Respect is due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights or traditions of others.
Whether it’s about politics, religion, the price of groceries, ICE, government or whatever, each person is entitled to their own opinion. Somehow, we have lost respect for each other and for each other’s personal opinion in today’s society.
All my life, because I am Jewish, I have had people try to convert me to Christianity. They can’t in their minds believe someone would not want to be like them, so they try and usually don’t stop when I tell them I am Jewish by choice and want to be Jewish and will stay that way.
There are some friends of mine who have been taught to try to convert Jews because for every one they do, 100 will follow. How do you really think Jesus would have felt about this? Jesus and his 12 disciples maintained being Jewish even through the night before he was crucified celebrating Passover with a Seder. They were Jewish!
Respect goes both ways. I can respect people for their opinions even if my opinions differ as long as there is respect. When there is no respect and when we attack each other verbally or physically or mentally because of a difference of opinion, we lose our humanity.
We need each other in this life with our differing opinions. As the old adage goes, it’s OK to disagree. Peace, love and respect for one another will go a long way to healing our world.
Steven E. Silver, Massillon
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Respect others and their opinions | Letter
Reporting by Canton Repository / The Repository
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