So today I dropped in on the meeting of our political counterparts on campus. To be honest, I’ve never been able to make it to a College Republicans meeting before, mostly because they meet at the same time we do. Today they were holding elections for their next batch of officers and I was very impressed with what I saw. Outgoing officers gave stirring and emotional goodbyes while they reflected on their years with the organization. Prospective officers gave thoughtful speeches as they vied for a role in the future of their club.

I saw a group of dedicated individuals with sincere beliefs and a common passion. They’ve put on a successful event last week with their guest speaker, they’ve have a small and committed group of members, and they’ve created a place where conservative students can meet together.

Now there are good reasons why I am a Democrat, but those are for other posts. What I was reminded of tonight were all the reasons I loved AP Government at Great Oak High School. Disagreement, debate, and honest discourse are the foundations of a strong democracy. What I worry is that these things are starting to disappear, especially with the how bitterly gridlocked our country seems to be right now. What I know is though is that the things which unite young Republicans and young Democrats are very real. Though we differ greatly in our beliefs, we are both passionate political enthusiasts who sometimes feel as if we are surrounded by apathy. Many of us have political ambitions, we love discussing politics, and we want to make our country a better place. We should be rivals, but not enemies. I don’t want to live in a world without opposition because at the end of the day we are stronger as a nation when we have a vibrant and competitive democratic system.

So congratulations to the newly elected officers of College Republicans. It is my hope that over the course of the next quarter we can work together to bring political awareness to our campus through spirited debate and honest intellectual discourse.

-Ryan Hirschler is the Vice President of Campus Democrats at UC Santa Barbara