I Demand Fairness From You

Articles

I Demand Fairness From You

By Sandy Knauer
Oct. 27, 2004

I can respect your right to an opinion without respecting your opinion or character. I can respect your right to choice without endorsing or sharing your choice. I can respect your right to worship without wanting to worship with you, witness your rituals, or have your beliefs inserted in my government.

As I fight to protect your rights along with mine, I will be fair and logical. I demand fairness from you, and won’t allow you to erode my rights because you toss logic aside.

I know the difference between fact, rhetoric, and opinion. I recognize the value of opinions based on fact, and the danger of opinions based on rhetoric and self-serving agendas. I know to investigate layers and uncover hidden information, because what I don’t know can and will hurt me, and won’t go away if I pretend it doesn’t exist.

I can honor your rights, even campaign your causes, without liking, respecting, or being nice to you. I won’t cater to your assumption that I would rather be nice than look like you. Your demands won’t sway me, your name-calling won’t silence me, your religion won’t intimidate me, and your volume won’t break me. Nice is neither an obligation nor a measure of goodness. You have shown me that bad guys have to act nice in order to do what they do, and I won’t mimic that version of nice.

I know what I know. I know who I am, and am proud of the principles on which I base my opinions and actions. No amount of name-calling, repeating rhetoric, or trying to enforce your religious beliefs on me will change me. I don’t have to accept your abuse in the name of nice, nor do I have to prove what I know to you. It is, with or without your permission or acceptance.

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About the author Sandy Knauer: author of six published novels with more on the way. Most recent release is Race For Terre Bluff, a humorous parody of the 2000 election. Check it out here: http://www.geocities.com/sandyknauer/TerreBluff.html

Email: sandywrites@aol.com

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