Sharon Myers: Tolerance for others can prove difficult

When considering what I wanted to write about this week, I had to sit down and seriously think about it. Usually, I try to stay away from highly controversial subjects, but there has been nothing but controversial subjects lately. I would love nothing better than to blast some of these confused souls out of the water, but to what end?

What makes me any better than them if I revert to name calling or use facts just to prove them wrong? I could offer concrete evidence they are acting through personal emotions and misinformation, but even if the Lord himself came down, these people would stand steadfast to their beliefs. As someone who staunchly believes you can’t continue to believe the world is flat when all the evidence points otherwise, I am dumbfounded by this phenomenon.

But there are people who believe aliens are hanging around waiting to snatch us up. There are people who don’t believe in vaccinating their children and then wonder why they contract whooping cough. There are people who believe you can chant and use crystals to heal major illnesses. Personally, I can’t see how an intelligent person can live their lives believing what numerous others have proven to be false, but they continue to happily live their lives. Live and let live, I guess.

Sometimes it gets to me, and I start thinking there is no one left who has a drop of sense, not to mention being capable of intelligent conversation. As I told my husband, sometimes I grow tired of dealing with the lowest common denominator in society.

For example, I was at Wal-Mart on Saturday and saw an exhibition of what I can only call a “redneck reality show.” There was an older woman and a younger woman with a half dozen young children in tow. They were standing at the entrance screaming “Shuddup … no, you shuddup … you shut yer mouth.” They were arguing over a movie in the Redbox machine.

From time to time, I would see them in the store, and they were cursing at each other and then turning around to yell at the children. The children were hitting each other, pulling hair and calling names, until the older woman smacked the oldest one and once again screamed in her face. They didn’t even care they were making a spectacle of themselves. I am sure if I had said anything they would have attacked me, too.

I avoided them whenever I could, but it made my already bad mood even worse. Where do these people come from? How do they get away with this nastiness? If this is how they act in public, what must it be like in private?

My sympathy is for the children, but unfortunately I know they will grow up to become just like them. They will be uneducated and use violence to express their frustration. They will believe anything that supports their point of view, even if it has been proven to be wrong. They will be aggressive, intolerant and incapable of accepting anyone who is different or has a different view.

I have to remind myself just because you have a limited education does not mean you are a bad person, and not every person acts this way. Maybe their belief system and morals are screwed up from my point of view, but if I preach acceptance, I need to follow through.

It is so hard sometimes though. It is difficult when you try to use common sense to express yourself and get accused of being “uppity” or “you think your bettern’ me.” I will just try to keep above it and remind myself this is only a small portion of society. Most people are good people, and it is always the squeaky wheel that receives the most attention because it makes the most noise. I just sometimes wish they would all just SHUDDUP!

Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow Sharon on Twitter: @LexDispatchSM.