What if I said that fish are a man’s best friend? Would you try to correct me and say that I was wrong? Would you try to explain to me and force me to believe that dogs are a man’s best friend? Would you say to me that if I didn’t believe you that everyone would just laugh?
What if I said I still liked to watch Barney? Would you laugh in my face and tell all your friends? Would you say that Barney is for little kids? Would you tell me that a being 17 year old should have grown out of that stage by now?
What if I said money didn’t matter at all? Would you ask why I worked, if not for the money? Would you tell me that money is what I need to live in America?
What if I said that swimming was the toughest sport to train for? Would you tell me that football is harder or cross-country or track? Would you yell at me for having an opinion? Would you say I was wrong for not believing you?
What if I said that my cell phone wasn’t important to me? Would you think lower of me because I didn’t treasure it like most teenage girls do? Would you think that maybe I just didn’t have enough money to get a nice cell phone?
What if I said that the present was just a dream, and, when we die, we wake up in
reality? Would you say that I was right but it isn’t my dream it is actually yours? Or would you think that I didn’t make any sense? Would you think that I needed to get some serious help?
What if I said that N*SYNC should make a comeback tour? Would you think I was joking? Or would you mock my taste in music? Would you tell me that they were old news and ignore me as I tried to tell you how good they still were?
What if I said I believed in UFO’s? Would you think I was insane? Would you think I needed mental help and refer me to guidance? Would you make fun of me behind my back and giggle as I walked by?
What if I said nothing happened after you died? What if I said that the war in Iraq is pointless? What if I said that gay marriage was ok? What if I said that there was no God? What if said America wasn’t truly the land of the free? Would you stare or glare or scold me for my beliefs?
But, what if I thought the opposite of everything I just stated? Does it matter either way? I don’t think it does. I have the right to believe whatever I want as a human. I am not saying that I think you should agree with everything that I have to say. What I believe is that even though you may not always agree with everyone you should still respect what he or she believes and in the end agree to disagree.
M. Finn