This post should probably be in Bee's Upfront and Serious.
Growing up in a military family, I was taught that there are two things that were never discussed publicly - politics and religion. One's political affiliations were private and personal and others only knew your religion by which church you went to. All military and formal church services were held in the Anglican Church on camp.
It is only in the last few years that I have opened up to discussing both topics and even though I know I should know better, I have become embroiled on more than one occasion in both topics on another site. Every time I do it, I promise myself I will never do it again because I cannot bear the hostility and bashing that comes with what is supposed to be a debate. Non believers don't discuss - they insult and use sarcasm as a tool in their so called arguments. They are arrogant and incapable of making a comment without throwing in a personal insult. They tell you you are stupid, uneducated, ignorant, that you are a puppet, go on to discuss you with other parties and before you know it, they gang up as it were.
The political topics are much the same. Don't even attempt to enter a discussion whereby you may believe that Obama is right about going back to the 1967 lines dividing Israel and Palestine. Don't point out that whilst he is the President, he has a Cabinet which takes part in the decision making process. People are biased and are not open to discussion. I have said over and over again that everyone is entitled to an opinion but when those opinions are not based on a person's politics and policies but rather his ethnicity, I have a problem.
Sugar coat it how you want, the truth will always out. There will always be arm chair critics but whether the discussion is about religion or politics, mutual respect and good manners are called for.
Maybe the military had it right when religion and politics were taboo subjects. We may have come a long way in that we have the freedom to discuss anything we want to but in doing so, I have found aggression takes a front seat and that we really aren't very nice to each other.
It's no wonder the world is in such a mess.
It is a touchy subject, but hiding who we are certainly isn't the answer.
ReplyDeleteI'm a non-believer. I have come across many bloggers who love their god dearly. I respect that, as I hope they respect my non belief.
Perhaps it is just the circle of people on that site.
Honestly with respect for others is a good way of communicating. Otherwise you have to walk away.....
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that people aren't as polite as they used to be.
My military family also believed the same though Dad added in sex too. At least in polite company.
ReplyDeleteAnd the key was polite. Dad believed the opinions of others (no matter how stupid) should be respected. I hardly ever attend parties these days because of the abuse that happens in the name of conversation. It reminds me of being bullied in grade school or publicly shamed in high school. You would think people would grow up.
Here in my valley it is the right wing Republicans and the fundamentalist "Christians" I try to avoid. One of them corned me recently and berated me for being rude because I walked quickly away most times after a fast hello, nice to see you at the market.
There is also a lot of ignorance. It is as if people no longer take the time to research a subject like the one you mentioned - the 1967 borders. That has been the basis of every single negotiation in an attempt at peace in the middle east, but Obama said it out loud. We have become a world addicted to 10 second sound bytes and 10 second knowledge.
And, as Kate W, pointed out people are not polite any more. There are no manners, respect or consideration for others.
Great blog. I appreciate intelligence and thought whether or not I find agreement in all things. And, thingy said..., I delete the rude and ignorant.
Oh dear, I know what you mean. *deep sad sigh* I hold some strong beliefs in both politics and religion. Thankfully, I'm also educated in formal logic, so I know that arguments against the actual people involved are just smokescreens. Still, that doesn't make it any better.
ReplyDeleteSince I've been a teacher, I've learned more and more the value of keeping my own opinions unknown, and though I daresay my students could work out my beliefs if they really wanted to, I always make an effort to represent the other side (whatever side that might be) as fairly and positively as I can. Let's hope it's working.
:) *huggles*
I'm afraid I didn't have time to come back to this. Maybe just as well. The so called discussion is still going on over there (longest thread I've ever seen!) but I withdrew long ago at the time I wrote this.
ReplyDelete