I prefer to look at it as I see the best in people and give the benefit of the doubt. That I'm not harsh, judgmental, cynical or unforgiving.
Sometimes someone I shouldn't have given the benefit of the doubt to shows me their true colors and I get hurt. But I also learn something. A couple of years ago someone I thought was a good friend to me showed me some things about herself that I decided I couldn't reconcile in order to remain friends with her. I realized I couldn't trust her and I need to have friends I trust.
With everything I deal with in my life, I just don't have the energy to pretend to be OK with someone I don't trust. Or who I think are just mean. But in general, I am a very trusting person.
The reason I'm thinking about this right now is largely due to the presidential election earlier this week. It was a hard-fought battle and people have expressed very passionate opinions on both sides. I expressed my own firmly held beliefs right here.
But I have been arguing my beliefs with members of my own family, including my husband who loves to play devil's advocate. Not that he totally disagrees with me, but Mark has pointed out this "issue" of maybe being too trusting and naive about some things.
Late on the night of the election I wondered if now that Obama has been RE-elected, if people could embrace and respect him. I asked this question on both Twitter and Facebook.
My thinking is that if the majority of voters want Obama as President AGAIN, maybe there is something to that, and maybe he is actually a GOOD President.
That's not totally unreasonable, is it?
The first opposing response I got was:
The other comment was:
Both the person quoted above and I question each other's sources of information. He highly reveres and respects Glenn Beck. I have actively avoided him. I feel that he is an extremist and an alarmist. This person thinks he only seeks the truth.
Truth is different for everyone.
I don't understand how they can feel the way they do, and I know they don't understand why I feel what I do. It's all very hard to reconcile.
I really don't think I am someone who shelters herself from information she might not want to hear. I don't watch the news as much as I used to, but only because I don't feel the need to hear about every single rape, murder or fatal car accident. It hurts my mommy heart too much. But I am online enough to hear about many other things.
As of now, President Obama has given me no reason not to trust him. I've seen only a caring, thoughtful, decisive and steadfast man. I've gotten no oogy vibes when listening to him speak. There has been nothing scandalous that I can point to and say, "Ooh, he's a bad man!"
Besides, we will do all of this again in just 4 more years, with brand new candidates. HERE's some excellent perspective if you need it.
Maybe I am naive and too trusting. But I think I'd rather be that than un-trusting, negative and angry all the time.
Sometimes someone I shouldn't have given the benefit of the doubt to shows me their true colors and I get hurt. But I also learn something. A couple of years ago someone I thought was a good friend to me showed me some things about herself that I decided I couldn't reconcile in order to remain friends with her. I realized I couldn't trust her and I need to have friends I trust.
With everything I deal with in my life, I just don't have the energy to pretend to be OK with someone I don't trust. Or who I think are just mean. But in general, I am a very trusting person.
The reason I'm thinking about this right now is largely due to the presidential election earlier this week. It was a hard-fought battle and people have expressed very passionate opinions on both sides. I expressed my own firmly held beliefs right here.
But I have been arguing my beliefs with members of my own family, including my husband who loves to play devil's advocate. Not that he totally disagrees with me, but Mark has pointed out this "issue" of maybe being too trusting and naive about some things.
Late on the night of the election I wondered if now that Obama has been RE-elected, if people could embrace and respect him. I asked this question on both Twitter and Facebook.
My thinking is that if the majority of voters want Obama as President AGAIN, maybe there is something to that, and maybe he is actually a GOOD President.
That's not totally unreasonable, is it?
The first opposing response I got was:
I don't believe in big government. I don't want the government telling me what to do and how to spend my money. I do not believe in re-distribution. If it's yours, you should be able to do what you like with it. Socialized medicine is not a good thing. Talk to someone that has been forced to live with it. The older and sicker you are, the less likely you are to get the best care possible. We already have a program for people who can't afford insurance, it's called Medicaid. The Bin Laden thing was a work in progress long before he came to office, I know this from someone who actually worked on it. I own a small business. If my business makes $250,000 or more a year, even if I don't take a salary or see any of that money, I am considered rich and will be taxed as if I were.To which I replied, "So it's just all about money then. There's more to life than that." All I got back was, "Whatever!!"
The other comment was:
I respect the office but absolutely not this President. He has an ideology that is contrary and dangerous to this country and our constitution. He routinely proves himself to be a pathological lier. For what he did, or I should say, did not do, in Benghazi, Libya I hope he is impeached and prosecuted. I spent 4 years in the military and 30 years in law enforcement fighting for right against wrong and your right to free speech; please don't ever give that up; because this president is coming after it. You just don't know it yet.I have made no response to this. I can't find the words.
Both the person quoted above and I question each other's sources of information. He highly reveres and respects Glenn Beck. I have actively avoided him. I feel that he is an extremist and an alarmist. This person thinks he only seeks the truth.
Truth is different for everyone.
I don't understand how they can feel the way they do, and I know they don't understand why I feel what I do. It's all very hard to reconcile.
I really don't think I am someone who shelters herself from information she might not want to hear. I don't watch the news as much as I used to, but only because I don't feel the need to hear about every single rape, murder or fatal car accident. It hurts my mommy heart too much. But I am online enough to hear about many other things.
As of now, President Obama has given me no reason not to trust him. I've seen only a caring, thoughtful, decisive and steadfast man. I've gotten no oogy vibes when listening to him speak. There has been nothing scandalous that I can point to and say, "Ooh, he's a bad man!"
Besides, we will do all of this again in just 4 more years, with brand new candidates. HERE's some excellent perspective if you need it.
Maybe I am naive and too trusting. But I think I'd rather be that than un-trusting, negative and angry all the time.
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