I really love my friend, Meg. She is a client. If our paths had crossed under different circumstances, we would have never connected. Her values are totally contrary to mine. She is a conservative, “all things in moderation” LDS woman who believes that salvation is found in large families and strict adherence to the teachings of her church. I am a liberal, agnostic vegan. I don’t hold out much hope for mankind or other species that share our planet. I think that unless we get our collective self-entitled heads out of the sand (or elsewhere), we are doomed. I also think that population control is essential for survival. Meg wouldn’t agree. We can’t even discuss these issues over a glass of wine, but we can discuss them and agree to disagree. I love her anyway, and I don’t know why.
It’s not that Meg is nonjudgmental. Her opinions are strong, and she is not shy about sharing them. She doesn’t hesitate to let me know that I’m wrong. It’s frustrating, yet invigorating. I am careful to not offend her with off-color language when we speak. I may need an intervention to liberate myself from her, but strangely I don’t want the freedom. I am militant and Meg is tolerant, and when she is away, I miss her. I guess I need her acceptance to tamper my impatience. Meg believes that there is still hope and that God will come again and rescue us. I believe that if there is a God, he is getting ready to put humanity in one hell of an eternal time-out.
Meg doesn’t understand my passion for animal welfare. Her “it’s only a dog” attitude infuriates me. She believes that humans have dominion over animals. I believe that all living things matter. Just once, I’d like to see the hunted become the hunter, armed with weapons and the ability to use them. To me, that is justice; to Meg, it’s insane.
It’s not that Meg isn’t smart and compassionate. She doesn’t deliberately abuse animals and has had pets in her life, but they were considered more livestock than family. She grew up on a farm, and animals were discarded because they became a nuisance or inconvenient, or they became food. I see little difference between harming a helpless animal or a helpless child. In my mind, both are reprehensible acts of cruelty. I have come to believe that animal products are toxic to humans. Meg eats them anyway.
Meg loves crafts, reading novels, and Coke out of the can. I love flying, hiking, and wine from the bottle. We both enjoy history, politics, and reading voraciously. Meg has confidence in the leaders of our state and country and believes that they will be divinely inspired to take the best course of action. I believe that they are leading us into temptation and are delusional at best. She has faith and I have little faith, but maybe she has enough for both of us.
Perhaps the reason we have remained friends is that opposites attract. Or, maybe it’s the fact that Meg is willing to express an opposing opinion in a non-threatening way. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, and we should all respect that and recognize the value of opposition. However, it’s alarming that so many become abusive, nasty, and rude when others don’t agree with them. Even adults rebel when forced into compliance. I am an Eleanor Roosevelt fan and love her famous quotes. My favorite is, “Do what you feel in your heart is right. You’ll be criticized anyway.” Meg will criticize my decisions, and I will criticize hers, but we will do it with love. That way when things get really ugly, we will be on the same side, and I want her on my team. To quote Eleanor again, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Just saying.
