How do you handle it when you have a difference of opinion from someone else?
There are times I think I handle it well. I have a good friend with whom I frequently disagree, especially about politics. Sometimes people come to our book club just to watch the heated discussion they know my friend and I will be having. We argue and debate. We get passionate. But in the end we are still friends and we are able to let things go. I believe it's because we approach our discussion with mutual respect. The fact that we disagree doesn't mean we think the other person is stupid. We don't call each other names. We don't bring in irrelevant events to try to prove the other person is lacking in intelligence and so their argument can't be valid. I believe I have a healthy dialogue with this woman. We are friends who work well together in our church callings. We choose to get together for game nights. Despite our political differences, we remain friends.
Maybe my friend deserves more of the credit here than I do.
Because there are other people I don't argue with as respectfully. There are some people who choose to attack when they disagree. Sometimes I can remain in control and be polite in these disagreements. Sometimes I lose it. Sometimes I get right down in the mud with that person. Even if I win the argument, I come away feeling dirty.
This is how I feel about my last post. I responded to a post by a fellow blogger. And I did so badly. Something she said struck a nerve. I did not intend to be unkind in my response, but I was. I had a juvenile moment and attacked. Not my shining moment.
I disagree with her point of view. I believe women should be told they are of worth no matter how they look. I believe women should be told they are wonderful even if they choose to spend the whole day in their pajamas. I believe we should do all we can to build women up. I believe we should strengthen each other and back up a woman's right to choose her own path. I want women to feel the freedom to be whoever they want to be, regardless of society's dictates. And that includes my fellow blogger.
Because I fought back in an immature way, my message was lost. And I did not offer this woman the same support I was arguing for. Sometimes I get so frustrated by women thinking they have to be what society tells them to be that I forget some women actually choose that route because it's right for them.
This woman has made choices in her life because she felt they were right for her. More power to her. I believe all women should be able to choose for themselves and with far less judgment.
I apologize for letting my emotions overtake my manners. I apologize for being unkind. I apologize for not arguing her right to choose for herself because I didn't agree with her choice.