We live in a world full of news, gossip and a constant stream of information. Everyone and their mother seems to have an opinion on everything. Some of these things can be considered quite serious such as religion and politics; while some things like a celebrity's outfit or a Super Bowl performance matter far less.
Everyone has a opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, that is after all what makes it an opinion, a point of view, a perspective. The issue with these opinions is that everyone thinks theirs is right and they think everyone else should agree with them. People think their way is the only way to do or think about something.
I really hate to be the one to burst that bubble, but that's not the case. Like I said, everyone is entitled to their opinion and to share it, but when it becomes the subject of degrading and belittling someone else's opinion, or even worse, simply degrading that person, that is where we come to a problem.
This subject of discrediting other's opinions is not a new one, it is merely one that has come to light in the past few years as we continue to be a part of the ever growing world of social media, constant television exposure and blogging. Everyone is aware of the First Amendment and seems to be on board with it. They want to preach it and shout it from the rooftops, until someone else uses that freedom of speech to state something that offends them.
It's not the fact that people are offended, the problem is that people think that because they are offended words should be taken back, media removed and apologies made. People tend to think that who ever says or does something seems to be making a public decision, speaking on behalf of a group or simply trying to change the way of the world. Everyone is so quick to preach yet so judgmental when it comes to something they don't agree with.
What we as people, and more specifically, us as millennials have failed to realize is that part of what makes our generation so great is our diversity, our constant flow of ideas and creativity. Our intelligence and wonderful drive stems from all of our different viewpoints. When we are all able to see things differently we are able to create new concepts, voice different viewpoints, come up with new ideas. We are all so gung-ho to be the generation that changes the world, but how can we do that when we are all so worried about not offending someone with what we do or say and tearing down and destroying the views of those we disagree with.
It's not like we have to agree on everything. We can't all agree on beliefs, politics, ways of doing things, what sounds best or what should be published. If all of us had the same opinions on all of that our generation and our world would become the definition of lackluster. We would be boring and not intellectually appealing. The word "opinion" would become void of all meaning. So let's start taking the First Amendment seriously and not just when it comes to something we agree with.
