EDUCATE AND RELATE -- DO NOT HATE.

“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or a hostile universe.”

-- Albert Einstein

There is power in understanding interests. The more clearly you understand the other side’s concerns, the better able you will be to afford merit to their reason for taking their position. Look for intangible or hidden interests that may be important before judging that person negatively. With concrete interests like money, for example, ask what lies behind them.

A HYPOTHETICAL:

Consider the restaurant owner who is trying to operate efficiently as a business should, while maintaining excellent food product and superior service to his patrons...all while affording jobs to many in his community. The issue of Obamacare is going to impact him in a way he deems negative. He has checked the facts, trusted his intuition, sought reason, and come to the conclusion that Obamacare will cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars more a year to operate his business in order to insure his staff and this will force him to pass the cost on to his patrons, something he fears doing for he does not want to risk losing business – or cutting his employee payroll in half. These are valid concerns and one must give merit to his reason for taking his stand against Obamacare.

 Now consider the employee of said restaurant. An employee who works hard and in the economy truly values having a job at all but needs a job where he and his family are insured for health care. This employee has a child and that child needs special medical attention – possibly for the remainder of his life. How would this employee ever afford such medical attention were it not for the options Obamacare ensures this family? This employee has checked the facts, used his intuition, sought reason for making his decision to support Obamacare. This employee has a valid concern and one must give merit to his reason for taking his stand in support of Obamacare.

WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG?

The point is that what is MOST important to the restaurant owner may be in direct opposition with what is MOST important to the employee. Rather than hating one another for taking opposing views, they must empathize with one another, giving merit to each other's reasons for their opposing stands. It would be foolish for the restaurant owner not to be concerned about his business in light of the impact paying more to the government will make – would it not? It would also be foolish for the employee not to be concerned about affording the healthcare his child will need – would it not?

So remember to consider interests before negatively judging for the stand that person takes on any issue, especially one so heated as Obamacare has become. Understand that behind every hateful remark made is a human being whose life is not as yours is, whose needs may differ greatly from yours, and whose position may be in direct opposition from yours – but not without merit for his reason in taking that position.

We all know – and love – "the restaurant owner." We all know – and love – "the employee." Let’s think about another’s world view before we negatively judge them or their decision to oppose you or yours.

Educate and relate...do not hate.  Love never claims, it ever gives; love never suffers, never resents, never revenges itself. Where there is love there is life; hatred leads to destruction.

Thoughts?