Opinions: Everyone has One!

Sep11
by on 11September16 at 1343
“You must respect everyone’s beliefs.”
NO, You Don’t!
You have the right and obligation to allow everyone their own beliefs, so long as they do not infringe on the rights and beliefs of anyone else. After respectfully listening to their point of view, you then have the right to tell them, thank you for your opinion, but I’ll pass on that.
If you want to state your lack of appreciation for a person’s opinion more strongly you could tell the person, “You may keep your opinion, because I don’t want any part of it.” That person may never talk to you again and I would not recommend doing it unless the cause is truly important, but some bridges do have to be burned.
Notice I managed that very strong and confrontive statement without crudity of any kind?
If you want respect and consideration, you have to give respect and consideration.