What do you think about letting a person's political stance dictate who you associate yourself with?
For me, as long as they don't let their political opinions trickle into everyday interaction I really couldn't care less. Unless we're talking the extreme side here.
"Wade" wrote:
If I only associated with people who shared my political stance I'd have an even smaller circle of associates than I do.
However, I also wish I felt free to let my own philosophical/political opinions trickle into everyday interaction more than they do. But that's because I'm an extremist (what was it the late Barry Goldwater said?). I wish people would realize that extremism isn't always worth dismissing out of hand as "unrelaistic" or "impractical" or whatever.
But while I rarely let political stance determine who I associate with, it often shapes how I associate with them. Some people on some questions aren't worth listening to. Some people on some questions aren't worth the cost of trying to convince them.
And, more importantly, because my "extreme" beliefs are such a core part of me, there are some people with whom its simply not possible for me to have certain kinds of deep relationship with. I can't imagine ever marrying a Obamoid academic, for example, because I can't imagine mental compatibility with someone who trusts the state or charismatic politicians that much.
Any relationship/association requires the sharing of values; and the deeper the relationship, the deeper must be shared values.
"djcubez" wrote: