Sharing something I posted to social media a couple of weeks ago. I expected to get flamed but, wow, it seemed to resonate with people.
Friends,
A realization made me sad.
My social media feeds have dwindled to a trickle. It required reflection but the reason for the change became clear.
I have blocked many virtual friends.
The reasons for the blocks are numerous and varied but the explanation revolves around a central theme: Politics.
I am not, and never have professed to be a left-leaning liberal or a rightwing conservative. The First Amendment is immutable. As a card-carrying member of the Second Amendment support group, I support protecting the environment, women's rights to self-determination, smaller government, fiscal rigor, and prudent immigration laws.
None of these topics are mutually exclusive.
The binary nature of today's political landscape thwarts active and meaningful conversation. Consequently, I have not responded to postings that perpetuate a false narrative. To prevent flaming arguments, when a virtual friend repeatedly posted false narratives, they received a block.
I miss the ability to converse about many sides of a topic. I miss the concept of healthy debate. “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press …”
To summarize why my social media feeds have dwindled to a trickle, I wrote this:
Entitlement: 2020
You are entitled to your faith: May it make you joyous.
You are not permitted to tell me my faith is mistaken.
You are entitled to your privacy: Revel in the serenity.
You are not permitted to invade my privacy.
You are entitled to form opinions: Think deeply and be well reasoned.
You are not permitted to manufacture facts of convenience.
You are entitled to ignore facts: There is no requirement to accept reality.
You are not permitted to change facts to fit your opinions.
You are entitled to willful ignorance.
I am entitled to turn away from you with a sadness.
Rauirí
