It gets wearying sometimes, holding minority views on politics and religion. I’m not just talking about the babbling idiocy and mendacity on talk radio or the editorial page. That’s certainly a problem, but what’s worse, I think, is when the people around you, family and friends, simply assume you believe what they believe. They might toss off a comment over dinner about the war, fully expecting universal agreement. Or they’ll forward you a proselytizing Christian email, assuming you’re already on board.
But suppose you don’t agree. If you have the temerity to voice dissent at the dinner table–even if you’re polite about it–you’re the one who’s seen as disrupting the peace. You’re the one who’s ruining the pleasant family get-together. You, not the person who just had to foist his oh-so-valuable opinion on everyone, not the person who turned the conversation to such a contentious topic in the first place.
And what about that proselytizing email? Doesn’t anyone out there stop to think it might be just the tiniest bit rude? Are people truly incapable of figuring this out for themselves? You don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, neither do you want to engage in the debate, nor disrespect someone’s deeply-held beliefs. You just want them to leave you out of it. Is that too much to ask?
Sometimes, love them as you may, you want to scream in their faces: Mind your own damned business, wouldya?! Didn’t your mother bring you up any better than that?
Other times, you know, it’s just wearying.
I am not like you.
