Opposing Views

 

What was your favorite movie? What was your favorite book? What was your favorite song? What was your favorite television show? What was your favorite meal? What was your favorite vacation? Who was your favorite teacher? Who was your favorite pet? Who was your favorite parent? Who was your favorite partner?

The list goes on and on…

Yet we might not agree on all these personal favorites? You might love ‘The Sound of Music’ but I don’t. You might love ‘Harry Potter’ while I love ‘Peter Pan’. You might love the ‘Beatles’ while I love the ‘Stones’. You might say your first wife was the best and I’ll just smile.

We all have personal taste and different references occur at different times with all of us.

If you see a television show or read a book that I have not seen, would you explain it to me or just dismiss as not being up-to-date in the culture. Is it a badge to wear to prove you are hip and with-it until the next cool trend comes along and we scrabble to catch up? When do you learn we can’t dance like that anymore?

Some writers or artist or dancers or singers might express a thought or idea that can be expanded on with an open mind. Some might be an enlightening discussion or could become a bigoted argument. The best selling Bible has been read and taught but everyone has different interpretations that can cause angry debate or conflict.

A good debate can be thought provoking but there are those who just want to argue for no purpose than to argue. Social media has more than flamed the disputed values (the social media is ‘us’).

Everyone has an opinion on every issue. Some are based on research and logic and some is based on bias. We can present our points and agree to disagree and walk away.

Does that satisfy us? Does it hurt our pride to think we might be wrong, but with no reason to change our thoughts? Opposing views doubts our decision-making. If this opinion is wrong, what about others? Without a context, one is left with wonder or possible anger.

Perhaps we just like to disagree?

We shout about ‘our’ team being better than ‘your’ team, while neither of us play on the team but wear all the merchandise. We compare Paris Hilton to Kim Kardashian as who is the best. We sink into debt to impress each other with what your kids will put in a Yard Sale.

Unless you write books (or a blog) and appear on shows that will tape your response and upload it to the YouTube library for others to search, you will be remembered for your name, birth and death date. You might leave behind a monument or a street named after you, but in 100 years the monument will be melted down and the name changed because the next generation is offended.

You can agree with me or disagree with me.