Responsibility and Respect Part 2

My parents hated bullies and couldn't stand it when others were intolerant to our beliefs or others beliefs. They would stand and support causes that they believed in, but would never tell someone that they are evil for believing what they believe. They always pushed us to get our own opinions about things while giving us their views about topics. I grew up in this household. I was never forced to believe what they believed. I learned respect from my parents. I never belittle anyone, never look at them like they are lesser citizens for believing something. People have different opinions, lifestyles, ethics, moral centers then myself and I'm fine with that. I have never, and I'll never, push my beliefs onto other people.

So why is it that when I give an opinion on social media (cough, cough, Facebook) people suddenly feel it's totally fine to attack, belittle, argue (not debate) what I've said. I have two friends that have very different opinions of things then myself. One have been a best friend of my for a very long time, friend #1. The other is someone I became close to about two years ago friend #2. Friend #1 and I have a great relationship and he will always be counted as a brother in my heart. But we also debate and discuss things all the time because we have such drastically different views. He is a feminist, and I honestly am more of a traditionalist. We disagree on government, sometimes religion doctrine, and many other topics. But we are still the best of friends because at the end of the day we respect each other. There is never any mudslinging or dirty talk, just opinions shared.

However, with friend #2, it's a totally different matter. She and I come from very different backgrounds. I'm highly religious, she isn't at all. I have very conservative views, she is extremely liberal. While I might not agree with everything she say's, I always try to remain respectful of her opinions and ideas. But when it comes to her respecting me and my opinions, she has no ability to share and move on. She has to be right and refuses to let me have my opinion. A recent conversation with her (via facebook, that evil center where people feel they can say whatever they want), I realized that no matter how respectful I am, she will never be. First she must always voice her opinion if she doesn't agree with something that I say or post. While she knows my views and that I will not be changing them, she insists on pushing her own views onto me. On posts about my religion (Mormon), she always posts how she doesn't agree and that I am being either ignorant or stupid because I believe it. Now she would never say that she does that, even when pointed out to her by others. She believes that she has the right to attack my views, while I should just sit back and take it.

Through these two drastically different people, I have learned what it means to debate vs argue. I have learned that there are those that will never respect my opinions, regardless of how respectful I am to them. I have learned that I will not put up with being attacked because I believe something different.

And sadly, I have learned that there are some people in life that will always live in a place of defense and anger.

Has respect disappeared in our society? After recent events, I have decided that YES. It has.

Respect and Responsibility, Have they really disappeared?

Since I was a child my father has told me "If you pick up one end of the stick, you have to pick up the other". His meaning was that if you make a decision to do something you can't choose the consequence. That goes for any decision you make, not just the bad ones. Growing up I have thought of that many times, mostly when I might be making a bad decision. The whole idea of cause and effect, action and reaction, choice and consequence is also tightly weaved in with responsibility and respect.

Over the last few weeks I've read news articles, watched videos and seen comments made by people about the government, religion, groups of people, and individuals that completely shock me. One such instance was a recent article I read on a news website, describing the mayors of Chicago and Boston deciding to ban permits to the fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A because the owner came out against gay marriage. Now I don't want to start a whole discussion on gay marriage, but I want to talk about responsibility and respect. Or lack there of.

 It is the responsibility of the mayor of a city to make decisions in the best interest of the citizens and business of that city. How is the city of Chicago benefiting from banning a business that will bring in jobs and serve their community? Also, when did a government body have the right to persecute a group because of their personal, religious beliefs? Isn't it the responsibility of a governing body to promote the free exchange of ideas, the freedom to practice a religion, and the protection of those freedoms and rights? In today's climate, I feel that if you have an opinion outside of the mainstream media, you are persecuted and subjected to harassment and hate acts. Example is the situation with Brad Pitts mother coming out against President Obama and homosexuality. The threats on her life,the wishes of death and the threats of rape and bodily harm were horrible. I thought our country was built on the ideas of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of OPINION.

Brad Pitt and Mother 

But what about respect? Is anything that is happening right now respectful of others and their views? No. When did our country turn into a place where only the mainstream media was allowed to have an opinion? In my life, I have had friends of many walks of life, all of whom have respected my personal beliefs, while I also respect theirs. The whole idea of the freedom to live the life you want, while respecting that same freedom in others has disappeared in our country. Now the only way to live the life you want is to live it the way the liberal media dictates.

 I believe we still live in a great country, but I wonder . . . How long until we no longer live in a country that will allow you to live your beliefs in peace?