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Running head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

Donkeys and Elephants


Lydia Spade
University of Kentucky

Running Head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

When a person thinks of a donkey they may think of one of three things: it is an
ignorant animal, it is a political symbol, or it is the political symbol for ignorant people.
Most people who side with one political ideology, such as Republicans, are stereotypical
about the opposing ideology, such as Democrats, but what the members of these
ideologies do not know is that a number of people break out from the common
Democratic stereotypes and help both of the
political ideologies come together in order to
create success. At first, people can be
uneducated about the differences between
Democrats and Republicans causing them to
make false accusations about one another.
Then, the significance of knowing the
different issues comes into play because these issues often influence voters to pick a side.
On the contrary, sometimes the Republicans and Democrats will try to replicate each
others tactics in order to get better results in elections and other main events. Although
these two political parties disagree often, they do agree that their main goal is to create a
better nation for all, and to leave behind a positive legacy. Finally, a handful of
Americans believe that if the two parties were to work together the United States would
benefit. In whole, stereotypes do not define a culture, and sometimes other opposing
cultures will even follow in their footsteps in order to succeed.
In the beginning, as a young or new voter, it is easy to be uneducated or
misinformed about both political ideologies, leading to a sense of excessive pride in your
beliefs. First, political parties are a double-edged sword. For instance, Republican voters

Running Head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

may feel as though their beliefs and ways of acting on policies are the best, while
Democrats also may feel as though they are better. While interviewing Hannah
Staumbaum (2014), a Democrat, she felt that other political parties view Democrats as
one sided. Republicans may feel this way because they have had bad experiences with
some of the Democrats, or they feel so strongly about the Republican views that they do
not understand why the Democrats do not feel the same way as they do, causing them to
be one sided. While some Democrats may be one sided, others are not. Next, labels also
can come from the parents. As a child, one hears their parents making remarks about a
Senator, President, or other political leader that is from the opposite ideology as they are.
The child then grows up to believe these same stereotypes, even though they are
uneducated on the matter. Although he or she may think that she is educated on politics,
do they really know what both sides believe on different current issues in the world?
Felkins (1999) reminds society that Democrats and Republicans have different beliefs,
which is what really sets them apart from each other. He poses the question Without
prior knowledge and access to his/her nameplate, could you determine which was which
simply by his/her actions? He finally gives the brutally honest answer of probably not.
To tell a Democrat and a Republican apart can be confusing if you are not educated on
their beliefs. In order to make certain judgments and stereotypes, one must at least be
informed. Furthermore, Felkins emphasizes the importance of knowledge of politics so
that a person can decide what political ideology they belong to on their own, and not take
into consideration their parents beliefs or other stereotypes they have heard. All in all, it
is significant that one is educated on the topic of politics in order to make a decision on
which party they have the most in common with. Moreover, it is important for voters to

Running Head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

be knowledgeable so that they do not make false accusations against the contrasting
political ideology.
In addition, it is important to know the different issues that each political ideology
supports. The first main issue of abortion is one of the biggest on going debates. While
the Democrats are generally pro-choice, or letting the women decide if she wants an
abortion or not, Republicans are usually pro life, or wanting the women to always keep
the child. Some voters in this situation see the Republicans relying on religion too much,
where as others see the Democrats as not relying on religion enough. Also, generally
Democrats believe in helping the lower class and middle class, while the Republicans
believe in helping the higher class and the middle class. For example, our current
President, Barrack Obama, created a health
care system for everyone, which supports the
lower classes that cannot afford health care.
On the other hand, Republicans are not fond
of this because they feel that it takes away
from the middle class and the upper class. The
last main issue, gay marriage, is one of the most influential topics. Republicans, which
tend to consist of more religious voters, are not in favor of gay marriage. On the contrary,
Democrats believe in total equal rights. Other issues that are a common debate involve:
off shore drilling, military issues (different wars), government spending, and the
environment among other issues. All in all, it is crucial to know the issues that each
political party supports so that when citizens go to vote for people, they know what issues
the candidates support and if that represents the voters values.

Running Head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

On the other hand, even though many politicians feel strongly against other
political ideologies, they will still try to reenact certain techniques that other parties have
used because they have been notably successful. For example, Frosch (2014) provides
insight on the Colorado Republicans who were stung by recent losses in this pivotal
swing state, Republicans in Colorado this year are mimicking the data-driven ground
game that Democrats here used to beat them and are now employing nationally." In other
words, the Republicans are using the same techniques in elections that Democrats used in
order to receive more votes and win more elections. This is a flattering gesture to
Democrats because it shows their success. Likewise, this is an interesting matter because
it is showing how the republicans are trying to be democrats in a way.
Also, as stereotypes go, some would say that Republicans are always right, but
that is not the case here. The Republicans want to act more like the Democrats because
they were the winners of the last election, and apparently by a significant amount. This
goes against the stereotype for the Republican voters when they think they are the best, or
always right. Here it is clear that the Democrats came out on top during the election. This
does not make the Democrats better, and the Republicans worse, but it does, however,
expose a strength that the Democrats posses that the Republicans do not at this time. It is
also crucial to keep in mind that even though the Democrats had a better method for the
election, that in the next election or in future elections the Republicans may come out on
top. Over time, situations will change and each political ideology will change its
strengths and weaknesses. All in all, certain stereotypes are not always valid because as
time changes the people also do. This results in different methods, which sometimes
involve reproducing past technics of a partys competitor.

