Shades of Grey
Everyone is so afraid of a different opinion. Even those who claim to be "open minded". Me, I have friends all over the political spectrum. For years, I've been great friends with this one guy who is so conservative, that he even owns a few Rush Limbaugh T shirts. I have another friend who will fly the gay and bi flag. And neither one of them will ever realize how similar they both are. Both are college educated, really bright, and think they have all the answers. What is funny to me, is that from time to time, both of them go through periods where they will not speak to me, because I stated my opinion on something. My conservative friend once refused to speak to me for a while because I mentioned that I didn't think Bush was doing a great job. So, according to him, that made me "a tree hugging liberal". My liberal friend sometimes won't speak to me because I don't believe that global warming is man-made, and I'm not even convinced that it exists. So, I guess that now makes me an "evil money grubbing Republican."
I have never supported either party. In fact, every president I have ever voted for has won, except for one time. So that means I have voted both Republican and Democrat. (And please, it is "Democrat" NOT "Democratic") Even Independent one time. It's just that people are so wrapped up into thinking that every opinion they have is right, that anyone who disagrees with them is obviously an extremist.
People want the world to be black and white. If you don't agree with them, then you are evil. There is no in between. And here I am, a man who thinks the welfare system needs to be eliminated, thinks women need to decide for themselves if abortion is right or wrong, I don't believe in Al Gore's lies about Global Warming, and I don't think that homosexuals are corrupting anyone's morals. The world is NOT black and white.
One of my all time favorite Billy Joel songs is "Shades of Grey." I'm going to see him in concert this weekend and I hope he does that song.
"Now with the wisdom of years, I try to reason things out
And the only people I fear are those who never have doubts
Save us all from arrogant men, and all the causes they're for
I won't be righteous again. I'm not that sure anymore.
Shades of grey wherever I go
The more I find out the less that I know
Ain't no rainbow shining on me
Shades of grey are the colors I see."