Our Differences Make Us Different

My greatest concern since the last election hasn't been focused on the politics surrounding it.

It has been the way people have treated each other during.

When Obama was President, my Conservative friends told Conservative me that I shouldn't have voted for him.

But it was done with respect.  There were no personal insults.  Nobody let my political choice affect our friendship.

I was surprised to hear friends and family say alarmingly disrespectful things about Obama, but I didn't attack them.  It was their opinion and they had every right to it.

I remember the first time I took notice of politics.  It was 1995.

Since then, I can say that I had never witnessed family and friends denigrate one another due to political differences.

Until now.

I have heard such vitriol this last year.  Directed at me.  At my friends.  My family.  Strangers.

None of it was ok.

And I'll admit, for a time during the election... I was just as quick to debate with overly charged emotional platitudes.

That wasn't ok either.

Last week I got into a debate with a friend.  It was heated.  I tried to speak but was talked over.  I remained calm.  I spoke and clarified my viewpoints.  It ended well.

But it didn't start well.

That's a problem.

I have never let political or religious beliefs define my relationship with people.  I was raised better than that.

I know that differences don't inherently make me right and you wrong.  They just make us different.

I have strong opinions.  But I will never let them justify bullying you for not sharing them.

I will write passionately.  I will express clearly.  I will use my voice in all the ways I can.

But when I look at the friends Ive made, and the family I have, I won't focus on where we differ.

I'll focus on what they mean to me.

No difference can excuse ill behavior.

Because as Evelyn Beatrice Hall once said,

"I do not agree with what you have to say,  but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."