Opinions are a tough subject. Everyone is, in fact, entitled to their own opinion. But I think we should try to be kinder and more accepting of others' opinions.
It's hard nowadays to post a simple status or picture on Facebook or Twitter without fear of someone finding what you have to say offensive and personally attacking you for it. It's almost bound to happen. Posting about a controversial issue or sharing a post in support for a controversial issue is pretty much guaranteed to blow up into the next Facebook argument. This isn't how it's supposed to be, and it seems like now more than ever we need a reminder of that.
You Don't Have to Agree
Too many times people think that if someone isn't agreeing with their opinion, it is OK to create a fight out of it. No. Just because someone has a different opinion than you doesn't mean they are wrong. It simply means that they have a different opinion. Take a minute to stop and ask them to elaborate on their opinion, ask them how they came to that conclusion, etc.
Hatred and Violence
Too often a fight will break out over simple opinion. We've all seen the recent political action. We all have our own opinions about who should be the next president. But creating hatred toward someone simply because of their political opinion differing from yours says more about you than it does about them.
You're going out of your way to be mean to someone that is happily expressing their right as a citizen of the country we all live in.
Going off the last point, when someone is purposely mean to you because of your opinion, that is your opportunity to show them the kindness that they desperately need. Just like mom always said, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
Mom's saying still stands. Show kindness to those that don't have any. Respect their opinions, they might in turn respect yours.
Instead of jumping to conclusions and assuming that people are targeting you by stating their opinion, maybe we should take some time to have a conversation with the person first. Try to see it from their point of view. Show them your point of view.
My opinion is my opinion. Your opinion is your opinion. Their opinion is their opinion. It is time to be kind and accept that others might not agree with you on everything that you say and do, and realize that that is OK.
