The nice part about having my own column in the newspaper is that I can pretend like everybody cares about my problems, write about them, and have them published. It’s a pretty sweet deal.
I love being editor of the Opinion page too. I love listening to other people’s opinion on subjects. I’ve always wanted to have a special segment of the paper dedicated to letters to the editor, but we haven’t had enough feedback to actually keep it going.
The best part of people’s opinions, are that they sometimes conflict. I find it amazingly interesting to get the point of view of two different people on the same subject, especially when they are passionate about the subject. I find that listening politely to someone’s argument, whether you agree with it or not, is the best policy for effectively learning about both sides of a subject.
There are subjects, though, where people are a little too passionate. When people start talking about these arguments, I usually choose not to listen, and walk away. It’s the safest option sometimes. It’s sad that even bringing up these subjects can send people into a violent rant on the subject, and how wrong the opposing argument is. It’s perfectly acceptable to disagree with someone’s opinion, but to ridicule and belittle someone for their opinion is plain ignorant. It shows a level of immaturity that says that you aren’t ready to argue about the topic yet.
I find it disheartening that these topics cause so much unrest in people that I was told I would be censored if I even remotely mentioned them in this article.
I understand that people feel strongly about some topics, but the anger and hate that some people profess to having towards opposers of their beliefs.
When I was at a Grand Rapids Art Musuem festival, I met a Ms. Steele. Ms. Steele was an author, who wrote for magazines, but also had her own book on teaching. She told me that her favorite thing to study was the "Third Side". She explained to me that the Third Side is the part of the argument that neither other sides take into consideration. She told me about how silly it was for someone to completely disregard the points that the opposing side of an argument has, believing instead that you should listen to both sides of an argument, and then fromulate your own opinion.
Dictionary.com defines an opinion as: "A personal view, attitude, or appraisal." Personal. An opinion is personal. It is something that you hold to yourself, and believe by yourself. Not something others need to believe in. Dictionary.com also defines it as: "A belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty." Opinions are not facts. Everyone is entitled to believe what they wish.
Try to listen to someone else’s opinion on something today, and don’t judge them. See how it works for you.
