Today contained more fallout from the Immigration Ban Executive Order from the weekend.
Every Democrat Representatives from the House, and many of the Democratic Senators showed up on the steps of the Supreme Court and held a rally against the immigration order.
Today I responded to a meme a friend on Facebook posted. It essentially compared the immigration ban to the wisdom of locking your doors to keep the people inside the house safe from the people who may knock on the door.
Here is my response:
“It’s one thing to have someone knock on your door, and make them wait before letting them in while you check their credentials.
It’s completely another to invite them into your home, rent them a room, let them get to know you and the people around you, support them emotionally while they get a job, friends, and a pet, and then after several years, change the locks, keep their stuff, take away their job, starve their pets, and send them away because you found out they used to live in the Bronx, even though that fact was already vetted on their Rental Application.”
There was some back and forth, and insisting upon some small number of people who were affected (exact wording and numbers matched one of Trump’s tweets).
I requested sources for her information, and provided some information of my own, citing the Washington Post. She rejected my source, saying she didn’t feel it was a neutral enough source. I asked for better — 3 times — and was rewarded with unfriending.
I understand that I asked hard questions. I believe I did so without being rude. I did not call names, I did not imply stupidity. I requested facts and sources. This always seems to shut down the discussion. This was the first time I’ve been actually unfriended.
It is my sincere belief that if we surround ourselves with people who think exactly like we do, we will never learn. We will remain stagnant in our knowledge, and perhaps even become more ignorant because we do not challenge ourselves and our thoughts. No one will tell us that we are wrong, so why should we question ourselves? It is far easier to question and accuse others.
Discuss. Argue. Passionately. But don’t be rude, disrespectful and bully. Review your sources, and share them if you believe they are accurate. When questioned or challenge, take a look and see if they’re right.