Erin My grandma always said, “Three things you should never talk about at the dinner table, religion, money, and politics, because you do not know if you will offend anyone.” I believe that applies everywhere. She would turn over in her grave if she spent five minutes on social media nowadays. I do not usually discusss anything or post things that display my political views. Not because I am scared or do not want to hurt anyone. I just like having my opinion be mine, not fuel for idiots.
Most times, I ignore posts or comments that display someone else’s opinion. I do not believe in arguing because it does not solve anything. You cannot change someone’s opinion, no matter how much you scream or how many capitol letters you use. I also believe that you should not discuss politics with your children. Let me explain.
Children hold their parents on a pedastle. If my child asks me why trees grow, I tell them because of water, odds are my child will accept my answer as fact. They place their trust in us to steer them in the right direction and give them the best knowledgeable response possible. When I was a child, all I heard was republican good, democrat bad. As I became a teen, I truly believed that basis, because my father (who I trusted) had always preached that belief. I did not realize I was living in an indoctrinated family until I became an adult.
The first time I voted, I was eighteen. My father and many others close to me preached about the republican candidate being “god, and the democrat candidate being the “devil.” No one could give me a factual basis for their reasoning. That being said, I did my due diligence, voted for the candidate I believed was best, and never told my family who I voted for. I made my decision based on my knowledge. To this day, I am not placing myself in a group of solely one side or the other. I believe that if my children are constantly preached at, they will grow having the same ignorance I did as a child. They will believe that they are the only right people, because they have only heard one side their entire life.
Unfortunately, politics are not the only issue we see today. Sure most of what is displayed on the news and social media may be politically driven, but it all derives from a single word…… hypocrisy. Do as I say, not as I do. I can do or say this, but you cannot. These are horrible standards for arguments or beliefs, but they swarm our evryday lives everywhere we look. Keep in mind, this is all MY opinion. MY opinion is based on MY feelings. Much like all opinions are based on just that, feelings. Hypocrisy is a word with a definiton, and this I discuss with my children as much as possible.
I drink. When my children become old enough, I do not mind if they drink (of course within reason). I swear. When my children are old enough to distinguish an inappropriate situation from an appropriate situation, I do not mind if they swear. I also used to smoke. This is where I practice what I preach. One day my oldest said something that stuck. She asked me if I would quit smoking because she did not want me to die. I told her that it was my choice, and when she became an adult she could make her choice. I was very wrong. I thought about whether or not I was leading a good example by saying that even if she knowingly made bad choices in life, I would not guide her against them.That was my whole job as a parent! If I did not want her to smoke, I couldn’t do it either. I could not say she shouldn’t, but continue doing it.
I understand and appreciate the struggles that many cultures and religions have not only faced, but overcome. I, myself, have read about persecutions set forth on even my own bloodline’s past. We live in a country that has gone through many rotations. Rotations meaning one decade, it may be wrong to do something. The next decade, it may be fine to do that same thing, the next decade, something new may be wrong. Every year, what is or is not acceptable changes. Good people do their best to adapt to what is the new norm. At some point though, everyone reaches their limit.
Whether you are religious or not, the ten commandments hold true to our basic moral values. Do not kill. Do not lie. Do not steal. Don’t sleep around on your hubby/wife. Don’t have idols. (Just a handful) Then you also have the golden rule: do unto others as you’d have do unto you. To me, that is the biggie. Do unto others, as you’d have done unto you. Do not treat someone with cruelty, or with hatred, or with shame unless you are prepared for the same. To validate saying or doing anything, but condemning others for the same, is against this. The world is flooded with hypocrisy, and I am sick of it.
No, I do not believe that writing this will start some giant movement and heal the world. I do not believe that stating my opinion on such matters will change anyone’s mind. In fact, considering the internet today, I am probably gonna “hurt someone’s feelings” more than anything. To me it is very simple. I live it everyday. I know many people who live this everyday. I know it is not so difficult as some in the world try to make it out to be. Many historical figures of different race and religion also lived this everyday and they are immortalized. It does not matter your color, religion, lifestyle choice, or your political party.
It is not difficult to be kind. I believe it takes much more effort to be cruel. I believe it takes much more energy to wake up, and intentionally hurt people, than it does to just smile or give a kind word. It is not difficult to just scroll past rather than incite or attack someone’s belief. It is not difficult to eliminate a word, rather than use it but condemn those around you.
Perhaps, to you, I am sounding naive. Perhaps you think I am just wasting my time. I believe this is possible. I believe it is worth the time to put out a few words of kindness. I believe my opinion was worth trying to instill a little encouragement to do the right thing today. Maybe I’d just like to buy the world a coke, and keep them company. What is your opinion?
