The all or nothing attitude [View All]

[cynatnite]

One of the things which has struck me as odd on DU more so than anyplace else is the all or nothing attitude some take when it comes to politicians, celebs, religious figures, friends, family or any other group a person cares to name.

When I like someone or respect someone, I do not expect their views or beliefs to coincide exactly with mine. I like Clinton, but I don't agree with his religious views. It didn't dissuade me from voting for him.

I voted for Kerry even though I wished he would've been anti-war and said that gays should be allowed to marry. I like him, still do and I still believe he'd make a good president.

I like Billy Graham. He's always been very consistent in his views and I am relieved he hasn't been active in these hotbed political/religious times. I think he would have been burned at the stake for saying that 'fuck' didn't bother him, but taking the lord's name in vain did. He did say that curse words have never bothered him.

What I'm saying here is that it seems we do ourselves a disservice by completely dismissing a person whether its any public figure, friend or family when they don't vote for the person we think they should or don't view the world in exactly the same way as we do.

I don't know about anyone else, but I find the concept of cutting off family, friends, or anyone else for differing views as intolerant. The very thing many of us abhor.

I tear my hair out over my mother's views. It drives me nuts, but if I were to cut off my relationship with her or any other member of my RW extended family, I would miss them. They are loving, kind, funny, honest and so much more.

I have one neighbor who is the walking poster child of RW talking points and the few times we do discuss politics we both quit when it starts to get too heated. When my husband was injured, they were there for us when it counted. We couldn't have made it without their willingness to watch the kids when he was in the hospital and to make sure a meal was waiting after a long day at the hospital or during his rehab.

Underneath the skins of most repubs, dems and others (well, except for Delay and his type) are humans. They go through many of the same trials and tribulations as is does the rest of us. I don't expect their views or beliefs such as marriage, social justice or any other issues anyone cares to name to be the same as mine.

Maybe someone can explain this to me.