How Education Monumentally Impacts Politics—And the World

By Hafsah Syed

The first memory I have of politics is watching the 2012 presidential debates with my parents. Even though they understood more about American politics than my 12-year-old self, I was the one analyzing candidate responses and shouting at the TV. I was most concerned about candidate views on other countries because I hated how American politicians and news outlets talked about other countries, especially the Middle East. They constantly inflated the threat of terrorist groups to the US, even though most victims are Muslims in the ME/SWANA. 

What most people don’t realize is that political rhetoric on international events affected what it meant for me, a Muslim, to live in America. For many in this country, Muslims and Arabs are bad, but Muslims and Arabs in America are even worse. I’m not Arab, but negative public perception of Arabs affected me anyways. Because my identity was inherently political, I had no choice but to be emotionally invested in politics from a young age. 

Social media has exacerbated misinformation about Muslims, which is why education became so important to me. I cared about how my teachers talked about complex identities and issues because their rhetoric would affect my classmates’ views as future voters. There’s a huge difference between a teacher who clearly demarcates Islam and terrorism versus a teacher who lumps them together.

My passion for education grew after learning about its relationship with democracy. A well-functioning democracy requires educated voters who support capable and competent leaders. In a country as influential and multicultural as the US, it is imperative that our votes reflect a compassionate and open-minded worldview. Education is integral to fighting misinformation, solving complicated domestic and international issues, and cultivating a more inclusive America. It’s the difference between a president who builds walls instead of bridges.

That’s why I joined Evolve California. Education is how we progress to a brighter domestic and international future, one where we see people—American and non-American—beyond stereotypes and prejudices.