Would You "Like" Me When I Disagree With YOU? Day 69

Happy "hump day". May your day be as bright as the sun and as shiny as a pairs of shoes that were recently polished.

I would like to pose a question to you. Do I have to agree with you in order for you to "like" me? Do I have to pretend that you are right in order to win your approval and be your friend?

Well I should hope not. I believe that we can agree to disagree. This is the way true friends conduct themselves.

One day while I was listening to "The Tom Joyner Morning Show", I heard a caller voicing his opinion about something. Tom Joyner is a Black radio disjockey. He show is very popular with middle age Black people. He plays mostly old school music and he show is primarily comical.

Anyway, this "caller" disagreed with Mr. Joyner on an issue. Mr. Joyner voiced his disapproval of this caller disagreeing with him. It was almost like the caller should not disagree with Mr. Joyner if he was a "loyal listener".

My "jaws" dropped to the floor. (not literally) But I could not believ what I had heard. So let me get this straight, if you are a loyal listener, you have to agree with every position Mr. Joyner makes. You can not disgree with him?

Let look at what happened to Bill Cosby, when he said many Black males are irresponsible and they need to take responsibility for their children.

Mr. Cosby was ridiculed and called an "uncle Tom", for his remarks. An "uncle Tom" is "a black man considered by other blacks to be subservient to or to curry favor with whites."( Dictionary.com)

Now why is it that when you speak the "truth" about Black males, you have to be an "uncle Tom"? Why can't we be loyal Black people who are identifying problems that need to be openly discussed?

So I ask you, would you like me if I disgreed with you? If not, then you will not like me because, I will tell you the truth, and I believe as time goes on you may eventually LOVE me. Because, the truth is what we need to hear and act upon.

We need to be honest with one another. I encourage my daughter to tell me what is on her heart and mind, even if I do not like it or disagree with her. I do not want her to feel that in order for us to have a dialogue, she has to agree with me or tell me what I want to hear.

Would you like to know the TRUTH or a LIE?

Have a great day.

L. for Love