You would be amazed by how many blog posts I’ve started and never posted in the last week. Some are completely written and ready to go. Others are nothing more than an intro. The one thing they all have in common though, is that they will never see the light of day.
See, writing is a form of therapy for me. And I often write when I’m upset about something. I spent much of the last week in a funk, and I’ve tried to convey my reasons for it in writing. I ultimately get frustrated, because I know what I’m writing will probably become fodder for people to argue and perhaps flame me. I enjoy levelheaded debates, but they are hard to find that on the Internet these days.
So instead, I write for myself. And then leave it as a draft, never to be posted publicly. Perhaps I should put my opinion out there on some things, and maybe — just maybe — someone will take a moment to think of things from a different point of view. But I found one thing to be very evident lately: there is a recurring belief that if you don’t agree with someone you’re clearly against them. I think that as a result of that, people are really quick to stand extra firm on how they feel, and will arbitrarily strike out against anyone who might have a different point of view. As a result of such strikes, I spent much of the last week licking my own wounds. Wounds made by words that were never meant to be aimed straight at me but that struck me hard. I have found myself pulling away from social media in general because of this.
I don’t mind other beliefs. I think that’s what makes the world go around. I especially think the differing of beliefs is one of the most amazing things about being an American. You have freedom of speech. You have freedom to be who you want to be. You have freedom to figure out a way to make things better.
What I do mind are broad sweeping prosecution of people who think differently. Just because someone thinks differently from you does not mean they are against you. I have a lot of friends who have vastly different approaches to life, love, religion, politics, etc. I think those perspectives are what make them uniquely them, and I’m willing to listen and accept them for the unique, beautiful person that they are.
Oh I’m not perfect. I’ve made my own statements out of frustration that come out as “broad sweeping prosecution” of others. And for that I apologize. I can’t promise it’ll never happen again, but I’m sure going to be more aware of it. Because at the end of the day, we are all in this messed up world together. And I, for one, have no interest in spending my days angry or feeling hurt, nor do I want to be the cause of that for others.
