I am going to take a moment to discuss something that you might perceive as "political".
A dear friend posted something about how the media is full of double standards. I am certain that is true. I of course took a deep breathe because we tend to think differently. The truth is that i don't think we think that differently but I think we listen to different media/perspectives. It has certainly created a crevice in our friendship but not one that would break our love for each other. This post led into a conversation of what seemed like babble. comments that were bold but very general and you could not make sense out of what the person was really talking about.
Several years ago , during the time leading up to the election, there was an acquaintance of mine that is very knowledgeable but felt very opinionated and somewhat inflexible. I ended up deciding to unfollow her. It just felt icky. Well today she joined the conversation on my friends post. My assumption was immediately here we go. But I recognized her educated and somewhat objective, non partisan opinion.
I decided instead of continuing this line of facebook input that i would reach out to her privately. She had made a comment that said this...
" I don't think religion should be imposed on citizens. But I also don't think policies should be imposed on religious citizens when they are able to demonstrate a history of devout belief and practice.".
I thought to myself, i agree with you but could you be more specific?
this is how she responded...
Her: What comes to mind as an example is the small mom and pop businesses who have come under fire for not making wedding cake for gay weddings based on religious convictions or small apartment building owners who choose not to rent to openly gay couples based on religious convictions.
While I am pro gay, I think that there needs to be some understanding and respect for small business owners to make decisions based on their religious beliefs and I think they should be required to be able to substantiate said belief in some way
there is an argument to be made that when you enter the marketplace on a larger scale, that you surrender that ability to apply your religious convictions
Me: Oh yes . I've heard about that and agree they should not be forced . Who the hell cares about that? . It's so stupid !! Why would you want someone to make your wedding cake when they don't support you
Agreed
Me: It helps me to have specific examples so I understand . Thank you
Her: so while the law may not specifically disallow small business owners from this practice, it also does not protects them from costly lawsuits
thanks for asking
Me: And I am positive that of all the gays the vast majority would never sue . The small minority have to ruin it for everyone so often . It is through real conversation we realize we agree on much more than we disagree I hope you and your family are well
Her: I agree. I think that if we could just get to a place of dialogue, there is much that the majority agrees with or could be comfortable with if we would just stop surrendering our power to special interest groups on both sides
I hope you guys are doing well too! Cannot get over art work.
Just phenomenal!
Tonight i had a conversation with someone I ASSUMED thought very differently from me. There were tidbits that were left out in the interest of keeping this short enough. But i felt connected with my friend who "thinks differently". does she? do we know or do we assume what people are thinking. I feel it is so important to speak specifically about what we believe. General vague comments ( would you call that a platitude Mom?) do not work. We all need to be critical thinkers, We need to listen to both sides.
The extremists on both sides ruin it for us all whether it be american, muslim, mormon, christian, black, jew. white... We can not allow these extremists to divide us as americans.
WE CANNOT GENERALIZE and i feel we all need to really listen and we need conversation.
I pray and hope we can begin to heal this huge divide and realize that most of this does not represent us whether we are republican or democrat, left or right. We have extremists in the world that want to disrupt our peace and i hope that we can work to heal the divides that exist. no matter what our party line is.
In love.
Stacia
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