What gives us the right to judge another human being? It is this very question I struggle with everyday. What makes it OK to put another person down for something they believe or how they live?

I do not have the answer to this. Usually I have so many theories and ideas as to why, but not today. Today I wonder why people feel so self entitled, like everything they think is the "right" way. It is not though.

People have different opinions and that is OK. People have different lifestyles; that also is OK. Who are we to tell people how to act, what to think, how to live? Why can we not accept people for who they truly are? There is no need to change anyone into what you want them to be, because that is not fair to them.

Today we live in a society where we voice our opinions about everything, from the election to people's lifestyles. Mainly because we believe in freedom of speech, which is great and I am not one of those people who gets upset about just anything either. Yet what we forget when we use our freedom of speech is to respect one another and each other's beliefs.

There is a difference between stating your opinion respectfully and stating your option rudely. Believe what ever you want, but do not hate on someone else because they see things differently.

Life is short and hard enough. So why disregard each other and shut each other out? It does nothing but breed hate. Try to get to know the people that you do not understand. That is the best way to connect to people, to just listen to their story without judgment.

Color, religion, and sexual orientation are just the outer layer to who we are. There is also who we are on the inside, like character and kindness. Having some compassion can go a long way.

So I dare you to go out and befriend someone you would have never talked to in a million years. That one person you think is totally different from you. You may just find we are not all as different as you think. Accept one another and stop the hate.