Recently, I have noticed that many people are completely throwing respect out the window when it comes to people’s beliefs and views. People are going after each other on social media because they disagree with what that person believes. Even when people are face to face, they still think it is appropriate to mock someone else or go after someone simply because they have different views. That is especially the case when it comes to political leanings.
This election year is a tense one, and that has caused people to make rash decisions and not think before they speak. People are condemning each other for supporting issues or candidates they don’t like. Granted, this has always been the case, but it has escalated to the point where no one can really share their political views anymore. For instance, if someone shares that they are voting for Hillary Clinton, they instantly get lectured. Why? We need to let people have their own views. Here’s the thing: You can disagree with someone’s views and still be respectful. You can educate someone about certain aspects of politics and not be mean about it. By all means educate, but do not persecute.
If someone shares on social media that they are voting for Trump, by all means educate them on what that would mean for our country. However, if you feel that you can’t talk to them in a respectful manner, then don’t even start a conversation. I don’t understand how someone could vote for Donald Trump, but I don’t verbally attack someone because they want him to lead our country. I agree to disagree. I acknowledge that although I may not like what they are saying, they have the right to say it without condemnation. It is a free country, and people are allowed to believe what they want and have their own opinions. That is part of what is great about our country: We can freely speak our minds.
It isn’t just the case with political views, either. You should be respectful in any case. Someone may have different religious beliefs than your own, but does that mean you shouldn’t be respected? No. You can absolutely disagree with them, but the moment you throw respect out the window is the moment you are in the wrong. I think the founders of our country would be ashamed of how we condemn each other for thinking differently.
We cannot all have the same views, beliefs and opinions. We cannot all see the world in the same way. It is healthy to think differently. If we all had the same thoughts, how would we gain perspective? How would we challenge ourselves to rethink our views? It is wonderful that there are people who have views different than our own. It challenges us to think about our own lives and why we may have different views than someone else. The moment you accept and respect that it is OK for someone else to think differently and hold different views will be the moment you come closer to understanding what freedom really is.
