The polarization of thought has become evident in all facets of society, especially in politics. Recently, we saw the government shutdown from Oct. 1 to 16, the first since 1995. The shutdown resulted in the temporary closure of all national parks and “non-essential” federal government operations, such as Federal Drug Administration (FDA) food inspections and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit activities. Approximately 800,000 government workers were furloughed, and 1.3 million other workers returned to work without any knowledge of when their next paycheck would come. Most significantly, according to Standard & Poor’s, an American financial services company, the shutdown cost the U.S. economy $24 billion and reduced the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter from 3 percent to 2.4 percent. In total, the shutdown was a complete embarrassment to the United States.

Regardless of who you personally think is to blame for the shutdown, it is crucial for us to realize that extremist views hinder progress in society and prevent opposing factions from coming to compromise. Extremism is supporting radical ideas that are inconsistent with the beliefs of the majority of people, ideas that could be seen as insensitive and harmful to certain factions in the community. Simply put, extremist views are unreasonable for society to uphold and accept.

But what really caused the government shutdown? It can be attributed mostly to the inability of Congress to enact legislation-appropriating funds for the 2014 fiscal year. The Affordable Care Act was the main point of controversy, with both the Democrats and Republicans unwilling to make concessions. Additionally, to make matters more difficult, a group of about 24 of the most conservative House members, including Senator Ted Cruz who read Green Eggs and Ham earlier in September to filibuster, was creating a rift within the Republican party and preventing Speaker of the House John Boehner from keeping the party unified, according to The New York Times.

We have all experienced the effects of radicalism first-hand in more moderate ways in comparison to the government shutdown. Whether working on a group project with stubborn partners who refuse to cooperate or with parents who will not negotiate on strict rules, it is evident that extreme views create division and argument. We should recognize that conciliatory attitudes make it easier for compromise to be reached and try to implement this philosophy into our daily lives. By avoiding the polarization of thought, we can prevent creating ideological divides and avoid slowing down progress.

The feminist movement is another instance where extremist factions within a group have been detrimental and disruptive. Feminism is not inherently a controversial idea, as it is, by definition, the “advocacy of social, political and economic equality for women.” However, according to an Economist/YouGov poll conducted in May of this year, only 28 percent of Americans identify themselves as feminists.

Yet, when those who were surveyed were then provided with the previously stated dictionary definition of feminism, 57 percent of them said they would call themselves feminist. This result made the administrators of the poll question if the word feminist has diverged from the actual concept and become a derogatory term in its own right. Feminism expert Gayle McDowell attributes these negative views towards the feminism movement to the actions of the “men-hating” radical feminists, who advocate the overthrow of patriarchy and a complete restructuring of society.

This example shows that it is also important for students to realize that most movements are embodied by moderate views. Students should not jump to conclusions and associate the extremist views with the group’s views as a whole.

So, the next time you are in disagreement with your parents,  teachers or  friends, consider if your views are potentially extremist and hindering progress. It is our responsibility to make society a more harmonious place by creating an environment conducive to compromise. If we allow the polarization of thought to continue in society, we will only deter the future growth and advancement of the United States.