America!
I’m not what most people would call politically literate. In fact, I know just enough about politics to know that I don’t really know anything. Politics and Religious debate have never really interested me. I guess that’s where the blue collar in me comes out. I’d rather be playing hockey, riding my bike, working on my house or simply taking a beating with a brick stick than get in an argument about politics with people. I realize that I’m mostly over my head when it comes to that area of human life and I’m comfortable being in that position. I love my country! I’m proud to be an American! And I’m extremely proud that I live in a country that has such diverse opinions on everything and the freedom to express those opinions. The problem today is not what people think! It’s not the war, it’s not the economy, it’s not the president. The problem that the world has today is something far closer to home than the President, than John Kerry or Donald Rumsfeld.
The problem we have is with ourselves! The United States of America is a great country to live in because we have the freedom to express opinions no matter what they are and not be persecute for those opinions! The problem is that we ARE persecuted for those opinions, not by the governement but by our closest friends, the people we see and talk to everyday. We spend so much time pointing fingers today that we forget we’re no different from the person standing next to us. I wasn’t raised the same way the next person was and therefore my thought process is different from theirs. Becuase I have a different opinion on something doesn’t make me less of a person than you are, nor does it mean that I’m stupid, ignorant or uncaring.
I don’t believe that there will ever be a time when everybody believes the same thing. I do, however, believe there could be a time when there is peace. Peace can be achieved through respect. I don’t have to agree with you on anything you say. You may quote facts and I may retort with facts that can logically defend my opinion. The plain and simple truth is that the majority of things we hear, read, are told and say are opinions. These opinions may have some supporting facts, but information is processed and broadcast by humans and no human is 100% impartial. Therefore, the vast majority of information portrayed and broadcast by the news media is opinion or opinionated. If people would learn to realize that their opinions are no better than the next person’s and begin to RESPECT the opinions of the next person then I believe we would be on the road to peace. You may try to convince the other person that your opinion is right, but if they chose not to beleive what you tell them it doesn’t make them stupid, it doesn’t make them bad. Until we start cloning everyone there will always be differences, that’s what makes this world so beautiful.
Where people go wrong is to point fingers and call others stupid because they believe something different from you! Some people might decided to Vote for one candidate while I decide to vote for another. I’m not hear to criticize your opinion. You have yours and I have mine! I don’t agree with you and that’s fine, let’s move on! But, let’s not call each other names because we don’t agree. Even if this topic is the most important thing in the world to you, insulting me doesn’t help get a point across.
Respect is what this world lacks and it’s something that starts with you and I and goes from there! Not respecting each other’s differences is what has caused every war this world has ever witnessed. It’s what got us into this war and it will continue to spark every war in the future. It starts here and it has to stop here!
“And I’m extremely proud that I live in a country that has such diverse opinions on everything and the freedom to express those opinions.”
If we’re so free, then why is it that over the past year people who are anti-Bush were confined to “free speech zones” a half or a third of a mile away, when people who are Pro-Bush were allowed to line the streets of the President’s approach?
That aside, people can have opinions, but to make a decision without researching the facts behind those opinions is a shameful waste of the freedoms we have been given. Not only that, but by turning a blind eye to unpleasant facts or simply chalking them up to a media spin, we effectively issue a carte blanche for the government.
Freedom isn’t free, and we can’t afford to take it for granted. In this situation, the only way to defend our rights and freedoms is to thoroughly research our decisions before we make them, and weigh the potential consequences against the gains.
To quote General Douglas MacArthur, “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
Comment by slyflame — 5/19/2004 @ 11:47 am
That I understand! However, you have basically said that anyone who comes to a different conclusion than yours is stupid, ignorant, uncaring or somehow less of a human than you are. You simply assume that because they don’t believe the same thing that you do, they haven’t done any sort of research of their own. I honestly find that extremely insulting because I don’t believe the same things that you do on a lot of issues. Am I stupid? Do I not have a “conscience or a brain?”
Comment by Todder — 5/19/2004 @ 2:36 pm
Can you say, with all honesty, that your opinions are based on fact and not some knee-jerk gut reaction? Is there a justification for your opinions beyond simple distaste for ‘bleeding heart liberals’? Do you have legitimate reasons for supporting someone who a) is intent on destroying what progress the EPA has made, while providing his business buddies a break, b) has managed to turn the largest budget surplus in American history into the largest budget deficit in American history, c) blatantly lied and fear-mongered to achieve his goal of attacking Iraq, while completely failing to maintain or effectively pursue the “war on terror,” d) has repeatedly allowed his administration to unconstitutionally restrict the rights and freedoms of American citizens, e) actively supports the indefinite imprisonment (without charges) of civilians, etc etc etc?
I have yet to see a logical reason for it all, which is why I question if anyone out there is thinking, or if they’re just reacting.
Comment by slyflame — 5/19/2004 @ 4:44 pm
I have always loved politics. In college, I chose a major that I thought could get me a job, but minored in Political Science because I thrived on that stuff. The most important thing I learned is that I would have to dig deep, and I mean very deep, and back many years to get to the bottom of any issue. There are immense layers to everything in politics that usually span multiple administrations. And there are many secrets. Not all the secrets are necessarily bad ones. Some are truly necessary to keep. And I learned that spin is powerful. The bottom line is that if you respect the person that is speaking, and they know how to speak, you can become convicted about just about any opinion and take it on as your own. So, Sarah is right to say that you’ve got to have researched something to really know what the hell you’re talking about. But, you’ve got to have researched all the layers. Those that have, don’t tend to be able to be entirely tied to a cut and dried opinion. That’s not to say you can’t be adament about something, you can, but you have to have really studied the entire history of the issue to know all the facts, not just attended one persons lecture, or read a few peoples opinion articles. I love people who have passion. Some of the best conversations I’ve ever had are with individuals who have a different opinion than mine on America and its politics. Those are such fulfilling conversations, and if you’re not hell bent on proving everyone wrong, you’d be surprised what you can get out of them. You learn why people think the way they do, and realize there is usually a basis for it, not a knee jerk. And you may even find support for your own argument that you hadn’t even thought of. But you’re not going to enjoy any of that if you don’t explore other people’s opinions. The best way to change someone’s mind is to truly understand where they’re coming from, so you can provide arguments directed at their particular opinion. Anyway, I’m beginning to ramble.
Comment by Amy — 5/19/2004 @ 8:27 pm
You’re right. People should question constantly, think beyond their comfort zone, and push the boundaries of what they know. That applies to politics, religion, and life in general. Nothing should be taken at face value.
I don’t mean to sound like I’m totally opposed to any other ideas. Really, most of the time I WANT to be convinced differently. I want people to say, “Now wait a second. Here’s my list of reasons why. You’re not considering this, this, and this.” I want people to try to make me see the other side.
Really, I’m a moderate at heart – I’m usually stuck in the gray area. The reason the current political situation is so frustrating to me is because I have absolutely no concept whatsoever of what motivates the other side. Obviously, there has to be some valid reason, because 50% of America can’t be totally wrong. But for the life of me, I can’t figure it out and no one seems to be able to explain it.
Comment by slyflame — 5/20/2004 @ 6:09 pm