Dialogue 6 – Politics and friendship

“I think I just lost a good friend,” she said.

“What makes you think that?” he asked.

“Well, we were arguing about a political post she made, and then she just disappeared from my Facebook page.  I think she unfriended me.”

“Was she a really good friend,” he asked.

“My best.”

“Do you think you really lost your best friend over a political post?”

“I don’t see any other reason for it.  What do you think I should do,” she asked?

“Well, if she was really a “friend” you wouldn’t have lost her over a difference of opinion,” he said.  “There’s a big deal of difference between a Facebook friend and a real friend.  A real friend doesn’t drop you when you disagree with her.

“I’ve always said, you can reject a person’s opinions without rejecting the person.”

“Have you always believed that,” she asked.

“In this partisan political climate it’s harder.  But if she’s a real good friend, it’s worth the effort to listen to her opinion even stronger.   That doesn’t mean that you can’t keep your own opinion,.”

“Do you do that,” she asked.

“I try.  Believe me, I try.  In the end its worth it.   Keeping a friend is worth all the effort in the world,” he said.  “I always hope so anyway.”

“Is it,” she asked.

“I guess we’ll see,” he replied.