Have you ever had one of those moments were you are just irrationally upset at someone else? I'm having one of those moments today. I'm not going to get into it much, but suffice to say politics came up in Bible study and I'm apparently the only person in the class who feels the way I do.
For the record, I'm too smart to air my views here. They have no place. They'd probably incite a riot of half people who agree with me and half who vehemently don't, and I'm so, so tired of the divisiveness of today's political atmosphere.
Sometimes I, like Rodney King, wonder, "Can't we all just get along?" Or I wonder "Am I such a bad person that you are willing to discount me thanks to a label you can conveniently stick on me?" You know what? It hurts my admittedly too tender feelings.
I've been brash in the past, I'll admit that. I'll even apologize if you'd like. I have opinions and haven't hesitated to share them especially when I feel passionately about something like public education. As I get older, I try to keep those feelings to myself. They're often not welcome. But they're still mine, still a part of me. If I can dearly love people who believe completely different things, then why is it so hard for some people to like me in spite of what I believe?
Okay, I'm going to bring this pity party to a close. I had to get some of these emotions off my chest so I could function today, and I have. Tears streak my face as I write because I'm sometimes such a wussy woman. I, like everyone else, just want to be liked--or at the very least respected. Just know and understand this: who I am and what I believe stems from my daily attempt not to judge others and to love others as I love myself. Hell, sometimes I'm pretty hard on myself, so I actually try to cut some slack for others.
And, you know what? About now I could use a little slack for myself.
*hugs*
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe that to be a well-rounded, good person deep down, one must practice tolerance. The best way I've learned to do that is to surround myself with a diverse group of people who feel differently than me and learn from them. It's worked really well for me so far, and I never stop learning. Being unable to accept differing viewpoints is, in my humble opinion, a sure way to become judgmental and close-minded.
I have seriously considered dropping the class, but I'm too stubborn. My problem is that I want to prove my point with resources and what-not but a) I don't have time to do that kind of research and b) this guy wouldn't listen anyway.
DeleteYou're right. I need to look at this as a continued exercise of my increased tolerance. I don't understand people who don't want to learn and grow from others.
"Sometimes I, like Rodney King, wonder, "Can't we all just get along?" Or I wonder "Am I such a bad person that you are willing to discount me thanks to a label you can conveniently stick on me?" You know what? It hurts my admittedly too tender feelings."
ReplyDeleteThis 100%!
I'll stick my neck out and say I believe we've been lead to polarization as a society and told dismissing those who hold different views is not only correct, but a duty to our own particular value group. It's easy for those in power to use us against each other to further their own aims when we refuse to listen, and when we see people as little more than how they differ from us. That state of affairs is disappointing. Any sensitive person would be hurt. I would and have been in similar situations.
I hope you never apologize for being forthright. I wish more people spoke out based on their own convictions, not what they've been told to think.
Back to lurk but had to comment on this as I hate seeing a thoughtful person hurt. Take care. :)
Thanks, Jenna. I get so frustrated. I figure the best solution is always somewhere in the middle, but I get so angry when people make blanket generalizations and dismiss entire groups of people. I get angry when any person is summarily dismissed.
DeleteGood to know I have a sister in sensitivity!
First of all, people worth your time will love you and treat you with respect and tolerance no matter what differences you have. I am fiercely liberal (hah- I said it!) and one of my dearest friends is fiercely conservative. We know that we both come from a place of good intent and intelligence and we just agree that our paths diverged somewhere but are both valid.
ReplyDeleteSecond, there is a Buddhist practice I once read about (see...crazy liberal) that may be of help here. Every time you are confronted by those emotions rushing in, take a moment to say a prayer of thanks: Thank you for giving me this person/situation/moment so that I can practice my acts of tolerance/acceptance/compassion. The more sincerely you thank your God- the sooner you can feel strong and at peace. It is amazing to me how well it works when you view those times as a gift and a chance to practice.
You're awesome- and I don't even know which way you lean politically. You are still awesome.
Thanks, Gina. I think I *really* needed that Buddhist practice when I was teaching high school. I had a lot of opportunities back then. A LOT of opportunities. I will try my best to incorporate it into the last few weeks of this class for sure. I can generally behave myself until people start making blanket statements. I don't like broad generalizations of any kind.
DeleteOh, and you're awesomer. (proof of my fancy English major)