At Least That’s My Opinion…

Sometimes it is hard to give an opinion on something because there is a tendency for others to view such opinions as judgments. For example, when asked, I normally tell people I am a vegetarian for health reasons. This is true, to an extent. However, I also don’t eat meat for ethical reasons. See? Right there. I lost some people. The word “ethics” implies judgment. Nobody says that they don’t like mustard for ethical reasons. There are simply those of us who think mustard tastes gross. Period. I don’t think anyone has ever felt that I had a feeling of moral superiority because I don’t eat mustard. Besides, if I didn’t eat mustard for ethical reasons, people would think I am a screwball. Make it meat, and I run the risk of being “holier than thou.”

Or take schools as another example. Sometimes, when I tell people that I send my kids to a private school, I get this look like, “Oh…public school not good enough for you?” Not categorically. I just think the philosophy behind the school to which I send my children aligns more closely with what I perceive to be best for my kids. It’s not a personal statement AGAINST anything but a personal statement IN FAVOR of something else.

That’s just the way of the world, I am afraid.

Sadly, this becomes relevant because there is a tendency…at least in this country, the United States of America…for opinion to be politicized by those with loud voices and hidden agendas. The act of politicizing every issue that enters the public realm has the immediate effect of polarizing the populace. This is an unfortunate phenomenon, but it is even more unfortunate that the general population continues to fall for it. And when we fall for the manipulation, we play the part that others want us to play.

And then we’re in that damn box again.

The antidote to this is simple: refuse to play the part that is being scripted for you. Refuse to align your thoughts and beliefs along party lines. Refuse to allow others to bring political alignments into conversations about corporate ethics or scientific morality. Avoid the trap of creating instant enemies by slapping a political party’s label on your ideas.

Give your opinion without passing judgment. It may be hard to do, but opinions, thoughts, and ideas are the fuel of human social evolution. Let the revolutionary ideas percolate up! There will be no change until the unhindered expression of thoughts and ideas is not just tolerated but embraced around the world.

At least that’s my opinion…