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It's OK To Disagree: Why A Differing Opinion Is Not Discrimination

Nov 09, 2015

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It's OK To Disagree: Why A Differing Opinion Is Not Discrimination

Our world is all about being accepting. Accepting of everyone’s views and their positions even if you don’t agree because of your own personal beliefs. We live in a world where if you aren’t accepting of someone’s views you are seen as discriminating. You are seen as if you hate them. And you are seen as a stubborn person who isn’t with the current times.

People want to be so accepting of everything that they are willing to put aside their own beliefs for everyone else’s feelings. No one wants to hurt anyone’s feelings and wants to be “politically correct.” Politically correct is always going to hurt someone. Instead of trying to tip-toe around each other, we should be accepting of everyone’s differences because that’s what makes us unique. Without these unique beliefs, we are all the same. We might as well all look the same in that case. Being unique and being different is one of the best things about America. We are told that being different is good, but not if it’s a difference of opinion.

A difference of opinion does not mean you can start yelling at each other about how you are more right than the other. If you want to get your point across as to why you believe what you believe, then I will gladly listen, but please do not sit there and tell me why I’m wrong because of what I believe and try to belittle me for a difference of opinion. No one should be attacked because of their opinion just because it is different than yours. Why do I have to agree with you, if you won’t agree with me? In the end, a single person is not going to change my opinion and my belief system. You can discuss your opinion with me, but being rude about it will make it harder for you to convince me that you’re right.

Just because someone does not agree with your view, does not mean they hate you. Actually, it means that you’re different, which is a good thing. It means you were raised different, or have a different faith, a different ethnicity or a different sexual orientation --which is OK! If we were all the same, there would be no growth as a society. When someone doesn’t agree with your beliefs, you don’t agree with their beliefs either. They could see you as discriminatory, but they don’t because it is just a disagreement of opinions. Having a different opinion than someone is healthy and actually normal. With 7 billion people in the world, you’re bound to find someone who doesn’t agree with you and someone who does.

Just because I don’t believe what you believe doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Acceptance of a person, not what they believe is how acceptance should be seen. You don’t have to agree with someone to treat them like a decent human being and just because someone doesn’t agree with you doesn’t mean that it’s okay to belittle their beliefs.

We are all different. Difference is not bad and we just have to realize that.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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