative, and said, “I’ve been discriminated against by teachers and students, so I’ve become unapologetic with my beliefs.” When there is a lack of mutual respect, it causes a ripple effect. If individuals feel constantly targeted and misunderstood, they begin to prioritize self-protection over empathy by building a wall with those who disagree. As this cycle repeats, the distance between both political sides grows.
Upon hearing about political labels, a recurring misconception of the individual person’s demeanor becomes overshadowed by what party they associate themselves with rather than who they are as a person.
Sukeforth has taken it upon himself to create a BHS club called “Conservative Club,” which is driven to promote free speech. Sukeforth said, “I want to have a place on campus where conservatives can speak their minds, that’s hopefully safe and to help reduce the polarization on campus.”
Stereotypical characterizations attached to conservatives’ political identity frequently replaces understanding with judgment, making it easy for peers to be blindsided by normalized characteristics aligning with their beliefs rather than the person as a whole. Conservative individuals can have similar personalities and core values as those with liberal viewpoints. BHS’ issue isn’t the lack of diversity — it’s the lack of acceptance that students show. As Jermyn put it, “(Conservatives are) just people, and they actually do care a lot about other people.”
Inclusion goes beyond background. It’s about allowing all students, regardless of political beliefs, to feel heard.