A Difference of Opinion
Posted: Saturday, January 07, 2012
by Jack H. Schick
I sure hope Paul is okay next year. Paul’s a retired high school teacher. He spent over thirty years in the local system. He’d planned to work until he was 57 or 58, but toward the end, they started piling extra work on him. He was eligible for full pension and he’d gotten to the point that he really, really disliked kids, so he quit early. He’s been on a ‘fixed income,’ as he complains, for a couple of years now (I haven’t had the nerve to tell him his ‘fixed income’ is more than I make getting up for work at five o’clock every morning). Paul is very much like a lot of people I’ve encountered in the past decade or so.
Conversation at the Wednesday meetings frequently drifted to politics and sometimes to religion. Paul was great at expounding on each. He had a lot of support from fellow workers, who all seemed to think the same way. I don’t really care what someone else’s religious or political beliefs are. It seemed irrelevant to our ‘work at hand.’ As one of those who didn’t particularly hate kids, I frequently served as club president. My job was to get the activities planned and followed through on.
Paul, through badgering solicitation, discovered that my political view was the “opposite” of his. I was registered to vote in the “wrong” party. He was shocked and dismayed. He developed a hostile attitude toward me. When he got off on to a political rant, he’d interject comments like “Of course Jack doesn’t care about [that],” or “But, Jack would prefer if they just starved to death,” or other ridiculously incorrect things. There was no point in expounding on the reasons for my beliefs, because it only made him angrier and louder.
Prior to an election in the later part of last century, the guy I voted for lost. At the Wednesday meeting I made the mistake of expressing my disappointment. Paul and his ‘group’, with big smirks on their faces told me to “be quiet and keep your political beliefs to yourself.” I did. When, in a future election, their guy lost, we couldn’t get any business done, because they wanted to talk about nothing but politics—well, actually the conversation was more a personal attack on the winner rather than on his policies. When I, as club president, tried to regain order by repeating the request, “please, keep your political opinions to yourself, and let’s get to business,” there was nearly a revolt. I was called a tyrant who was trying to suppress the voice of the people. When I said that, in the election, the voice of the people was heard, several of them got up and left.
For weeks, I had to just sit and listen to their bitterness. It seemed they had no tolerance for other opinions and were completely unable to understand how people like me could be the “way I am.” The vote in Pennsylvania was much closer than the vote in Ohio, but their guy won PA. They were calling for a recount in Ohio though, where their guy lost. It was almost comical that grown men would act that way and fail to see the irony of their behavior. “Our way, is the only way,” seemed to be the attitude. I didn’t really care what they believed, they were free to. I never accused them of being wrong and made no effort to ‘convince’ them of that. I was a little disappointed that they spent much effort trying to convince me that I was wrong, though.
At least Paul had a little less to say about religion, mostly because he knew nothing about it. In his opinion (which I believed he was free to have), anyone who was religious had to be ignorant and backward. When he found out that I belonged to a small Christian sect (the Society of Friends), his interest perked up. He had a preconceived idea of what Friends believed and what they were like. At a meeting where the wives were present, in front of the whole group, he leaned back in his chair and said “Jack, I’d like you to explain to us how you’re able to reconcile your religious and political beliefs.” I told him that I didn’t think it was an appropriate topic of discussion in that forum. I asked how he would feel if I asked him to do the same thing. His response was “My beliefs aren’t the ones in question.”
Needless to say, the club eventually broke up. There were too many diverse opinions. I got tired of being president all the time and no one else stepped forward. I don’t see much of the “guys” anymore. They simply could not accept that I had political and religious beliefs that were different than theirs, and did not want me as a ‘social friend.’ I never talked about my beliefs much, but they thought that just having my opinions was too divisive. Unfortunately, in life's activities I’ve encountered a bunch of “the others” that feel that way. They usually are of the "opposite party."
Paul is getting close to 60 now. He’s been retired for a few years. Efforts are being made in Harrisburg to assure that he doesn’t have to worry about his ‘fixed income’. We may have to have to pay a special tax to support the government pension plan. Unfortunately, I don’t work for the government. I still get up at five o’clock in the morning and head off to work everyday—and will for the foreseeable future.
I’m concerned for Paul, though. It looks like his “guy” might have some trouble in the next year's election. There is still a chance the undercover political action groups can provide enough 'votes', but if Paul’s party loses, he’ll go nuts. It will make him hate the people who have different political and religious beliefs even more. You’d think an old retired guy would be able to develop some tolerance and accept the fact that freedom of opinion is part of the American dream. I can accept that he has a different opinion. I wish he could accept that mine is different from his. I sure hope he's okay next year.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Great article, Jack. Why do your words not surprise me, especially since he was a teacher? They believe that they are owed and that it is the government's job to keep them at the level they deserve. What is unfortunate is that it is your tax dollars and mine that allow him to retire early and then complain.
Isn't it sad that some people are not more tolerant? While they profess tolerance, they actually hate those who do not agree with their ideas or beliefs, especially Christians. It really bothers me to see the direction this country is heading into.thanks for reading and commenting
Excellent article, and even as an Independent myself, there are times I am treated awful for my christian and political beliefs...but I believe we are going to see that 'unresolved anger and frustration" of the political opposition continue. Tolerance is not allowed, unless it is their idea, for the people they select. You will come out on top in the end, and "Paul the teacher"...will always be miserable about something.thanks for reading and commenting
Hi Jack.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of "Pauls" in the world. And most likely that will continue into the foreseeable future. I'm not being pessimistic because I generally tend toward optimism. But I am a realist and I see the way things are. It's a shame your club had to suffer for it. You were all doing some good work.
Well written article, by the way.
Hugs,
Diannethanks for reading and commenting
Great article and I really appreciate your point. Regarding "unfunded pensions" in state governments. The "special taxes" looming all over the place may turn the dislikes into rabid fights. Not all states will come up with these special taxes. They are going to hit state by state as time goes on. As usual, your article is well told and pertinent.as usual--thanks for reading and commenting
Geez, Jack, if my memory serves me, the Society of Friends, are one of the more tolerate of the Christian relegions/sects. So sorry that you were treated that way. Best, dawnYes, but my "friend" Paul (not his real name, of course), thought that Quakers were all left wing Democrats. He believed they want social equality, rather than harmony. TGrue many friends are, but, as you said, tolerance is a characteristic. Paul doesn't have a hint of an idea of the Light Within and what it means.
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