Opinion

Sometimes I wonder if my political science education has spoiled my ability to form an opinion.

I’m sure that seems to be a contradictory statement. After all, isn’t politics all about opinions?

Politics sure. Political education…not so much.

As a political science undergraduate student, my studies focused on researching the history of issues and elections, how people form opinions and the communication tactics employed by politicians. Every now and then we’d have a debate, but since we were expected to know the other side’s arguments as well as our own, I found myself being able to argue both sides of an issue without forming an opinion.

This characteristic transferred well into my current profession, since PR professionals are expected to sell the value of a client, regardless of their personal opinion of that product or service.

But it poses a problem in other areas. How do I respond when people ask me about my opinions while trying to get to know me? How do I determine which side to support during an election?

The only thing that is left when you take out logic is an emotional attachment to the issue in question. I have a strong opinion about education because I am a former educator. I have a strong opinion about abortion because I am a woman. I still see the logic behind these debates, but I take side as a result of experience.

So I don’t hold it against newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor that she has made some comments in the past about her ability to make certain rulings based on her background as a Latina. I fully believe she is trained to look at both sides of an issue, while still maintaining a level of personal experience.