CIVIL DISCOURSE: Can Americans Talk Politics?

By Catherine White

In the Holiday 2025 issue of OutLook I posed the question: What does it mean to be an American? I invited readers to share their view of the United States of America and their vision for its future as the country prepares to celebrate its Semiquincentennial in summer 2026.

The only response we received was from a reader who wanted to defend President Trump’s dispatch of federal troops into American cities which, unfortunately, missed my point. This happens frequently nowadays when it comes to political discussions. Everyone has their perspective on what constitutes a peaceful protest (ex. the J6 insurrection vs. No Kings protests, etc.), and this is America, where we all have the right to listen to whatever news sources we want, and form whatever opinions we want, whether or not they’re based in reality. The point I was trying to make when I posed the question of what it means to be an American (citizen) is that, as a culture and as a society, I think Americans are having an identity crisis and we’re so focused on our division that we can’t discuss the very real dilemmas facing the country.

Recently, a coworker expressed their frustration over an online interaction involving politics. They complained about the inability to express their opinion on President Trump’s job performance without receiving “nasty” comments.

It is true that trying to have a civil online (or in person, for that matter) conversation about American politics now is nearly impossible, no matter where one stands on the political spectrum. The toxic tone of current political debate causes most people to avoid them altogether. The inability to converse, or even agree on the current state of national and world affairs, seems to be leading to chaos, paralyzation, and an inability to find solutions to any of the problems that the country, and the world, are facing.

I’m from Gen-X, I’ll be turning 55 at the end of March. I was raised on Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Marlo Thomas’ “Free to Be … You and Me” album, and a host of other experiences from educational institutions, as well as entertainment, that led me to believe that America welcomed diversity of thought and expression, and valued problem-solving that encouraged teamwork and respectful debate. I also grew up learning that involvement in politics was not just a right, it was a duty. As a Black woman, I’ve learned that my life is directly affected by many of the political decisions this country has grappled with since its founding. I was encouraged by my parents and grandparents to learn the history of this country (and the world) so that I could support and nurture the good ideas, and stand strongly against those that would take America down a path of devastation, based on historical precedence and critical thinking.

Another reason I posed the question about what it means to be an American is because a lot of the responses I’ve heard to the American government’s most recent actions, including President Trump’s unilateral decision to attack Iran, don’t align with the constitution.

The U.S. Constitution establishes a democracy run by three branches of government: the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches, which are supposed to work as a system of checks and balances. There have been few checks on the current administration and most Americans believe that Congress, the Legislative branch, hasn’t been doing its job for decades.

We’re taught that American citizens have a lot of freedom, but what are our responsibilities? How do we hold our elected officials accountable when they disobey established law? And, if we (the American people) don’t want to hold them accountable for their actions, isn’t it our duty to update the laws and the Constitution? Perhaps, in a modern society, the problems we have are outside of the realm of anything that America’s Founding Fathers could have imagined or anticipated. Maybe, modern-day America DOES need a new constitution that reflects the values and concerns of the modern world.

However, it’s virtually impossible to have these types of discussions without offense being taken by someone, if not everyone involved in the conversation. We all seem to want everyone to “toughen up” or “lighten up,” except when it comes to our feelings, our concerns.

I don’t know if it’s the internet and social media that have made political discussions toxic. While it hasn’t helped, I’ve heard so many people say that they don’t “talk” politics and their family has never done so to “keep the peace.” That sounds generational.

Why don’t we feel connected to political or world affairs? Why don’t Americans feel free to have conversations with each other about topics that affect our lives such as, gas and grocery prices, affordable housing, a clean, safe environment, safe roads, bridges and flight systems, affordable health care, and so many other concerns that directly impact all Americans?

As we prepare to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, we have an opportunity to reflect on the good, bad and ugly of this country’s history and imagine what our country could be for the next 250.

As always, feel free to share your thoughts on what it means to be an American. OutLook by the Bay will celebrate America’s anniversary in the Summer 2026 issue, and would like to publish original poems, photos, or artwork from our readers on that topic. For more information, please email [email protected].

Catherine White has been the Managing Editor of OutLook by the Bay for the past two years. She is also a freelance writer, editor and writing consultant.