It saddened me today, when a customer and friend whom I had not seen for some time, came to have a meal at our establishment and told me the reason he had not been in for so long. Other people whom he dines with won’t come to our business any more because of opinions or views one person has shared, publicly.
Personally, I am the quiet type. I keep my opinions to myself. I guess, for this very reason. I don’t want to be judged by others for what I believe.
However, I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion. We are not all going to think alike. And thankfully so! What a boring world we would live in if we all had the same opinions. Isn’t this what our forefathers fought for and what this country is all about? For the differences in all of us to be allowable, as long as it doesn’t infringe or hurt others?
I can’t say it any better than this Facebook post by Bob Nichols:
“Some of the most incredible people I know voted for Donald Trump, and some of the most incredible people I know voted for Hillary Clinton. The people that I know that voted for Trump are not racist, misogynistic, or hateful, and the people that voted for Clinton are not hateful and intolerable. If you are someone who woke up this morning and is going to start seeing people as who they voted for, and not as the person you have always known them to be, then you are what is wrong with America. I will never think any less of any person who has different views than me, because some of the most beautiful, inspirational people I know will disagree with what I believe all day long, but at the end of the day they are still that beautiful inspirational person I have always known them as. Don’t think less of people because some of their beliefs don’t align with yours, and don’t lose quality people in your life because you choose hate over love.”
Maybe this letter is a bad idea, but I just can’t keep my opinion to myself at this time. Where is the love and acceptance for people that don’t think just like you? Disclaimer: Opinions or views expressed by one person in my establishment do not necessarily represent the opinions or views of us all.
Cindy Straub
Grand Marais
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