We live in a world where we cover our mouths in fear of offending someone or hide our thoughts and opinions simply because it's probably not widely accepted among the society that we live in today. I've watched this problem brutally rip families, relationships and friendships to shreds and over what? The satisfaction of being right? Pride?

This has been something that I could never understand, even now in my 19th year of being alive. It boggles my mind to think that people feel so strongly on certain topics that they believe it's okay to completely destroy another person simply because they think otherwise of them.

If you haven't figured it out yet, yes I'm talking about politics.

Personally, I choose not to pick sides. Through what I believe, I am neither a Republican, nor a Democrat. I'm an Independent, and in being so, I sometimes get the best of both worlds. Though, the greatest advantage is that I am able to discuss with all people the controversies of the world and not have it end in a clash of two titans. That's important (in my opinion) because despite our differences as a nation, we all share one important thing — we are all Americans, and part of being an American should be to understand the people we stand beside each day while still standing up for what makes us unique without causing a war amongst the people that we love, and that is so hard for the majority of people nowadays. It breaks my heart.

I wish for the world that we can all someday possess the ability to accept and listen to another's opinion without anger and resentment, but appreciation and acceptance. We live in a country that should celebrate different viewpoints, not discredit them. Why else would we describe America as "the land of the free, home of the brave," if we have to hide behind our own beliefs just because the majority disagrees? I'm not saying that you shouldn't stand up for what you believe in because that's important to who you are. But, I wish that we could learn to live in harmony with one another because whether you are black, white, Asian, Native American, straight, gay, or bisexual — underneath it all we are all humans. We are the most intellectually advanced species on the planet, so why must it be so hard for us to act with intelligence and recognize the facts while being understanding of the thoughts and feelings different from our own?

The world would be a much better place to live if we were able to come to a point where all of this was possible because I believe that we, as a human race, would find much more joy in the lives that we live every day. And, after all is said and done, one day we will leave this earth and personally, I would like to be able to say that I spent my time here living my life to the fullest, rather than spending it disagreeing and arguing with everyone who did not believe the same thing that I did. That's not living, that's wasting your time trying to change someone's opinion who has their mind set on another in the first place.

Pick your battles, because in the end, all you really have is yourself.