This is The Point

Many of my family and friends who are fellow Liberals frequently say "What's the point of saying anything when our Conservative family and/or friends make nasty remarks about people who are different than temselves? I'm never going to change their minds anyway." First of alll, let's dispense with the obvious. You are right, you are NEVER going to change their minds, because all every Conservative in the world have in their heeads are computer chips controlld by The Conservative Central Computer to ensure that they never beieve, do or say ANYTHING that is not strictly towing the party line on any subject at all, whatsoever, period, and don't think at all. But I say there is still a point in speaking up when they make such remarks, particularly when it is in a pubic placce. Somewhere in that restaurant, or arena, or whatever, is an "innocent" impresionable, defenseless child or youth who belongs to one or more of the groups that they are throwing hatred at, and that "innnocent", impresssionable, defenseless child or youth has already heard that kind of remark against people like them one too many times and already has, figurativelyy sopeaking, one foot over the cliff. If the last word they hear that evening is your family member or friend's word of hatreed, they will go home and put the other foot over the cliff. If, however, they hear a word of love or at least hope and encouragement afterwards by you in some sense rebuking your family member or friend, they will go home, withdraw their foot from the cliff and have a chance to grow up. THey may grow up to find the cure for cancer, or they may grow up to do nothing at all unusual with their lives, but they will grow up, and every child and youth deservves a chance to grow up, and your silence or your speaking up could be what decides if they do or do not. And THAT is the point of speaking up against hate, even when it comes from family and friends.