Cedars, December 2019

December 2019 3 How should Christians approach politics? Breanna Beers Campus News Editor Numerous studies have found that political party has become the primary indicator of Americans’ identities — more central than religion, language, ethnicity, or region. According to Pew Research Center, three-quarters of Americans feel they cannot agree with the other party on “basic facts,” let alone plans or policies. Tribalistic polarization is on the rise in the United States. It’s a combination of contemporary culture, modern media and the political system itself. Gerrymandered districts mean the only real competition is for the primary, incentivizing candidates to appeal to the extreme fringes of their base. In a campaign-driven system, the moderate position is a hard one to hold because it’s nuanced; the simpler story is always the easier one to sell. This is not just an issue for politicians and pundits; it’s affecting the way we interact with one another every day. Whether you recognize it or not, your Twitter feed, news highlights and Google search results are carefully cultivated for maximum engagement — and the information you consume affects your vision of the world. As believers, the way we argue politics before the world is a representation of who we are as a community. Do we identify first with our faith or with our party? Do we see the two as interchangeable for each other? I recently had a conversation with political science professor Dr. Mark Caleb Smith. We talked about the church’s complex relationship with the political system, whether the church should be a politically diverse body, and how we can extend political grace to our rivals. To listen in, go to ReadCedars.com, click the Media tab, and choose Podcasts . Just Sayin’ ... Alex Hentschel Have a Holly, Jolly, Ethically C hristmas is, without a doubt, the best day of the year. There’s so much joy and happiness to be shared — from rushing downstairs like a little kid, to enjoying coffee around the tree, to the anticipation of someone unwrapping a gift you picked especially for them. Sometimes as we rip apart piles of presents, we forget that most of the time, all the little things people bought you will go missing in the next weeks and months. We also generate a veritable moun- tain of wrapping paper, plastic and bows that gets dumped in the garbage — add- ing to the over 8 billion metric tons of plastic we are dumping into the oceans each year, according to Conservation International. Why, as a society, do we celebrate the happiest day of the year by generating so much waste? As Americans, we live in a consumerist society. Thanks to technology and the benefits of capitalism, we have more products than we could ever know what to do with. Digital and tradition- al advertising makes us want more things than we could ever need or use — and want them immediately. Due to our culture of instant gratification and convenience, we often consider our products worth obtaining no matter the cost. To be fair, most Americans are completely unaware of the harsh working conditions in factories, the waste and corruption in the fast fashion industry, the death of small business, and the mistreatment of workers by major conglomerates. It’s easy for us to ignore sustainable consumption practices because these issues do not affect average, middle-class life. Turning a blind eye to suffering, however, for the sake of saving a couple extra dollars, is certainly not in the spirit of Christmas. One major obstacle to shopping sustainable is that it means spending money. Amazon has a quick and easy cost comparison tool — so does Walmart — where consumers are assured of pay- ing the lowest price possible. However, someone has to pay the margin, and it may come through cost-slashing practices that fail to satisfy even the most minimal of sustainable practices. So how do we do this? We can research companies which produce sustainably and ethically. Some well-known brands like Patagonia already produce sustainable goods. Thrifting is also a sustainable way to shop, as clothes get recycled and the money from buying, say, a Hollister top, does not go directly to the company that produced it unethically. Many of the things that we’re spending our money on this Christmas are not basic necessities (unless you have one of those moms who gives you toothpaste and socks), so it might mean spending a bit more for a handmade and meaningful gift — by buying less and shopping smarter. We can gift experiences (dinner together), handmade items, or one, more expensive but more sustainable gift that you know the receiver will love. Ultimately, sustainability in consumerism is promoting awareness of where our products come from. We as consumers have a responsibility to be conscious of the human capital cost it took to get you that iPhone or the amazing deal on the $11 sweater. Considering fair and safe working conditions — as well as being wary of companies that claim to be sustainable but truly aren’t — is a way as Christians we can think of others. If we tell companies with our dollars that we will no longer support unfair and unsafe fast fashion and technology, more jobs will open, companies will be forced to reform, and we will see the impact all over the world. Though it may seem like a big problem to fight all by ourselves, ultimately real change comes down to people making decisions one day at a time. Websclusives @ ReadCedars.com P hoto Gridiron Classic Carrie Bergan and Matthew McMahon capture the intense moments and the celebrations from the annual event. P odcast Christian and politics discussion Join campus news editor Breanna Beers for discussion about politics with political science professor Dr. Mark Caleb Smith. P hoto Campus Christmas setup Check out Carrie Bergan’s gallery with a behind-the-scenes look at the Campus Experience crew decorating the SSC.