Either or...

I am increasingly disheartened by the polarization of people in this country.  For every single conceivable topic that comes up, you must choose sides.  At every family gathering, it seems you must pick a hill and be willing to die on it over everything that is discussed.  There is no grey area any more.  Everything is in stark contrast, and if you are not with me, you are against me.

How sad.  Discussion is impossible if you are unwilling to consider any other point of view.  I have always believed that reasonable people can have different opinions, and all can be respected, as long as you use facts and logic to get there.

In my years of life, I have had the privilege to know a lot of people.  I have learned a lot from each of them, whether good or bad.  None of them spoke for everyone - each had their own personal point of view.  In 50 some years of conversing with people, one of the most important things I have learned is that most of us want the same things, even if we disagree about how to get there.  And sometimes, there is no single correct answer.  Two plus two equals four just as much as three plus one does, and even though the equations look different, the end point is still the same.

I see this negative trend on social media, in particular, where rabid discussions, and I use that word discussions loosely, are fought between people who would probably never even speak to each other in the real world.  If you feel it is right to help refugees, you must be against our veterans.  If you believe that feeding starving children in Africa is the morally correct path, you must be against helping our children at home.  If I believed most of what I read, which I don't, rich people are all greedy, and poor people are all lazy and unemployed.  The name calling and diminishing of people is out of control, and it is depressing.

But as I read through all these commentaries, I also see the other side.  I see people stand for what they feel is right, with courtesy and dedication.  I see people speak out for what they believe in, while listening to others.  I see resiliency in their words, and I see the struggles they have battled.  I see the courage of their convictions.  I see people who, like me, think there is more than one way to reach an end point.

It gives me hope for the future, to see the young people getting passionate about their beliefs, whatever they may be, and whether I agree or not.  The future is theirs, after all, and will be whatever they make of it.  They should have a say in how they get there.

Today, I am grateful to live in a country where we can all have the opportunity to express ourselves freely.  There are places in this world where it is dangerous to speak openly even with your closest family members, for fear of what may happen.  I am filled with gratitude for the privilege that I have, and for the men and women who have risked their lives to make sure it stays that way.