Speaking Our Mind

I have always been a reticent person and according to my children avoid conflict whenever possible. I have opinions, but I don't express them readily or vigorously and sometimes I wonder why people jump immediately to extreme positions spouting rhetorical nonsense without involving themselves in the discussion. Why can't we stop and consider another position before we state our opinion on the subject? Sometimes, people will do this without addressing the subject at all.

I have noticed recently, especially on the subjects of religion and politics, that the conversation jumps the fence and religious articles become political and the political subjects become about religion. I understand that this is primarily because religion has been drug into the realm of politics in the news, but is this really an excuse for individuals to make all political discussions about religion and vice versa?

I am not saying that you should not voice your opinion, but I frequently have to stop reading the comments on a seed because it has digressed into "I'm smarter than you", "no, you're not" contest. Yes, many of the articles are one sided, and yes we are each entitled to our own opinion, but posting one sided links to prove your point that the article is one sided is counter productive.

One of the best lines I have ever heard was in "The American President", when Andrew Shepard, the President said, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest."

Let's express our opinion, but let's do it with respect for the other guy.