One of the other blogs I write for is Celsias, a green blog based in New Zealand.  Although it’s a great blog to write for, it brings you directly into contact with people holding violently differing opinions — even within the green movement, who are supposedly on the same side.  I firmly believe that if you get three environmentalists in the same room, at least two of them will go for each other’s throats in about ten minutes.

Of course, this happens within any cause, not just the green movement.  But, we’re still stuck living and dealing with people with opposite viewpoints than ours.  Here are some things I do, but I am in no means an expert.  I’d love to hear your suggestions on dealing with people with opposite viewpoints.

Spend Some Time In Silence

I find that you have to take time out from humanity in order to be able to deal with them, especially if they’re obnoxious.  This is sacred time that you have to make a priority.  This could only be for a few hours a night before bed, or for an hour during your morning routine.  I used to play music at this time but unless it’s very mellow instrumentals, the music can get me worked up again. 

After this break, the adage "absence makes the heart grow fonder" kicks in and I’m a bit more ready to face my fellow human being.

Complain, Complain, Complain

The trick is, you have to find the right place and the right time in order to complain and purge it all from your system.  You can’t complain to the person who is giving you grief.  That never works.  You only wind up making an enemy for life.  This is why I like invisible friends.  You can complain to them all you want and they usually don’t take it personally. My doctor lets me complain for a couple of minutes a visit and we pack a lot into those minutes.  When I told him my theory of what happens when three environmentalists get into the same room, he laughed and said, "Doctors are worse!!!"

If you have no one to complain to, write it all down, instead.

Look at the Pew Report for 2008

Late last month, the Pew Research Center put out their annual "Religion in America" report and it was shockingly good for those of us who crave tolerance from other people’s opinions.  70% of the 35,000 or so Americans who took part said that they believed that "many religions can lead to eternal life". 

Perhaps there’s hope for the green movement (and doctors) yet.

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