With all the social media available, it's easy to get a more realistic image of a public figure these days. You see what they comment on, what they are going through, and what they believe in.
I think it's cool to be able to share our views, to let the world in on who we are and what is important to us. The UNcool part is when we get an opposing view and all of a sudden, we get angry or offended. In a PUBLIC forum, that is hilarious.
What inspired this thinking was an exchange I had with a local TV news reporter, whom I had great respect for, that didn't go well at all.
She had posted something about Kamala Harris that was nothing but positive, which was clearly because she was a graduate of the same college. Because I admire the local news folks waaaaay more than their national counterparts, I made a comment that I hoped would provoke thought. Something along the lines of "don't look deeper, because you would be disgusted".
I was trying to be nice about it, since I am aware of Harris' record as a prosecutor and her political rise, but not trying to judge, yet trying to open the eyes of someone who CLEARLY didn't see the truth. Despite her mentioning "truth" in her post. That's prolly what made me reply, to be honest. It's one thing to be a fan, ignoring some awful things about that person, but to outright lie is an action that we all should react to and not just pass by.
The "friend" responded with, "this is not the place to put negativity, and if you do, you will be blocked".
Well, it's not a surprise these days that folks are thin-skinned and react without thinking. I considered her position for a few seconds and replied to her reply, "It's ok, I'm out. Obviously 'truth' is a very fluid subject here".
I always consider tone and perspective when I write on any public platform or even in regular conversation. Those that know me well know I am respectful and polite, even if we are complete opposites in our ideas.
The part that bothered me was the fact that here was a smart, educated, well-positioned young lady that had the means and the tools to KNOW the truth, yet she ignores it based on skin color and gender... and the fact they are fellow alumni. That doesn't seem right, especially in these heated times.
By calling her out on it, she chose the easy and least conflicted way out. Just delete the person who put her in position to react to the REAL truth. That is how MANY folks handle issues these days, and it's not shocking to know that the issues don't ever go away or improve.
Will I miss seeing posts of this young lady? A little, since I enjoy the life experiences of a diverse crowd. Mostly, I feel sorry for her, since she will one day, if she is lucky, be faced with the reality of just who she puts up on a pedestal. It will be a sad time for her, but a good one if she learns to look a little deeper into those she admires...there are sooooo many deserving people out there.
If we ever get back to the days of mutual respect and seeking out real conversation, the world would be a far better place. We could learn more about what we don't know about, and have more informed opinions on the things we THINK we know. We could avoid the anger that comes from our own insecurities, and be friendly to those that agree to disagree. We could embrace our differences instead of fearing or hating. We could end wars before they start, and understand the challenges of those that come from far far away.
That sounds like a world I want to live in. How about you?
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