I used to be non-denominational. I am now Catholic. I used to be pro-capital punishment. I am now anti-capital punishment. I have always been pro-life. And I have usually always been put in a pretty little political box. However, there is no such thing. The bombings around the world, the refugees, the fight for women's rights, the fight for equal pay for women, the fight for all genders, sexes and races...none of it fits into a pretty little political box.
No one likes to be mislabeled. If that is the case, and it is, then why can't we stop? I saw on Facebook, yesterday, a post by an acquaintance that spoke of her surprise of someone she didn't think would be for the acceptance of refugees was and someone she thought would be for it was opposed. Her next comment was ridiculous. It was along the lines of, "And most of the time I am right about these kinds of things."
Hold up. Just hold up. I get that people can be predictable, but I also get that people can change and completely surprise you. Politics is something that we all have a stake in. Politics is something that we always have opinions on. I guess I just can't understand why we try to place each other in these boxes that end up hurting each other. Why would we allow social media to put these little boxes on our social doorstep only to be opened and then discarded because we see a pile of shit instead of a different opinion. If we really want peace, why do we think our idea of peace is the only one that is doable. If we really want the people of the world to work in tandem, then why do we fight so hard against each other?
If someone wants to mourn the people in Paris, why do we berate them for not knowing about what has happened in Beirut? If someone wants to keep refugees out of their country, why do we assume they are heartless bastards? If someone wants to make gender equality their main priority, why do we assume they are feminists? If someone... put what you want. Just allow someone to put what they want to.
Here is a thought: if you want someone to respect you, then you better damn well offer the same respect. Social media is the last place we should be airing our dirtiness. But acceptable if only to be shown forgiveness and acceptance to gain a stronger sense of humility.
No one likes to be mislabeled. If that is the case, and it is, then why can't we stop? I saw on Facebook, yesterday, a post by an acquaintance that spoke of her surprise of someone she didn't think would be for the acceptance of refugees was and someone she thought would be for it was opposed. Her next comment was ridiculous. It was along the lines of, "And most of the time I am right about these kinds of things."
Hold up. Just hold up. I get that people can be predictable, but I also get that people can change and completely surprise you. Politics is something that we all have a stake in. Politics is something that we always have opinions on. I guess I just can't understand why we try to place each other in these boxes that end up hurting each other. Why would we allow social media to put these little boxes on our social doorstep only to be opened and then discarded because we see a pile of shit instead of a different opinion. If we really want peace, why do we think our idea of peace is the only one that is doable. If we really want the people of the world to work in tandem, then why do we fight so hard against each other?
If someone wants to mourn the people in Paris, why do we berate them for not knowing about what has happened in Beirut? If someone wants to keep refugees out of their country, why do we assume they are heartless bastards? If someone wants to make gender equality their main priority, why do we assume they are feminists? If someone... put what you want. Just allow someone to put what they want to.
Here is a thought: if you want someone to respect you, then you better damn well offer the same respect. Social media is the last place we should be airing our dirtiness. But acceptable if only to be shown forgiveness and acceptance to gain a stronger sense of humility.
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