Lauren+C's+Op-Ed+Article



A Word on Narrow-Mindedness by Lauren Cacatian

Open your eyes. Look at the people around you, the objects that encompass you in your everyday life. No two buildings are exactly the same; no two trees look exactly the same; no person is built exactly the same. We live in a world full of diversity; where different cultures and religions have and are continuing to evolve. We have different outlooks and perspectives on various ideas, and (EUREKA!) the opinions of others may not be the same as yours. But we have to be accepting of one another and their assortment of views, and insulting somebody because of their ethnic or religious connections and beliefs gives you many enemies.

How in the world do you expect to live a full life and get the most out of the world if you can’t even be the slightest bit flexible towards hearing their side? Your beliefs are not at any rate higher nor more correct, so why on Earth do you think your set ways are better than anyone else’s? Atheists shan’t disrespect Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, or any other religion or belief in a higher power. I hear accusations pretty often along the lines of: “Christianity and Jesus are responsible for the right-winged conservatism in modern-day America.” WHAT?!?! Clearly, it is okay to disagree with religion, but to make general accusations about whatever you are opposed to makes you a bigoted moron. It can go the other way as well, of course. Those with plenty of Godly morals do not have to go sprinkling Holy Water or quote Corinthians 10:13 to those who would rather not have scripture shoved in their faces. I, unfortunately, have members in my extended family and relatives who despise homosexual marriage (and I guess homosexuality in general), and if I were to mention that I support gay rights, I would be properly disposed of in the Guzman/Cacatian Hall of Shame, right alongside all the family members who decided to roll with the Mexican Mafia or get knocked up before graduating high school (but I digress).

At a public forum last month, presidential GOP candidate Rick Santorum alleged that Obama was a “snob” for wanting everyone to go to college. He claimed that “not everyone should/is ready to go to college.” On an issue as important as national education, why WOULDN’T you want every child of the United States to get a post-high school education? Hey Rick Santorum- as president, are you going to throw out a bunch of Benjamins to every kid who decides to not go to any type of college, so that they can be set for the future? Unless you are willing to do just that, then I would highly recommend that you don’t degrade our sitting president for having reasonable ideals and values. And this doesn’t just apply to politics, it applies to adults in business, adults in general, and-oh yes- students of AmEx. Nobody can get away with stating their opinion during discussion without getting a surfeit of judgment and opposition, because everybody thinks that they are always right, and the disrespect is always emanate. We are only sixteen/seventeen and we think we know everything. Glorious. I can’t wait to see how you all act when you grow older.

I CANNOT STAND THIS. We should be allowed to express our attitudes and values without fear of being judged or unfollowed on Twitter. Open your damn minds, and stop retorting to every opinion with the unbearable sound of ignorance coming out of your mouths. Simply, it all just comes down to respect. To be successful in life, you might have to kiss a few asses and shake a couple hands that you deem filthy, but no way are you going to keep friends by disrespecting others' beliefs and ethics just because you think yours are superior.


 * “The open-minded see the truth in different things the narrow-minded see only the differences.”** -Anonymous