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Agree with me or else.... 8/15/2012 3:36:36 AM
Whatever happened to people simply having a different opinion? When I was in school we used to have what I would call " Healthy Debate " sessions in classes on different topics. Somewhere along the way we have gone to the point where we don't want to listen to a person's opinion on any issue. People are labelled quickly in the hopes that by calling them names they will be silent and that the opposing person's opinions will be accepted as normal and truthful.
Someone who votes Republican in the U.S. can be looked down as a fan of Big government-favoring the rich and war if called for. To those who wish to vote Democrat one could be labelled as a Liberal Eco tree hugger
Those who agree with Abortion are called Baby Killers
Those who believe the unborn baby is a gift from God are looked upon as " Religious Nuts"
One who believes in Capital Punishment can be seen as
" cruel and unenlightened "
Those who don't agree with Capital Punishment are yelled at for being " Bleeding Liberals"
Even if a person says they don't agree with Homosexuality are called " Hate Filled Homo-phobes"--prompting one reviewer to call all gays and lesbians as
" Hate Filled Hetero-phobics"
Muslims are targeted for being " Terrorists sympathizers "
The Scottish are " Cheap "
The Irish are " Drunks "
We attack the person without listening to their opinion.Sometimes even friendships are destroyed forever over an individual daring to stand on his opinion. We have lost the gift of truly listening and agreeing to dis-agree.
Once John Stossel of the 20/20 television show went to an American college and found that trying to have a discussion of a different point of view was rejected by students on the campus because they did not want to hear his opinion. Even University professors found their views to be attacked even on minor issues by people having a different opinion.There was no discussion-and to continue on with such a view that was opposed by students the teacher found themselves embroiled in a public and legal assault. This in an Age of so called enlightenment?
Sadly I have noticed even a place like faceBook is moving from a fun place to a " where do you stand on this or that subject?"
To debate---to reasonably and politely argue and defend your opinion has been replaced with a
" to not agree with me show me how Stupid you are!"--sort of logic
My High School debate Teacher must be rolling in his grave now
We have formed opinions without really listening to the other person. Could it be that we are all simply expressing our opinions? What does it say about those who attack someone without listening to their opinions? In the American race to be President this year we have people who are strongly opposed to Obama both for his policies and even today for the color of his skin---Rommey for being a Mormon -I saw today where he and his new running mate are called..." Sociopaths"---which makes me wonder where the ones doing the name calling got their degrees from??
I think I worry more about the mental state of the name callers than the people with an opinion and that's not news
