Automatic Attitudinal Response

I've felt vulnerable sharing my opinions online, in a manner that it is fully public free for the world to have complete access to my posts. If you review my homepage of blogspot, you will see 5 drafts that I never posted. With the fear of judgment of others as they read my post, with the fear of my grade suffering I posted a few with the anticipation of the semester to being over so I can delete some of the posts. This fear drove the way I posted about the topics we were assigned to write about. 

I had a fear that I wasn't adequately expressing my thoughts, that my posts made me look naive and ignorant.  I had the fear of others who differ in opinions of thinking of me differently in a negative manner. I had a fear that those from high school would randomly Google my name and see my posts, and think that I am unintelligent. I had a fear that I wasn't well educated in my opinions, that I wasn't understanding the assignment, that I would be viewed differently by you who is grading my assignments. This all played a role as I thought about and typed up my assignments.This priming (pg. 47) prohibited my full ability to express myself. 

You said, "Our own prejudices prohibit us from hearing new information or ideas that are different from our own pre-determined standpoint. If messages are unclear or misunderstood, hidden presumption results in an intolerance of ambiguity, no patience with, nor critical attention to the question at hand, just defaulting to a polarized, pre-critical position." I'm grateful for my upbringing in Washington state by a single father who is non-religious. I remember sitting in my seventh grade science class next to a pregnant student. I remember walking down the halls my freshman year recognizing a fellow student who openly started dressing as the opposite sex, recognizing herself transgender. I remember my group of friends who started going to parties drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana and I joined as the DD and read Twilight in the corner. I was able to be exposed to a lot at a younger age, I didn't understand hatred, I didn't understand why there was bullying. 

Due to being exposed to a lot at a young age I had to develop a stance, an opinion at a young age. I've tried and still try to be open and accepting of other opinions. With that openness I've been able to change, mold, and develop a stronger opinion to govern my own moral compass. This has allowed me to have an open heart and heavy compassion for those that are not part of the 'typical society norm'. Even though I have become religious the past 5 years, I try to govern my way of thinking as Christ did. "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." 

Obama vs. Trump. "Republicans" hate Obama. Americans hate Trump. Maybe this is my small way of thinking but this is how I view them. Obama did was he did to the best of his ability. He did was he thought was best for the country as a whole. Trump is doing the best that he knows how (which may or not be the best). They are completely and totally opposite. You cannot push your moral compass onto others, that is unethical. It feels that there are human laws and ethics that majority of persons believe in. One of the laws that I feel are evident is that, experience, evidence and research should  . Don't just go around assuming that you were wired tapped without evidence or truth. Search it out, develop an opinion and look at it from the other opinion & consider their viewpoints. Appreciate it and understand differences the pros & the cons. You may realize you're more similar than different. 

I think that says a lot of how I think. I hope for the best of all people. I draw upon an experience I recently had when I met an Iraqi refugee in Portland. I remember her saying, "you're looking at me like an insect?" That shocked me, I wasn't aware that my non-verbals were portrayed liked that. I was able to ask and converse with her about her experience as a refugee, her challenges, her triumphs. I admired her more than anything, especially how the country views refugees right now. I cannot even begin understanding what it must feel like as a refugee currently. 

My hidden assumption: I believe that people do the best of how they know what it best. Their best of that day may not be their greatest best, but it is the best of that day. Their best may not be our best, yet, that is what they know is best. Believe in the best of people. That is my automatic attitudinal response, I hope for the best, I expect the best, therefore I'm trusting. I can see how others may think that I may not be stalwart that I may be a twig in the wind. I just want to be with Gandhi and Mother Teresa.