Running Head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

Continuing on, each politician has one goal, and that is to ensure that Americas
future is better than its past. Despite political party differences, making America more
prosperous and safe is the main objective. Forbes (2012) created an article that shows
both sides of the parties at the national convention during election time. Each president is
running because he or she wants to create a future in which anyone who wants a job can
find one. By reporting the events at the national convention, it gives society a reminder
of what each candidate is trying to accomplish. Even though they have different political
ideologies, they both have one goal of creating a successful and equal country for the
people. This is also significant because it breaks down the barrier between the two major
parties and shows one common objective. It makes the parties seem less at war and
more at peace with one another, while also fighting on the same side. Finally, it shows a
similarity in the two parties and makes them seem less different. This also helps to break
down stereotypes between the two groups since they are able to work together and do not
see each other as the typical one sided stereotypes. An example of wanting a better
society comes from Abraham Lincoln. Although he was criticized for wanting equality
and for ending slavery, eventually it made the United States better for everyone. Today,
African Americans are leaders in the business, political, scientific, and other fields. This
shows how far the country has come, and how significant the decisions the politicians are
making whether voters see them as good or bad. In the end, the objective is always to
create a better society.
Moreover, if the two parties were to work together more often, then they would be
able to achieve their goal of success in the United States. In the past few years, the United
States Congress Senate Democratic Policy Committee (2010) blatantly remind the

Running Head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

government that with so much at stake, Senate Democrats are once again calling for
[the] Republican colleagues to work with [each other] to ensure that every American who
wants a job has a job - and that America's brightest days are ahead of us. Although this
article is bias to Democrats and not neutral, it does end up proving a valid point to the
Republicans, which they should hear and maybe even listen to. Instead of the two parties
disagreeing on a variety of topics, they need to compromise more and come together so
that Americans can have the best country possible. It is important for the two parties to
work together because each of the parties have credible ideas that should be heard. If the
ideologies work together it can lead to a significant break through which could affect the
country drastically. Moreover, it also allows more bills to be passed so that the opposing
party does not put filibusters in place in order to block the bills. By working together and
coming to agreements they enable the success of the nation. Mainly, it is vital to see that
if the parties work with one another that they not only can accomplish more tasks, but
that they also are breaking down political barriers and instead of being split up, they are
one. This action provides insight to society so that they are able to comprehend that being
split and only believing in one of the political values is not always the best course of
action.
In conclusion, the political symbols of the donkey and elephant can be interpreted
in different ways. Some view them as just a symbol of the parties, while others view them
as a way to give the political parties positive and negative connotations. What voters do
not remember is that a stereotype can be given to a group of people based on a few bad
experiences. Primarily, uneducated voters can give stereotypes to their opposing political
ideologies if they do not understand what each of the groups represent. Likewise they can

Running Head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

be biased to one group because their parents or family members are apart of one group
and talk negatively about the other. Therefore, it is important to be educated on the
different issues such as the important subjects of abortion, health care, and equality
because in the end the voters do not have to agree with their parents or relatives. In both
of my interviews (Torez and Stambaum 2014), the two girls were Democrats but their
parents were Republicans. They were both young and maybe slightly uneducated on
issues of the other parties, but they established their beliefs and did not discriminate
against the other parties. These swaying issues can cause a voter to be apart of one
political ideology verses another. Next, Republicans and Democrats may try to replicate
one another during election time, but then they also may realize their beliefs coincide.
This meaning that they may have similar beliefs, which proves to voters that the two
parties are not so different after all. The political organizations are in a constant
competition with one another however, when the parties do come together, it helps to be
more productive. For instance, when a political leader is trying to pass a bill, the other
party can delay the process of it being passed. Instead, when the parties come together
and work to agree, changes are made faster causing a better society for all. This also
helps to break down the political barriers because it shows the two parties together as one
instead of individual groups. This does not leave room for stereotypes. In conclusion,
politics are a tricky topic. It is filled with people who are accepting and biased. Most of
the issues are not black and white and are mostly gray. Therefore, the Democratic Party
should not be seen as wrong. If anything Democrats and Republicans are right on certain
topics, and incorrect on other topics. If there was not these rights and wrongs we would
not be where we are today. Although some people may disagree at the time, it can be

Running Head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

beneficial in the future. All in all, the Democratic society is not full of one sided
people. They may have some candidates and voters that are one sided, but others may
agree with issues that Republicans agree with. In the same way, Republicans are not
always religious. While some of them may be, a variety of them are not. In my first
interview with Jessica Torez (2014) she had the very wise thought that everyone has
different values and the beauty of The United States is that people has the opportunity to
voice their opinions. While it is incredible that everyone has this freedom, it is also
crucial to remember to not force your opinions onto others out of respect.

Running Head: DONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS

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References
Felkins, L. (1999). How to Tell a Democrat from a Republican. Retrieved from
http://www.americanpolitics.com/030499dictionary.html
Forbes, B., Duncan, C. (2012). Convention Diaries. Time For Kids
Frosch, D. (2014, October 3). Colorado Republicans Take Page From Democrats
Playbook. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from
http://online.wsj.com/articles/colorado-republicans-take-page-from-democratsplaybook-1412367901
United States Congress Senate Democratic Policy Committee. (2010). Republicans
Should Join Democrats and Say Yes to Progress for the American People. [S.l] :
[s.n.]

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