Different is Wrong

Hot take: It's perfectly ok to dislike someone simply because they have a different opinion than you. In today's delicate/heated/WTF is going on political environment, we often see people encouraging being accepting of different opinions, and in most cases, I'll agree. But if I'm keeping it real, if you back 45, I don't like you. And I think you're a bad person. And quite frankly, you are.

That goes in direct contrast to accepting different viewpoints. And I don't care. The only reason people who do support 45 claim its political - that its close minded to not accept them, is because they need to justify their ways. They don't have a defense for the wrongdoings of our current administration. Because there are no justifications. the go to is simply "well you're close minded" and "you only want to talk to people who think like you do." I love talking to people that have different viewpoints than I do. Let's chat a woman's right to choose, let's discuss gay marriage - the discussions are lively and often times, I learn something. But I have no desire to discuss anything with someone who thinks there is any reason to support a bigot. There's simply nothing to discuss, you're not making good choices, and that's a reflection of who you are inherently.

We've seen the facts - literally from his own mouth - 45 is not a good person. He's unqualified, ignorant, racist, an admitted sexual abuser and he's just bad for America (and the world). If you defend this person, even on the basis of political policy, you are also a bad person.

It's ok to be Republican and not support 45 - there's no loyalty to be had there. And there's no party disloyalty by not accepting someone who crumples the values you stand for. It's beyond political party - and honestly, he's making Republicans look really bad. Why would you want that of your party? The recovery alone from this non wavering support is going to be insane. Just another reason parties as a whole are absurdly ineffective and ancient practice. We don't need them.

I get it, that may seem as if I'm ignorant and hateful - but here's where you're wrong. What's going on right now, it's not ok. And in the future, when he's gone, we will know who stood on the side of wrong. And it will affect you in the future. You cant outrun being a bad person.

When people are wrong - and just plain horrible people - we need to stand against that (and those who support it). It's ok to not accept a viewpoint of hate. And it makes you a good human being for recognizing something so horribly wrong that you have to say to someone, I do not accept your different viewpoint.

Because I don't. I don't accept that you feel ok supporting someone who flat out admits sexually assaulting women simply because he can. I don't accept that you can justify a man who put children in camps after ripping them from their families. I don't accept you for believing it's ok that a man makes racist remarks from the office of the white house. I don't accept that viewpoint and I don't accept you for it. You are wrong, and you are embodying these horrible views.

Stating that you aren't racist/sexist/an abuser - but still supporting someone in power who is these things, that doesn't work. You are these things because you won't stand against them. Just because you've never outwardly acted in such a way doesn't mean you're against them. Enabling those that do, makes you part of the problem. It makes you just as bad.

It's not a difference of politics at this point. It's not a difference of opinion. It's wrong. Americans deserve better - and as the leaders of the free world, we owe everyone else more too.

I am not close minded because I don't accept your support of a traitor, criminal, sexual predator. You are ignorant and hateful because you can't see the problem with supporting such a person. Realistically, you don't see the problem with your actions either from a lack of education or a lack of exposure to the situations minorities face - and that's no longer an excuse either. Simply being ignorant or from a time where things were different - that's not a viable excuse.

It may not matter to you if you're shown in history as someone who is wrong, but it matters to me. Because as a person who wants better for the future, I care how I exist in the now. And I don't care if you think I'm a bad person for thinking you're a bad person. I know what's right and hate isn't right.

This one may lose me some friends and followers - and that's ok. Being a better person matters to me more than a couple friends who aren't people I should spend time with anyways and please, if I'm doing this for the followers, I'm failing. Like three people read this thing, and two are related to me.

Headphones On.

As much as I've always been perceived as someone with supreme confidence, I do have moments of weakness where I worry about what other people think of me.  At work, in the family, with friends - I'll get stuck in a what do they really think of me phase and what I have started to remind myself is:

"What other people think of me, is none of my business"

Let that sink in.  We often talk about things that are nobody else's business but what about the things that are none of your business?  For the most part, what other people think of you has a whole lot more to do with them than it does you.  And regardless of who you are, chances are, someone has said something unkind about you.  At work, in our personal lives - its human nature to have opinions about other people.  Realistically, know those things aren't going to aid you in being a better you.  So make them none of your business.

In the workplace, I am a force.  I have incredibly high standards for myself and quite frankly, not everyone has the same standards for themselves.  That makes me a target for people who can't or don't want to keep up.  

On social media, I am vocal.  I have strong opinions regarding social and political issues and I'm not afraid to stand up for those opinions.  That makes me a target for people who love to argue.

In my personal life, I am a firecracker.  I'm the loudest person in the group and I'm always talking.  That makes me a target for people who aren't as spirited.  

I'm not a blend into the world type of human.  I've had a lot of people say a lot of really awful things about me in every facet of life.  Sometimes I let it get to me, but more often than not I understand that when you're someone who reuses to fade into the crowd, a lot of people are going to try and bring you down.  Let them.  That's none of your business.

"Lions don't concern themselves with the opinions of sheep."

It's the most cliché quote in the whole book when it comes to gossip - but it's something I repeat to myself as often as possible.  The real leaders, the dreamers that turn into doers, the best people - they're kind, they're focused, and they know that what other people say about them, is none of their damn business.