by Kathryn Jane
I disagree with lots of what goes by me on FB.
But instead of lashing out, shaking a finger or fist, unfriending or blocking, I sit back and wonder…
Why is this person’s opinion so different from mine?
How can she not see what I see?
Why does she not think like I think?
How can she be so wrong?
That’s when I stop and regroup.
That’s when I suddenly wonder if that person has the same reaction to what I post?
What if she thinks my opinion is way off the wall. My beliefs are out in left field.
What if she decides to unfriend me because my view of the world is so obviously different than the view she has?
Then I smile, thinking about the things we have in common. Things that have nothing to do with our religious or political beliefs. Things as simple as recognizing that although we differ in some really important ways we are still able to be friends. To enjoy other parts of what make us who we are.
And there lies the beauty of being able to disagree, without it being earthshattering and friend ending.
I thoroughly enjoy much about the people in my life who I disagree with “emphatically” over several subjects, and that, my friends, is just way cool.
What about you? Do you have friends with whom you carefully avoid some subjects? Or friends you actively argue with? I’d love to hear some of your stories, so please share!
Kathryn Jane, novelist, artist, educator.
Want to know what else I’m up to in my life? The books, the painted rocks, the workshops? Click here to visit my website.
Word by Word 
Reblogged this on Mystery and Romance.
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I had to unfollow someone because she called someone who is of the same political persuasion as me a B****. That’s wrong. Sometimes, I hide these political posts which rant and rave. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs. Being mean is unacceptable.
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I steer clear of stuff I don’t like, but yes, mean is a whole different ballgame.
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Reblogged this on Jacquie Biggar-USA Today Best-selling author and commented:
Kathryn Jane shares a thought-provoking post on opinions at the Sisterhood of Suspense #blog. Stop by and tell us your thoughts on this important subject, we’d love to hear from you!
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I try to keep my posts focused on things that make me happy. There’s enough controversy in the world without my two-cents worth, lol.
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Me too, Jacquie!!!! 😀 Personally, I don’t want to know anyone else’s political or religious beliefs 😉
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Exactly!
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My father used to tell us before we went to a party or business dinner not to discuss religion, politics or sex to avoid arguments. LOL I always thought he was joking, but he wasn’t. I believe in the live and let motto, but the last couple of years the tone has gotten crazy. We are all entitled to our opinions but not so much where we are insulting or hurting others. If you disagree move on. I don’t allow political postings on my pages for that reason and will delete them. I only post encouraging things in the hope that it will make someone’s day.
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I’m with you, Marian and I hope that the more positive energy in the world, the better. I believe kindness and love will one day change the world.
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An interesting post and concept. I don’t always agree with people and their opinions on blogs and social media. I do, however, believe they have a right to their opinion. as I have to mine, so I never say anything negative to them. If they are sharing hate speech, that is different, of course.
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Hate speech is definitely not a “difference of opinion.”
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I choose to not talk politics with some friends. I feel it’s a loss, but the friendship is more important. Except in a way it’s not. Politics/government is important. I was with some folks at a luncheon recently and a couple of folks expressed their opinion (which I basically agreed with). Others sitting there who obviously didn’t agree, said, well they didn’t like any politicians. They all lie. I don’t believe that’s true, but I chose not to disagree. And I do wonder what some folks are thinking. It baffles me that facts are no longer facts. 😦 As to FB, I hide posts which make me nuts. Sometimes they are from family. 🙂 Thank you for this great post, Kathryn. I’ve shared.
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Yep, even family, and my closest friend disagree with me on stuff, and that’s okay. Thank heavens we don’t feel like we need to make each other see our point of view, or we’d be bogged down in that instead of enjoying each other’s company 😉
The funny one from way back in my childhood was my grandmother whispering that the best thing about having the right to vote, was being able to “cancel out” my grandfather’s vote because they disagreed completely!
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Disagreement is for things like coffee or tea, pineapple on pizza. When they start questioning my humanity, or the humanity of my friends and family, or even our right to live wherever the hell we are (which is what it means when they start questioning whether particular groups deserve human or civil rights), play time is over. “Can’t we all get along” sounds awesome in theory, and makes us feel really great, rising above the fray and all that. In practice, if you aren’t white, Christian, straight, and able-bodied, the answer is frequently, “no, we can’t all get along.” I’m not willing for my humanity to be a philosophical discussion “with different sides.”
“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe.”
― Elie Wiesel
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I hear you.
That said, my blog is about friends getting along in spite of differing opinions, differing religious beliefs, political choices. In those ways I believe we can all get along and agree to disagree.
Hatred, bigotry, racism, opposition to human rights, and questioning humanity are far more than a difference of opinion, and need to be treated as such.
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Thought-provoking post! I try to avoid getting into conversations about religion and politics. We are all different and entitled to our belief systems. All we have to do is respect each other’s differences. 🙂
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I agree! 🙂
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