Text by DOMINIQUE LASHLEY and JERRY FANG
FA M I LY
Art by SAMANTHA HO and GRACE MUMA
DIVIsions STUDENTS COPE WITH POLITICAL BARRIERS AMONG LOVED ONES
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“I think what leads to a lot of problems NXIOUSLY HUNCHED over her computer screen, junior Vi- and a lot of conflict, you know, friendships enna Liu watches the messages being torn to pieces, family relations being pile up, each one angrier than severed, is this feeling that people have that the last. Sparked by this year’s Black Lives ‘my way is the right way,’” said Geoff CoMatter protests and social media explosion, hen, a professor of psychology at Stanford her siblings and grandparents were involved University. Junior Danielle Pilpoul stresses the in a heated email chain about racial injusimportance of maintaining healthy family tice. relationships and Liu is one of many respecting other Palo Alto High School It’s not just so much viewpoints, but students experiencing it can be chalpolitical divisions with- whether you disagree, lenging to stay in her extended fami- it’s how you make sense true to one’s own ly. Stories like this are opinions while common in this time of the disagreement.” preventing heated of extreme political po— GEOFF COHEN, Stanford larization across professor of psychology arguments. “I have three the country and students report younger brothers who are still learning the tolls these divisions more about the world … which can often can take on their men- mean that they are uneducated or have tal health and relation- some very immature views,” Pilpoul said. “What’s important for me is to find the balships. ance between explaining my beliefs clearly, while also trying to keep an open mind and Family tensions As the country trying to respect other people’s opinions.” Many students in Palo Alto have relbecomes increasingly divided, the current atives whose regional and cultural backpolitical climate has grounds bring unique perspectives to famexacerbated the tension ily discussions. Geographical and cultural among families differences, as well as generational gaps, with different often play significant roles in creating political polarization. political views.
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