Latitudinarian~adjective. Tolerant of others beliefs and behaviours. Websters II New Riverside Dictionary.
This is me. Me now that I am in my fifties. Believe me, it was not me in my teens,twenties, thirties, and probably not even in my forties. Age does mellow one! In my youth, I was judgmental, sarcastic, intolerant,or as the country song says, “I wish I knew now, what I didn’t know then, back when I knew it all.” [probably slaughtered that somewhat, let's say I am paraphrasing, shall we?]
After perusing the GoErie readers forum, it gives me pause to think how very quick we are to criticize, judge, attack, name-call, find fault, blame…. Please, do not get me wrong, I have as far to go in evolving into a person of character as the next person. It just discourages me that we cannot seem to have intelligent discourse in this world without resorting to base emotion and belittling other’s points of view.
There are glimmers of hope out there. Bloggers who seek to enrich the conversation. Bring light to the topic. Support their argument with fact. Concisely state their point and do so without harming another. Has the degree of frustration, animosity, and even downright hatred gotten so severe in this country that we cannot show respect for each other?
But, what I know for sure is that you can stand for something, uphold your point of view, and give others space to do the same. Be a latitudinarian. Be the change.
Bravo! Well said, I cannot agree more strongly. So much to learn in life mostly that what we thought we knew may not be what we know.
O.