You know what they say about opinions
You know what they say about opinions. Everyone has one. I will spare you the rest of the quote to avoid offense. I am finding that I must carefully tiptoe around subjects people consider “sensitive” if I don’t agree with them. My sister doesn’t believe in climate change. I do. She refuses to even discuss it, and she doesn’t want to be bothered with “fake news,” so I dutifully refrain from approaching such a sensitive subject. I guess we will stick with the status of her grandchildren, who may not fare well in a volatile climate.
My brother owns an ice cream shake shop. I’m vegan and am considered a “traitor” to the family creamery business, so no discussions about animal cruelty or the benefits to the environment of eating vegan are allowed. On the rare occasions we do connect, discussions are centered around the latest family happenings, whose kids are doing what, and whether someone is dead (see my Travel Fit column).
I have a daughter who recently became vegan and I’m very pleased, but I probably shouldn’t mention it to the other family members because they already think we are radical nut cases. Nevermind that she is concerned about animal welfare and the future of our planet. She will have to deal with the impact of future decisions regarding the environment despite the fact that it’s a sensitive subject.
My son is a devout Christian and a Trump supporter. After a heated discussion about religious hypocrisy, I no longer approach the subject when I speak with him.
I have a difficult time understanding how he can justify the actions of the current administration, which seem contrary to his religious beliefs. He is still angry over the fact that I’m questioning the efficacy of religion. Instead, we talk about the weather, my computer issues, or his upcoming vacation.
All three of my children own guns and are opposed to gun control. I’m an advocate for gun control, but it’s a sensitive topic, so we don’t discuss it. We talk about other stuff. We all know that we have differences of opinion. We don’t want angry confrontations. We are trying to keep it civil and respectful.
Some people become so upset and angry regarding certain topics that they refuse to acknowledge an opposing point of view. It is my opinion that taking a stance from a position of anger is not helpful. It’s often hard to acknowledge that there may be another side to the story. Is pulling hair to evoke emotion in an acting class abuse? Is trophy hunting ethical? Is it okay to drill for oil on protected lands? Is it okay to kill dogs or other animals for meat? My opinion on these subjects is no, no, no, and no, but not everyone agrees with me: “It is not what you say that matters but the manner in which you say it” (William Carlos Williams, 1883–1963).
It is my opinion that there is a dire need to engage in dialogue. It’s frustrating and demoralizing to see books like “To Kill a Mockingbird” pulled from school libraries because they offend someone. Sending thoughts and prayers to shooting victims isn’t going to solve the problem, just as cutting back on smoking isn’t really going to help much.
Every opinion writer has encountered resistance and outrage to their expressed viewpoints at one time or another, but that’s the hazard that comes with the job. Sometimes it feels personal, but it’s okay because it creates much needed dialogue. Jason Gottfried, The Independent’s editor, stated in a private conversation with me that, “I’ve changed positions on religion, veganism, gun control, abortion, and immigration — just to name a few off the top of my head — because people loudly disagreed with me.” That is pretty cool. Come to think of it, I guess I’ve changed positions on a few issues as well. At this point, I’m sure you are thinking that I am a radical liberal, but don’t jump to conclusions. We can discuss it sometime if you would like.
I’ll select the issues that mean the most to me and will continue to be involved in trying to change a few minds, or at least have a civil discussion. Some minds can never be changed, but perhaps enough of us can work together to make some significant progress; because if we continue to ignore important issues, we may wake up someday and find ourselves homeless, without a family, and living in Hell (or at least it will feel like Hell). Just saying.
This is only my opinion. Please see the following disclaimer. If you disagree, I urge you to let me know. It’s okay. We can still be friends.
The viewpoints expressed above do not necessarily reflect those of The Independent.
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