Getting Along with Someone Who Thinks Differently

The Split Second-In Consideration of Others in These Trying Times

I am still trying to get my unpublished book The Split Second:  In Consideration of Others or Look Up from the Phone and How to Deal with Rudeness in Others. Published. As of this writing, there is hope but now, that hope is thin. Still, it is something. Thanks for the support I received from many of you.

I remembered recently of a time in October 2019 when comedienne and famed talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres and former President George W. Bush were seen together chatting in a luxury box at Dallas Cowboys game. The politics of these two celebrities could not be more diverse and there is nothing wrong with that whatsoever. Yet, they appeared to be having a nice time and maintaining a friendly aura about them. Ms. DeGeneres took much criticism on social media and elsewhere for being seen with the former President. Two days later, she appeared on her own talk show and stated (I paraphrase), “I am a liberal gay woman, but I am going to be kind to everyone even if I do not share the same opinions with someone.” She even stated that she was friends with President Bush.

I feel we need more of Ms. DeGeneres’ philosophy about how we deal with others, particularly those with whom we do not agree. I feel that this is a problem in society now where we “don’t get along” with others because we disagree with other folks’ opinions. I have said often that the last person I want to have a political discussion with is a clone of myself. That would not be interesting. Ms. DeGeneres had, and I suspect, still has it right. She took much criticism from the public when she should have been praised. Several conservatives called her “The Person of the Week” back then. I think she exemplifies The Split Second, and I want to thank her for that. She demonstrates a world I want to live in always.