How to handle our own moral dilemmas

[nomaco-10]

I have a neighbor who I have to deal with on a regular basis because we have taken on the responsibility of caring for another neighbor's two dogs and cat while she is deployed to the middle east for six months.

She called me today to tell me that our friend was relocated to Uzbeckistan and had arrived there safely. As is human nature, I made a very casual remark, something like "why there, I wonder?". To which she replies, because it's close to Afghanistan, I guess. That makes sense, I say, things seem to heating up there, did you here that nine children were killed there yesterday"? She then goes on this tyrade, "Well, they killed 3,000 of our citizens and they're in a war zone, so stuff like that happens, I really don't care!"

Stunned silence from my end, what do you say, oh, sure I could have said plenty, but nothing I could have said would have made any difference, she's a fundie rightwing bush* supporter, I'd just be wasting my breath, so since I live in such close proximity to her, I decided it was not worth the drama.

How many of us have to bite our tongues because of situations like this everyday, at work, family get togethers, even sitting at a restaurant or standing in line at the grocery store?

The very core of who I am, that part of me that hates and despises bush* and opposes this war, has to be stuffed down so often that I sometimes wonder if I'm going to choke to death.

[NJCher]

1. common sense

I don't think how you responded is a matter of morality; it's a matter of common sense. I did my graduate work on persuasion and in particular the matter of bias. To make a long story short, trying to change people's minds is a waste of time. I never even try. People have to come around on their own. That you know that is seen in this statement:

...nothing I could have said would have made any difference, she's a fundie rightwing bush* supporter...

Maybe you feel like you're suppressing yourself but IMO you're sparing yourself a useless confrontation. You can come here to be with people who are likeminded.

Bless you for taking care of the animals while their human is away.



Cher

[library_max]

2. You did the right thing.

Think about all the people you meet who don't try to convert you to their politics, their religion, etc. Then think about how annoying the few who do are.

There is a time and a place for everything. In public fora, political campaigns, editorial pages, etc., people expect to encounter political opinions that may not agree with their own. If you detect a "teachable moment" over the back fence, go for it, but otherwise you're not morally required to refute political statements you don't agree with.

[sweetheart]

3. Little does she know

That the dogs are the 1st and 2nd princes of exiatorizam a supraconscious kingdom that rules the earth, and as their honourable keeper, if you ask them kindly, they will grant you any wish for the foolishness of their insolent servant.

NEVER underestimate the power of the paw! :-)

God bless you.. you care for the holy tribe that keeps the peace.

kind regards,
-sweetheart