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Hi kids,
How many of you have felt the pain of losing a friend because both of you took a strong stance on an issue and refused to be flexible? Some of you would nod your heads.
Standing by what you believe in is not a sin. We all have our own set of beliefs and ideas. But this does not mean that they should be imposed on others. Differences might crop up for a lot of reasons. But accepting each other as individuals with a right to differ in opinion is important.
Many problems that we see around us in the world are the result of differences of opinion and the refusal to accept opposite points of view. Little does one realise that the seeds of intolerance are sown very early in life when we disregard the opinions of our friends and claim that only what we believe in is right. In this way, we can lose friends. Just because they dare to differ from your given set of values doesn’t make them lesser human beings. They are as much entitled to their viewpoint as you are to yours.
Some of the bloodiest wars and feuds in history have been the result of people blindly following a certain ideology and discarding every thought that does not fit in with their beliefs. That is why those in favour of peace say that warring parties should hold negotiations so that they can put forward their points of view and can listen to those of the other side. That is the only way a satisfactory solution can be found.
We can make a start on an individual level by realising that our differences are an opportunity to bring us closer to one another and do not have to be the means of tearing us apart. We can listen to and understand each other.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ed
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