How strong are your beliefs?

People like Hitler, the KKK and radical terrorist groups,I don't agree with.

I hate what they do or have done to countless innocent people. Their methods are heinous. But I respect that they are willing to stand up for what they believe in. It is clear and concise, what they believe and what lengths they will go to in order to stand up for it. And if what they believed in didn't lead to the slaughter of their fellow man you probably would too.

In polite society, people don't really challenge one another's beliefs. For the most part we just agree to disagree and spend less time with the people that don't think like we do. You really only hear about how strong a person's beliefs are when they are killing for them, running for public office, or once they have died.

Anytime what we really believe is challenged by another person we automatically react, by getting angry and going on the offensive. Half the time even when someone is just asking questions, attempting to get a better understanding of what it is that we believe, we react as if they are attacking our core being.

Why?

We are not our beliefs. We are not our country, our dog, or our parents. We aren't our views on patriotism, religion or government.

Those things are simply our point of view on the world around us. The thing is, getting angry or violent when someone else does not understand or agree with your belief is not likely to get them to suddenly see your side of things. It is in fact, more likely to polarize them against you.

I think it is healthy to have your beliefs challenged on a regular basis. What we tend to do is to make up our mind about a thing based on a limited pool of data and then never think about it again. We operate for decades on beliefs that only took us minutes or a few hours at the most to come up with.

But what would you do if you were to wake up in a world where your beliefs were constantly questioned and you were antagonized for making life style choices that to you seemed completely arbitrary?  Imagine being verbally abused every time you wore blue jeans or a white top. What if smiling were outlawed? What if having sex daily was mandatory between the ages of 24 and 30 but a crime at any other time?

Would you, could you live in such a world?  All of us have different things that we value, and to different degrees. There is mostly likely a certain point where you would decide enough is enough and you would rebel against the system. But where would that point be? Do you know your triggers?

And what would you do? Would you take the first step or wait for some charismatic leader to rally behind? Would you decide to enter politics or law to change the things that you could not abide? Or. Would you fight to the death for the freedoms that you value?

And if so would you do it as a warrior in some people's army against the government? Or would you become a terrorist? Or a supporter that makes supplies for the troops?

Is there a difference?

I like to think that I know how I would respond based on how I have responded to various injustices in my life. But as time goes on it seems that less and less people are willing to stand up for themselves.

The average individual lets others make nearly all of their decisions, has virtually no hand in politics and has the police and armed forces to protect them so that they no longer need to do any fighting personally.

The real question is, has it made our beliefs stronger or weaker as a result?