As always, I feel that as a writer I should try to keep myself as unbiased as possible when it comes to writing about things I am deeply involved in. However, I also believe that emotions have a place and a time when a debate like wolf populations and their effects on the ecosystem, agriculture and conservation is occurring. Some days I feel there are people on this planet who let their hearts guide what their mouth says and it comes out beautifully, so much so that they can create very moving and powerful, interesting commentary but in some cases their words can create a powerfully negative effect on someone who doesn't believe in the same things they do. These powerful emotions are what guide us into the debates in the first place but if we cannot learn to agree to disagree, where will we be?
Our country is based on the founding fundamental right to democracy. If we all deserve this democracy, then why are there still those who feel unheard, ignored, pushed the side? Everyone deserves to be heard, their claims released into the gene pool of information that will hopefully create a new biological event that we will some day call an answer. But why are their those of us (meaning the world) that cannot bear to hear the words of someone they disagree with? Is it for fear of being wrong? Being ashamed? Being degraded? Don't they know that the same person they are forbidding themselves to hear has the same fears?
Why are there people who believe that because someone else doesn't have the same beliefs that they do, they are "misguided, heartless, incompetent" and a slurry of other demeaning words? These words only create more tension and inability to share their thoughts with the world.
What happened to respect for someone? Shouldn't respect be freely given in a debate where everyone feels they are right? Why wouldn't someone in this case be right? I am sure that their facts and information would have been right at one point, but because of that, it doesn't mean someone is incompetent, heartless or misguided. Wouldn't the easiest thing to do be an open forum, where one person speaks at a time? Wouldn't it be easier if there was a forum with all the answers? I would be willing to be that in a room of conservationists, hunters, agriculture peoples and the citizens that do not apply to those groups, could come to an equalized decision based on facts. Isn't this what we subject our criminals and law breakers too?
As a writer, sometimes I get a head of myself in my personal dreams, hopes, questions and concerns by writing them down and betting someone will agree. But this one time, I don't need someone to agree with me. What I deserve is respect for my beliefs because I don't want to shove them down your throat and I don't want to force you to understand. What I want is to be able to freely voice my opinion without fear of someone shoving their beliefs and force me to understand how they feel just because I opened up.
By writing this, I hope that I have affected someone in a positive, non-aggressive manner. When I wrote this, it wasn't my attention to poke eyes or disturb hearts set on their believes. I know from my many high school classes that it is easier to change someones virtues before you change their beliefs.
So with that, I will say adieu.
Keep your tails wagging,
The Scribbler
