Do you know HOW to think?

    I love my Facebook, I use it for so many things.  Originally it was to keep in touch with people I wouldn't normally be able to.  At one point I used it to play games.  But lately with all that is going on in the world I use it for news. I now have many "friends" from around the globe. It is exciting to go on there and see posts from people that I have to use a translator to read.  

     Today a friend posted a comment to a page that I used to get posts from and curiosity got me so I popped over for a visit. I also posted my opinion of the post using the reply under his comment. While he and many others understood me perfectly the Admin. from the page refused to even acknowledge that my opinion could have any merit.  I only pointed out that in the end things could backfire and what they look at as the answer to the problem could be used against their cause.  Which by the way is something I care Very Deeply about.  And that got me thinking...

    I was raised by a single mother who I personally think did an awesome job.  I think the best lesson she ever taught me was to THINK for myself.  I remember having many discussions with her where she took the opposite opinion.  She made me explain my reasons and then she would explain hers. What I didn't realize at the time was that she was teaching me HOW to think!  She used every opportunity to make me use my brain.  But there was another lesson in there that until recently I didn't see. Tolerance of others, see when we won't listen we lose an opportunity to learn. Sometimes we even alienate people who agree with us. We are so blinded by our personal opinions that there is no room for honest debate. 

      

     

Peace Rallies, Labels, and Intolerance

    I am against the US involvement in the Syrian Civil War. For many reasons and I'm sure that I will post about that another time.  Today I want talk about my experience of going to a protest, and how the people I met helped me understand that labels only serve to make us intolerant of others. 

     My husband and I took our 11y/o to the protest, it's not his first and won't be his last. He has a passion for it, he learns the facts, and he wants to change the world.  It was a wonderful mix of people from the ages of 11 to a gentleman I would estimate to be in his 60's and all ages in between. We were a diversified group getting together to AGREE on this one thing. It is an amazing feeling when you stand up for what you believe in. 

     

We met some really great people that we of course added to our Facebook.  Which leads me to "Labels and Intolerance".  As I mentioned we were a diversified group and if you have a Facebook you know how it's basically a look at who you are.  My Facebook friends have always been a mix of faiths, political beliefs, and alternative lifestyle kind of people. If I had to label myself I'd be an earth loving, tree-hugging, liberal, vegan, hippie.

     I feel like knowing and getting information from such a wide range people gives me a unique perspective, along with a well rounded view. I respect others opinions, and sometimes we realize that we have more in common with those who label themselves in a different way. 

     So WHY do we need those labels, aren't they at this point dividing us further?  At the risk of sounding like a "Conspiracy Theorist" (ya I forgot that one for my label list)  isn't that Exactly what "they" want?  You have heard it all your life "divide an conquer" but you never knew they were talking about you and I did you?  I saw this quite clearly looking at the posts of my new FB friends.  I saw how different we all are and how some of our views will put us on opposing sides in the future. I can accept that, I won't even be surprised if one or two decide that our views are to different to keep me as a friend. But just maybe they won't by into labels anymore either. 

     I hope your not fooled into labeling yourself, or the people around you. I hope that you can find some common ground with people who seem to be completely different from you. After all, we all come into and go out of this world in the same way, and in between all we really want is to be happy.