If you’re gay, you shouldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton.

In 2004, she was against gay marriage.

So.. you shouldn’t vote for her because she’s a flip flopper.  She can’t make up her mind.  If she doesn’t say the same thing forever, it makes her disloyal.  She’ll change her mind over and over again.

If you’re pro-life, you can’t vote for Donald Trump.

In 1999, he declared himself to be “very pro-choice.”

So, clearly.  He must be lying now.  After all, he even held a fund raiser supporting a pro-choice group, so that’s the REAL truth… the thing he said first is how it is… and how it has to be forever.

The earth is the center of the universe.  It is also flat.  The sun rotates around it. And I’m going to grow up to be a ballerina.

All of these things were strongly held beliefs at one point in time.  Know what happened?  Situations changed, we were given more information, we garnered new understanding, and we CHANGED OUR MINDS.

Then, somewhere along the way this became a character flaw… especially in politics.  Unless you dig your heels in and feel the same way for your ENTIRE life no matter what circumstances present themselves, the media tells us that we must see people as disingenuous.

We are to see opinions that change with the times or with new information as weak and suspect.

It is my wish that we see how dangerous this line of thinking is.

This is a direct attack on critical thinking.  With this reasoning, the idea is that once you arrive at a decision you’re never supposed to question it again.  You’re supposed to stop thinking, say “I’m right,” and have that be the end of it.  In essence, it’s a brainwashing of yourself.

I understand the appeal of this.  “Whew, okay…  so we have nine planets, seven continents, Christianity is the only real religion, the day is 24 hours long, and Texas is the best state.”  There’s nothing to really worry about with those thoughts.  Everything is done.  Everything is a fact.  There is no room for argument and no need to listen to other opinions because everything is a done deal.

Confirmation bias is a very real thing, and I don’t know ANYONE who is above it.  Think about something you REALLY believe in…  Trump or Hillary, which restroom transgender people should use, gun rights, rape culture, BLM, hunting, Chevy or Ford…  get it in your mind…that thing that is really important to you…  Do you already feel your defenses boiling up inside you?  Are you already wanting to support your opinion? Which articles do you want to read more?  Do you want to read the ones that go AGAINST your opinion or the ones that support?  When you are reading those that go AGAINST your opinion, are you looking for ways to change your mind?… or… and be honest with yourself… are you looking for flaws in the opposing argument?  Can you really read with an open mind?

So, to me…  that flip flopping…  I think it might be a good thing.  I think the changing of a belief that was previously strongly held is a very painful process.  I think when people change their minds so completely, that change comes after a lot of new information.  Change comes after introspection and consideration. Change comes after learning from mistakes.

But… then again, if you give me more information, I might just change my mind on that, too.