Postaday for January 16th: Agree to Disagree. Do you have a good friend or close relative with whom you disagree on a major issue (political, personal, cultural)? What’s the issue, and how do you make the relationship work?
Got into it a few years ago over the issue of organic food. I’m not a fan. I try, as much as possible, to avoid organic foods when I shop at the grocery store. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them, in terms of their nutritional value. But I don’t want my money to go to people who profit off of lies.
I’ve done a fair bit of research, and found that so-called “organic” farming is not sustainable. Simply put: you can’t feed everyone on the planet with organic farming. Also, organic farming is not better for the environment, nor does it provide for healthier food. “Organic” is just a feel-good word, slapped on some products to justify a juicy mark-up.
In fact, there are some small farms that are, actually, “organic,” but can’t use the label because they can’t afford to pay for the inspection process. The irony here is that these farms, which only serve local markets anyway, have to compete with corporate farms that get to call themselves “organic” because they invented the term and the rules for using the label.
Whoever you are, reading this, maybe you eat organic. Maybe you think its good for you, good for your kids. Here’s why I bring the subject up: that’s fine with me. And THAT’S the gist of the argument I got into a few years ago. It wasn’t that we disagreed on the subject of organic farming. It was that I was so darn condescending about the whole thing.
A long time ago I decided I would stop making people feel bad for liking things. I decided to stop teasing people for their music choices, or reading choices, even their political points of view. I used to be a real cynic, a real jerk. But it’s only recently that I realized this seemingly laissez-faire attitude comes across a bit holier-than thou.
“I have no problem if YOU think organic is good for people. I don’t think it is, but it’s fine with me if YOU choose to buy that stuff.” That’s what we ended up arguing about.
Disagreeing with people is not really much of a problem. Indeed, disagreeing with people can lead to learning opportunities. Trying to convince someone of something can serve as a gut check for one’s convictions. Failing to, in an amicable conversation, can lead one to a more honest pursuit of truth.
But isolating oneself under the guise of “let ‘em think what they want” only reinforces arrogance. I’m glad my family respects me enough to tell me when I’m being disingenuous. But I still ain’t eatin’ no organic potatoes.