If I had a penny for every time someone told me to ‘check my feelings at the door’ before a serious or political discussion, I would be a millionaire. This is an all too common expression and tendency that is not only inaccurate, but unfair as well. It is completely unnatural to separate personal emotions from political opinions; technically it’s impossible. Everyone holds specific political view points based on their own life experiences. It only makes sense that we are all personally invested in our opinions, otherwise, why even bother having them?

Carol Hanisch, a feminist theorist, wrote about this concept of the personal being the political and it applies to basically every aspect of life. ‘The reason I participate in these meetings is not to solve any personal problem,’ said Hanisch. ‘One of the first things we discover in these groups is that personal problems are political problems.’

It baffles me when individuals attempt to make the argument that you should not confuse your emotions with your opinions. Our emotions are opinions.

Not only is this important to know for small-scale issues in our daily lives, but for nationally-significant purposes as well. America is currently dealing with significant debates over government controlled health care, our involvement in the war on terror, and racial problems that seem to keep resurfacing.

President Obama, for example, responded on ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ on September 23rd, about Rep. Joe Wilson’s ‘you lie,’ outburst by saying: ‘I was actually black before the election.’ This is an instance of using humor to shield real, personal feelings on a sensitive topic.

John Legend, on the other hand, had no problem baring his soul to an SU audience last Wednesday, discussing issues of importance to him. The musical artist articulated very clearly his stances on public education, health care, and ‘the truth.’ There was not one person who had to think twice about his agenda.

Even though I can recognize both how, and why Legend’s appearance at SU made people uncomfortable, I do not think that declaring his personal views was such a bad thing. It may have actually benefited SU students to witness the personal becoming the political firsthand. In this instance, Legend exemplified feminism at its finest.

Public figures like Obama and Legend display this theory, yet it is the everyday individual who truly shows what it means to make the personal political. Our every day issues that affect friends, family, classmates, and all of the people around us, become a part of the larger concerns that we deal with on a grander scale. There is a fine line between a personal matter and a political issue, however they more often than not align into the same category.

While there is a difference of opinions concerning this subject matter, it is extremely critical to be aware of the fact that it is not necessary to detach yourself from your emotions when forming a legitimate opinion. The next time one of your friends tells you to ‘man up,’ or ‘don’t take it personally,’ stop and consider why it really is personal.

Krystie Yandoli is a sophomore women’s studies major. Her columns appear weekly. She can be reached at klyandol@syr.edu.