What You Give Is What You Get

Never did I think that I would be met with such intolerance. And not just that, but that it would come from within my own family.

As defined in the dictionary, intolerance means the "unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs..." This is exactly what I have been met with over the last few months, although I thought that it had been somewhat tamed as of late. I guess I was wrong.

Last night, I received a forwarded e-mail entitled,"Social Security," from my third cousin (or her husband), whom I rarely, if ever, see or talk to. Not to mention that I NEVER correspond with these people through e-mail, so this was kind of a surprise.

Curious to see what this was, I opened it. I noticed that it was only sent to me. No one else. I glanced through it, came to the end, and surprise, surprise, it was basically letting me know that the Democrats in Congress are destroying our Social Security system, and the only ones who are able to save it are the Republicans.

No big deal. That was quickly deleted. (Actually, I archived it for evidence.) I don't believe that, and one little forwarded e-mail surely isn't something that's going to sway me.

What is a big deal, and what bothers me so much, is that this was a calculated move on her (his) part. They are hardcore conservative Catholic Republicans. And well, I'm far from that, to say the least. It's no secret that I'm very liberal and not at all religious. So what? Does that make me a bad person?

What also bothers me is that someone else in my family, I don't know exactly who, must have been talking about my recent political and religious awakening at a family Christmas party a few weeks ago (which I did not attend). Now, I don't mind that anyone talk about me; that's all fine. But, when it's to discredit me and bad mouth me, that's when I take issue with it. I have an idea of who this person may be, and she definitely hates that I have changed (for the worse in her eyes). I feel like I'm being treated like a savage behind my back. That may sound extreme, but that's how I feel.

So, back to the e-mail. After I read it, I decided that I'd take the bait and play the game. Politics, after all, is a game. I went to www.thetruthaboutgeorge.com (if you haven't been there, I highly recommend it!), copied and pasted a HUGE list of the lies that have been told about the war in Iraq and the human rights violations that have been committed by this administration, and hit send.

Did that accomplish anything? Probably not. But, I sure did feel better. Did sending me that e-mail accomplish anything? No. What I did was childish, but she (he) started it. (That sounds so childish!) I wonder how awkward it's going to be if I ever see them again... I hope I don't.

My point here is that it shouldn't matter what my beliefs or opinions are. They're MINE. No one has to agree. Just as I don't have to agree with your beliefs or opinions. They're YOURS. We're all entitled. All I ask is for respect. You give me respect, and it will be reciprocated. What you give is what you get. But, lately, I feel highly disrespected, and that e-mail was the last straw.

Let the games begin. It's going to be a long fight until November. And let the best woman win. (Yes, that means ME and HILLARY.)