Listen People

(with thanks to Graham Gouldman)

I do not choose my friends for their religion or politics;
but I may drop them for their intolerance or indifference.
People come in all shapes, sizes, colours, doctrines, and opinions; I take their views, compare them to my own, and if honestly felt will try to understand if not accept.

My judgement may come from different sources, different information, different cultures but my understanding is mine own and their beliefs may feel just as valid to them. I may never agree with their conclusions but as long as they've derived their opinions from honest research and not from the pleasure of ignorance I will respect their choices, but only on the condition that they respect mine.

I may try to add to their information base, attempt to give them other sources and viewpoints to consider but I will never attack them on their own ground, call them names in public, or demean them just because I disagree with their core beliefs. Anyone that does not accord me that same respect will be erased if not ignored, (unfortunately I do not ignore easily, my brain replays on auto).

I am infuriated by the mudslinging, name-calling, virulently vicious attacks made by people who disagree on some topics and don’t give themselves the opportunity to agree on others. People on opposing sides or people of conflicting opinions on the same side need to take off the blinders, take their fingers out of their ears, and learn to be silent long enough to hear.

Ronda R. Scott-Marak  
© 11 September 2015