Random rants and ramblings...

You know what I always thought but just recently might be able to put into words? People who claim to be open-minded, but are only open to THEIR view. I think being truly open-minded is seeing and understanding all sides of an issue. With the election still being recent and all, I notice a lot of political bashing. I call myself an independent and despise the workings of the 2 party system, but I don’t want to get into all of that right now.

But anyways, I just have to notice that people of the Democratic party often see themselves as more open and are condescending to those who are Republicans. Maybe it’s because some equate “liberal” with progress, maybe it’s because people think Dubya is a hick. I’m not sure. It’s true that this I’m Better Than You mentality goes both ways though. I encourage and love debates about what side of an issue may be better for us. But saying that someone is wrong for opposing gay marriage or off-shore drilling or whatever is, well, wrong. It’s just a different idea with different consequences, positive and negative.

The so-called open minded people will tell others with differing views, “But see, you just don’t understand…” As if these people are all ignorant. Well, let me tell you that some people happen to CHOOSE their stances. Just because someone sticks with the traditional view of something doesn’t make them completely non-progressive and in position to ruin the world.

There are the greenies too, that think all people who drive Hummers or eat meat are being closed-minded to changing the world. Not so. I love my environment and animals very much, more than most, but I love my burgers and trucks too. This is my choice. I see your argument as well,  and respect it. So respect me.

You don’t even want to get me started on religion. A song by NoFX got me thinking about this. I enjoy some of their music, but a few songs they have highlight a lot of views I see around me. They don’t hesitate to admit that they think Christians are stupid and blind. What they don’t see is that many people who have chosen that religion have done just that, CHOSEN it, by research, meditation, etc. Same goes for any religion. If something is bringing people closer to God and making them a more peaceful person, why would you attack them?

Again, there are opinions which are great to hear and reflect on. It’s just those that are downright rude to people who choose certain lifestyles. Remember, being open-minded is seeing and understanding all of these views in a way. It’s not just pushing for something different and hatin’ on all people with another view.

People also think that being open-minded includes veering away from the “mainstream”. Take the high school stereotype: the punker kids asked the preppy kids to be more open minded to their green hair and different music, all the while bashing the preppy kids for their Abercrombie or whatever. Again, being truly open-minded would be accepting the other person either way and looking at them as another person, like you. So the high school stereotype finds its way into adult life after this in other ways. 

So, if you are closed-minded, just don’t try to play it off as open-mindedness. If you really want to open up people who are supposedly closed off to what’s “right”, the best way is to be kind to them and show them the benefits of whatever you endorse. Hate speech against how stupid and/or ignorant they are will NEVER get them to your side.