How do we talk about issues that matter?

 When having a discussion about important issues, we first have to create a safe space for everyone to talk and listen. People should be able to to express their opinions and feelings without feeling judged or ignored. We can't have a discussion if no one feels comfortable in their environment. Not only should people be able to talk, we also need to listen to the speaker that's expressing themselves. The listeners shouldn't criticize the speaker for how they feel about the issue. The listeteners should also be open and geniune while hearing what the speaker has to say. Most importantly, we should always be respectful of different opinions. It's important to treat our peers how we want to be treated when giving our viewpoint.     

Growing up, I was always one of those students that never really voiced their opinions during discussions. Why? Because I didn't feel comfortable in the environment that I was in. There was always those main students that always dominated the discussions, and the rest of us had no say because they shut off our opinions and didn't respect those that didn't agree with them. The teacher also didn't really do anything and just assumed we all agreed with the dominators. The teacher also needs to implement the safe space for their students, because they're the adults and should make their classroom a safe and respectful environment. This is why it's important to create a safe space since the beginning, that way everyone will feel like they can freely participate with no judgement, and everyone's voices can be heard. It's crucial to respect others, we can't expect others to respect us if we don't do the same.