I often have interesting conversations at work and I learn stuff, it’s GREAT!
I’ve had some real light bulb moments and here is one of them.
A regular said that he didn’t agree with everything Charlie Kirk said, but he agreed with some of it.
So I asked what he agreed with.
His reply was that he thinks there are only two genders…
So, rather than get into that complicated, yet actually simple discussion (these people are real and deserve human rights) I asked a question:
‘Do you wish these people any harm?’
Of course he didn’t.
He did get a little defensive and started telling me he has gay friends and works with a transgender person etc. But doesn’t wish them any harm. Cool, cool cool.
So instead, we talked about how people like Charlie Kirk DO wish harm on the LGBTQIA+ community. Not only them, but people of opposing political beliefs, religions, sex and race.
He actively sought harm, wanted to sow division and dressed it up as debate and opinion.
Also, by ‘harm’ I mean a range of things. Denying certain groups human rights, changing laws to restrict freedoms, deportation, prison and creating a more hostile environment generally.
People who agree with him might feel emboldened to harass people on the street and make the lives of minority groups Hell.
The victims of these attacks might even die or be murdered. No exaggeration.
So what I realised is, there are clearly lots of people out there that don’t understand the consequences and domino effect of people like Charlie Kirk spouting hate.
They don’t wish harm on minority groups, they tolerate them (I hate the use of ‘tolerate’ here) and feel that their opinion is valid, so long as they’re not actively causing or seeking to cause direct harm.
It’s like not agreeing with a religion, but allowing religious freedom.
So anyone that challenges their view or is punished for having similar views is seen as an extreme reaction.
‘Like, it’s just a difference of opinion maaan!’
Except, it’s not.
But I now understand why people with those views might feel attacked or feel that their ‘opinions’ aren’t valid, when to them, they’re simply putting their thoughts forward and then ‘punished’ for it.
Having your opinions challenged isn’t a punishment btw.
This conversation helped me understand opposing viewpoints, so thought I’d share in hopes that others might too.
I don’t like it, but if tolerance is the best we can get, then I’ll take it!
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