Kristiana and Kayla came to America Fest 2021 from the Bay Area of California. Both are high school students. And both enjoyed the first day of activities.
“It was really inspiring,” Kristiana said. “We go to a very liberal school, so for us to hear to step out of your comfort zone and be more upfront about what you believe in was really like — it hit you kind of in the gut. We should be doing this. If somebody brings up a controversial topic in history class, we should be more on top of it and we should be making a response — not just taking it lying down.”
The vaccine issue has grown to be Kristiana’s biggest issue politically.
“In our county, we can’t sit inside if we’re not vaxxed and we have to show proof and our ID and all that stuff,” she said. “So for people who aren’t vaccinated, you aren’t able to sit inside, you can’t go watch movies without a negative test result. It’s kind of a rude awakening to how many freedoms are being taken. You think it’s not that big or significant, but they’re taking them little by little.”
Kayla said she just started getting political. They’re starting a TP USA chapter at their high school in the spring. She agreed with Kristiana about the importance of speaking up.
“Just getting your voice out there and not being afraid to speak what’s true,” she said.
Other people’s opinions and being afraid of being canceled are factors in staying silent, Kayla added.
Kristiana said there’s also backlash if an opinion is presented in certain areas where they are opposed.
“It’s hard to get your opinion out there because everyone in my history class right now — there’s like two conservatives that I know of, including myself — when things are brought up in our history debates, they’re like ‘stupid Republicans.'”
Two out of about 30.
“It’s an AP class,” she said. “It’s fun to be in that class, but it’s irritating because you also don’t want to upset the teachers because what they think of you plays a role in your grade.”
