(originally published May 17th, 2005)

Things aren’t always what they seem to be. Have you ever been in a position where you know you’re right and just can’t believe the other person wants to debate you on something? How often, if ever, are you proven to be wrong? If rarely, is it because you really weren’t wrong, or that you just refused to be wrong?

Can two people be right, even if they have a different take on things? It’s an interesting conundrum, one that I’ve thought about for a long time. I’ve come to realize that not only can two people be correct, but multiples of people can be correct, yet be on the opposite sides of something.

What makes it occur is that the issue doesn’t really have a yes or no answer, and the variables are so vast that there’s really no way of saying that one person is ultimately correct or not. Time may prove it one way or another, but right then are there who’s to really say?

I make this point to help open eyes just a little bit more. I’m no different than anyone else in saying I have some strong opinions about a few things, and I’m fair to middlin’ about many others. What I like to believe, however, is that I can see the other person’s side, even if I disagree with it in principle. I can kind of equate it to Christianity; if it’s so agreeable, then why are there so many different variations and sects and ways to show belief in what’s essentially the same thing? Are they all wrong or all they all right, or are they all just whatever they wish it to be?

Try to give others the benefit of the doubt when plausible; you might be amazed at the insight you’ll gain.