The Narrow Lens

I am naturally inquisitive. My husband often remarks that no one is "just asking" and that there's always an agenda behind a question. I disagree; many of us simply want to learn more and understand. I aim to make informed decisions based on comprehensive facts. This is partly why I've never fully aligned with a specific political party, as my views often fall in the moderate or "gray" area.

Recently, I've grown increasingly frustrated because I struggle to find an accurate, unbiased account of events in our country. I regularly read the New York Times and follow several other news outlets online, including NPR, CNN, and BBC. My husband follows additional sources like Reuters and The Economist. Interestingly, Fox News is frequently on in the physician lounge at my hospital, so I catch those stories while waiting for my coffee. As you might expect, the perspective on the same stories can vary greatly from one source to another. Often, I'll discuss something I've read with my husband, and he'll bring up multiple points I wasn't aware of on the same topic. This is not only frustrating but also quite alarming. As citizens, we deserve access to all information without the sensationalism and bias that provoke strong emotional reactions. This narrow perspective occurs on both sides of the political spectrum and contributes to the division in our country. The information we receive is often filled with opinion. This bias, combined with sensationalism, leads readers to form immediate opinions that they rarely question. People are no longer engaging in discussions about differing views but are instead accusing and attacking those who disagree.

This issue extends beyond politics. I observe it in areas like gender identity and sexual education. As a pediatrician who practiced in an office setting for nearly two decades, I've seen a few transgender patients. (Yes, just a few. This is not as common as some might believe.) In my experience, these children are often identified early in life. It's usually evident by the time a child comprehends gender differences that they identify differently from their assigned gender at birth. None of my transgender patients underwent surgery before adulthood, and only a few began hormone therapy after puberty. Those who did pursue hormone therapy experienced better mental health living as their identified gender. It's no surprise that I support gender-affirming care, where patients, families, and healthcare providers should dictate medical care—not politicians. I've taught puberty education and reproduction in a religious setting for years, and despite sticking to the approved curriculum, some parents refused to let me teach because my personal beliefs differed from theirs.

Someone recently claimed that a lack of religion is fueling the pornography epidemic in our country. Don't get me wrong; I value religion and consider myself a Christian who also practices Buddhist philosophies. I believe religion offers a sense of purpose, morals, community, and accountability. However, I think the issue is more about a lack of education than a lack of religion. Teaching morals regarding sexuality is crucial, but there also needs to be clear discussions about what pornography is and why it's unhealthy. Only a small minority of parents in the United States address this with their children, often due to a "my child would never..." mentality. Perhaps they won't intentionally seek out pornography, but there's an almost certain chance they will encounter it at some point. Not educating them is neglectful and naive.

As a society, we need to broaden our perspective. We need to consider things from all angles and ask questions. We must listen to those who disagree with us, not just to respond but to understand. We should also teach our children to do the same.