Can't We All Just Get Along?

I'm not a huge newspaper reader, every once in awhile I log onto our local newspaper website and will read the articles and different comments posted by other people in my area. I'm so often shocked at the hate and anger spewed on there. People become so mad when others don't agree with them. It makes me so sad! In schools I feel like we should learn how to debate (not yell, debate!). I know very few people who can have a conversation with another person on a topic they disagree on without getting mad. And often these conversations are nothing more then each party stating why they believe something without listening to the other person.

Whether it's religion, politics, where the town is going to spend it's money, to what is the right punishment for different crimes. It doesn't matter. Usually after reading the paper a few times I avoid it for awhile. It makes me so sad we don't know how to get along. That people are so intolerant of people that don't agree with them. The blessing in our country is at least we don't kill others that disagree. But we do yell, mock, name call and hate each other.

And don't get me wrong, I am by no means above this. I try and hope to be but when I see people twisting the facts and name calling on something I believe in, I get mad. I also get mad when people who have similar believes as me do the same. Why does no one know how to fact check? We hear something once, from a celebrity generally and we think it's fact. We rarely check sources, read up on topics. Before I speak, I try to check my facts, "did I hear this from a reliable source? Or was this just gossip or just how I 'feel'?"

It makes me mad to and wonder, why are our schools not teaching us this? In schools they just teach how to memorize; instead they should be teaching us how to search for facts and learn on our own. Some of the smartest people I know did poorly in school because they don't learn well by just having facts jammed into their heads. They require actual learning.

When I was in Junior High I started doing poorly in math, it had previously been one of my best subjects. After the teacher told my mom she didn't have time to teach me, my mom found me a tutor. I loved my tutor! She didn't just say 6 times 6 is 36 and expect me to just parrot back the facts, she showed my why. She used blocks, games and all sorts of different mediums to see how and why those "facts" are true. I wish my school did that more. I feel like schools are not teaching us how to learn but just how to memorize. That's not learning, a parrot can repeat back random facts. But when you actually LEARN something, now that is something neat.

"if you truly think Christians are as stupid as you say then why would you mock them and say so? Do you degrade a mentally challenge person to their face? Or mock a child for believing in Santa? No, so if you truly believe that they are "morons" then you are really heartless to be such a jerk to those people. Personally I don't think that Christians are dumb, just because someone disagrees with me doesn't make them stupid, I too am still learning, I don't know everything. And personally I fear people like you and where you are leading our country with your hate and lack of tolerance. It seems like (from your posts) that anyone who doesn't agree with your opinions is a "moron" (does that mean you know everything?). I'm sorry you dislike everyone who disagrees with you. Must be an angry, sad way to live."

The above was a response to multiple posts by a man who every time called someone a moron when they didn't agree or understand what he was saying. It makes me sad that we name call instead of trying to teach one another. And if we did believe that someone was stupid then we shouldn't name call but slow down and help them learn!

I wish people would have more tolerance for one another. Both Christians and non Christians. We as Christians need to remember God's word is powerful, we don't need to force it on others because God's word is powerful in itself. We need to encourage others to read it and see for themselves. To read it and learn, to ask questions; yes, ask God questions about things. If they truly seek then they will learn who God is, and not just memorize what others have said.

I will come across a passage that I don't understand, or remember something I "learned" (memorized) in Sunday school. Do I believe this? If I do, why do I? How does this fit into what I know about God? I start talking to God about it, I read up on it, read cross sources, read commentaries on it, discuss it with others and when I come out the other end, after I have learned about that passage, I understand and I remember for myself. Then if someone asks me about it, I'm not just parroting and answer, I truly have learned about it and have reasons for my beliefs. But I need to have grace with others, I went through a process to learn that. Hearing it from someone wasn't enough, I had to go learn it for myself and I need to have the patience and grace to allow others to learn it for themselves as well.

I hope what I am saying makes sense. Again, I am far from where I wish to be on this. My emotions often rise quickly and respond quicker then my logic. I still need to learn to take a deep breath and realize that whoever I am speaking to is a human being. They have the beliefs they do because of the narrative of their lives. Yelling, name calling, being mean is not going to help at all. Instead we need to all try to calm down and have a real honest conversation where we share our ideas but more importantly LISTEN! When someone listens to me, like a friend who listens to me vent or share, I feel like they care, that they aren't judging me but honestly listening. It makes me desire to hear from them as well. I know this isn't always the case, but we are called to love others, to help them feel loved. Listening is an amazing way to start.