This might be an unpopular post...

I guess this subject has been on my mind a lot lately, what with all the junk in the media about politicians bashing each other and whatnot. Subjects like taxes, budget cuts, gay marriage, birth control, etc etc are getting everyone worked into a frenzy. I shouldn't be surprised anymore at the lengths people will go to to attack someone else who believes differently than them, but I still am for some reason.

Here's what bugs me. I never, NEVER see anyone saying, "Oh, those stupid Muslims/Orthodox Jews and their hate for everyone who doesn't believe like them. They're all a bunch of hypocrites." Seriously, never once seen anyone bash those two groups. But Christians? Apparently, fair game. From how the news presents things, we're all a bunch of jerks who just hate anyone who is different or believes something other than what we believe. Yes, I am a Christian. I was baptized when I was 17, and I do my best to follow God and be faithful to Him. I believe the Bible, and I try to obey the commands that God put in there for me to follow. Does everyone agree with me? No. And that's their right. We were all given free will, and I would never try to force anyone to agree with me outside their own volition. But me being faithful to MY beliefs, which are based on the religious text that I believe in, should NOT make me a target for ridicule and mocking. Why does it matter if I'm a right-wing conservative and so-and-so is a far-left liberal? If I can respect your right to make different choices than me, why can't you respect mine? Bashing me and calling me "intolerant" or "close-minded" will not change my mind about where my religious and moral loyalties lie. A little mutual respect can go a long, long way.

I understand that many, MANY people disagree with what the Bible says, or at least large chunks of what the Bible says. And like I said, that's their right. God didn't force me to believe in Him...I came to that conclusion on my own. And since I wasn't forced, I am not going to try to do that to anyone else. But please don't make the false assumption that Christians/conservatives/whoever are all unloving, close-minded jerks who just want to shove their faith down everyone else's throats. I respect everyone as human beings, whether or not I agree with or like their political and/or religious beliefs. Yes, some "conservatives" make a really bad name for the rest of us. (I really, really dislike Mitt Romney. And Gingrich. And everyone else on the Republican ticket except for maybe Ron Paul.) But I could also name some pretty cruddy people on the liberal end of the spectrum. It's unfair to make blanket categorizations about the hearts and minds of people who are right or left on the political scale. And obviously, I'm not saying that liberals are just all mean to conservatives...I've heard an abundance of conservatives make idiotic "you're all ______" statements, as well. There is no one group that all fits nicely into the exact same category, ever.

I guess what I'm saying is, I respect your choice to believe differently than me, and all I ask is the same courtesy in return. Respect shouldn't just be reserved for people of your same political party or religious order. Even if you think my beliefs are the dumbest thing ever, and you think I'm stupid for having them, at least appreciate the fact that it's my choice, just like your beliefs are your choice.