Here's the thing about politics: we all have different opinions. And we have them for different reasons, whether its religion or personal choice or we just believe everything we hear, good or bad. That's fine, believe what you want. Let me believe what I want. Don't impose your beliefs on me, I'll do the same.
I don't expect everyone to believe in the same things as me. In my small conservative town I am the minority, not a lot of Democrats around here. That's fine, it doesn't change my mind. In my Facebook feed I see a lot of differing opinions and that's fine too, still not changing my mine.
If you can't be friends with someone because they don't agree with you, then you're not a very good friend. I would never post something hateful like the sign on that truck. I don't think its fair to call someone a Communist and not everyone that's on welfare is a "moocher." I would never post a picture of anyone with a Hitler mustache and make that comparison, because that's unfair and kind of rude. Its actually really rude and really inaccurate.
At some point we all became intolerant of other people's lifestyles and beliefs. Our own is the only correct one, everyone else is wrong. No discussion. Contrary opinions only enforce our own. I honestly don't care what other people's opinions are, I'm not changing mine. I guess I'm the same as everyone else in that regard, unwilling to change my mind. To me my opinion is clearly the logical one, other's don't even make sense. I should be allowed to feel this way without the threat of being unfriended. Maybe that's why I never post about politics on Facebook, because I just plain don't feel like arguing with people. David likes to debate with people, he will post stuff on Facebook just to talk politics. But I avoid it.
I've never unfriended someone or said anything rude to someone based on their politics. I just watch the Daily Show and shake my head at other people's logic and laugh at their clever use of puppets to report the news. Making your opinions known is fine, but carrying a picket sign that is misspelled or says "Get your government hands off my Medicare!" is just dumb. And posting hateful messages on your vehicle, although its your right, is hateful, intolerant, and not really patriotic at all.
Posts
3 comments:
Here's the problem...very few people know how to RESPECTFULLY disagree these days. You may not like the president or his policies, but he is still the president and we should respect the office. If we don't like his policies, we can't just have a sit-back-and-pray-he-fails mentality. If there's a problem, then try to be part of the solution...not just the root of another problem! Lastly, I have to admit some annoyance at this recent trend I've been noticing on FB and other social networking sites. The "Stop it with all the political posts already! I'm sick of it!" trend. I have to say, while I like politics...a lot...I don't really do a TON of posting about it. BUT...I don't think people should get annoyed with others who do...as long as they are doing so respectfully. I mean...how else do you let your opinion be known or gain support for a cause that is important to you? You talk about it! You share it! But you do it respectfully and with an open mind. Too many of us go in to these discussions (and presidential debates) with our minds already made up. Are we really listening to BOTH candidates? Are we fact checking BOTH candidates? I love to hear the opinion of others. If it's different then mine, it causes me to reflect on why I believe and feel the way I do. It either helps me become more convinced of my original opinion or it helps me see another perspective and perhaps, CHANGE (gasp!) my opinion. The unwillingness to learn, to hear and to consider changing is at the root of the political circus.
Here's the problem...very few people know how to RESPECTFULLY disagree these days. You may not like the president or his policies, but he is still the president and we should respect the office. If we don't like his policies, we can't just have a sit-back-and-pray-he-fails mentality. If there's a problem, then try to be part of the solution...not just the root of another problem! Lastly, I have to admit some annoyance at this recent trend I've been noticing on FB and other social networking sites. The "Stop it with all the political posts already! I'm sick of it!" trend. I have to say, while I like politics...a lot...I don't really do a TON of posting about it. BUT...I don't think people should get annoyed with others who do...as long as they are doing so respectfully. I mean...how else do you let your opinion be known or gain support for a cause that is important to you? You talk about it! You share it! But you do it respectfully and with an open mind. Too many of us go in to these discussions (and presidential debates) with our minds already made up. Are we really listening to BOTH candidates? Are we fact checking BOTH candidates? I love to hear the opinion of others. If it's different then mine, it causes me to reflect on why I believe and feel the way I do. It either helps me become more convinced of my original opinion or it helps me see another perspective and perhaps, CHANGE (gasp!) my opinion. The unwillingness to learn, to hear and to consider changing is at the root of the political circus.
Janette I think you are one of the few people I know who both makes their political opinions known and is respectful about it. I'm ready for this election to be over so I won't have to see so much political stuff on Facebook, but I'm sure there will still be stuff I don't agree with on there. And that isn't the problem as much as people who are uninformed and disrespectful.
I try to separate Facebook from politics, because that isn't why I have a Facebook account, its more to keep in touch with friends and family. That doesn't mean my profile doesn't say "Democrat" but I try to do like you said and keep it to my opinion, not hateful stuff. If what they're posting is true and they believe in it then I don't say anything, I just leave them to their opinion. I also try not to mix politics with my blog, but seeing stuff like that sign in that truck window really irritates me. They can have their opinion, but expressing it like that is disrespectful.
I agree that the unwillingness to change is a big part of the problem, and I think that many people now don't realize that government programs that are widely accepted today were once controversial, but some peoples opinions of them turned out to wrong. Social Security and Medicare did not end up destroying the country after all, and while they are flawed programs, most people accept them now as a basic part of life.
Elections kind of make me want to delete my Facebook, but I think I'll stick it out and just stay off of there, that way I can avoid the rude stuff. I can't avoid it everywhere, but I'll deal with it.
Post a Comment