This week on Open Book Blog Hop we’re talking about what we believe to be true. For each of us, there are truths that have been ingrained in us from the very beginning of our lives.
I want to begin with Merriam-Webster’s definition of truth.
pluraltruths
play\ˈtrüthz, ˈtrüths\1a: archaic : fidelity, constancy 1b : sincerity in action, character, and utterance
2a (1) : the state of being the case: fact (2): the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality (3) often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality b: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true
3a: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality. 3b: chiefly British : true 3c: fidelity to an original or to a standard
4: capitalized Christian Science: god
As we are mired in and bogged down in this hostile political climate both sides have their own truths. Each side has a system of beliefs and each side believes the other side is lying. Here’s what I believe to be true.
1. We will always have people in opposition to our truths. There is nothing wrong with someone having an opposite opinion. It’s actually very interesting to see what someone on the opposite side of the debate believes. It makes us more well-rounded and informed.
2. That while our beliefs/truths are shaped by our up bringing, or our environment, so are those who oppose our beliefs/truths.
3. That it is wrong to harm or hate anyone just because they don’t believe the same way we do. The killings that have been happening because a certain group believes that those who love differently, believe differently or pray differently are wrong. I honestly fail to see how a man loving another man or a woman loving another woman affects my life negatively at all. But, having people around me who are happy and comfortable in their lives and living the way they want to live enriches my life in so many ways.
4. When we cut those who have different truths out of our lives, we become a very vanilla society. Part of learning and growing comes from people of differing thoughts and truths. If I fail to engage those people in conversation or in my life, I lose a perspective I would not have thought of and lose a dimension in my life that makes it fuller.
5. That each side of any debate believes their truths are the better truth, but that each side should still be able to peacefully co-exist and befriend each other if for no other reason than to live a fuller life.
6. It’s very sad to see people on social media hating or jumping down the throats of people who believe differently because there is a “safe cocoon” around them in the privacy of their own home. Recently my husband entered a political debate on a Facebook post, simply asking someone who believed in the advantages of the Affordable Care Act why they believed it was helpful because our experience lately has been just the opposite. A woman who he had never encountered on Facebook was vicious in her attack on his question to the point of name calling. Why? Why can’t a person ask a question without the fear of being accosted, even on social media? Why can’t this be the beginning of a conversation rather than a fight? It’s very sad.
What are your truths? Please feel free to join in by commenting on this post or by joining our hop by clicking the InLinkz link below!
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I always find it’s best to keep my opinions to myself, especially anything to do with religion, politics, and homosexuality. This is why I did a fun post this week; life’s easier that way!
I agree with you there Stevie.