Now I need to preface my stream of thoughts with this guy was having a conversation with the people at his table. He wasn't talking overly loud, I just have good hearing. My short-term issue of a ruined lunch could have been avoided by asking our server to move us to a different table.
This man had an opinion about everything. He talked about the federal reserve, immigration reform, diamond minds and ebola. But it wasn't so much as he had an opinion, but his delivery of the monologues (because they weren't truly conversations) was that what he was saying was fact. I am not a betting person, but I would be pretty confident that 1) he didn't get his information from informed sources 2) he would be 80 percent wrong in his opinions. I would also bet that if asked, this would be the type of man who think the Packers made a mistake when trading Brett Favre. (Yes, I'm generalizing and pointing fingers.)
It was really hurtful sitting through this, listening to the uninformed nonsense spilling from this man. I muttered something under my breath at one point, I'm not sure what exactly, but the general thought was he is dumb and racist. My mom caught wind of it and after I explained what was going on she looked uncomfortable. She knows I have very strong opinions, and I have had moments where my dad and I have gotten into verbal sparing over political issues.
Like others, I generalize. In reality, maybe this guy has some goodness in him. Maybe he loves his mother and is really nice to puppies. However, what I was not incorrect about was his ideals and opinions were uninformed and racist. And the one time that a young man who was eating with him challenged him, he couldn't support his argument anymore. His response? You should be on FOX News! (Oye)
We generalize and form opinions without education because it has become hard to find untainted information. There's such a wealth of information without the application to create unbiased knowledge. We're all guilty of it ... I don't seek out news and research current events. I'd rather read the likes of the Divergent series, go through Pinterest or watch unimportant YouTube videos. Today (through facebook) I saw a photo of the cop who killed Michael Brown. My first thought? "I can't believe how young he is." And, "I wonder if this could have been avoided with better training."
I won't pretend to know anything about this case. Because of the subject matter, I shut it off and have avoided it. (Yes, that's wrong too.) But, seeing the continued aftermath of the issues in Ferguson, Missouri I feel sad. Because I'm afraid that the situation could happen in nearly any community in the US. I am disheartened that there is still so much injustice in this world based on the color of your skin, your economic status, religion, sexual orientation .... you name it, really. As a society we are not accepting or welcoming towards things that are different from ourselves. Sometimes it feels like if you're not a rich, white man, you're already losing.
I know I am not in the majority when it comes to a lot of my opinions. There are many times that in my family or my circle of friends I feel like I'm the one in left field. But I don't what's worse, standing up for what you believe in, even if you can't change an opinion or an outcome or remaining silent just because it's easier?
