It's not WHAT your opinion is, but WHY you have it that counts.

"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as a cause for withdrawing from a friend." Thomas Jefferson

It's an election year, and the rhetoric is in full swing. 

Debating has become a part of our daily life. In the media, online and in real life, we practice that human concept of taking a stand and defending our position. I'm as guilty of sharing my views as the next person. Now that I can Tweet, Reddit, pin and post it, there are many more places to find oneself shooting from the hip - and many times without thinking first. And sometimes, you can hit a nerve or two. Thank goodness for the delete button.

And while some people's opinions might surprise me, I never let them come between a friendship.

What person someone backs for a political position is not the stuff their character is made of. A far more joyous perspective is to invest some time in finding out why they have made the choice. It shows you care, and that you see them as they are - an individual - not a mindless member of a super group.

In our big and blended family, we are very diverse. 

And one of the best ways we can show our love and respect for each of them is to allow for those differences. But we have always stressed one important caveat: The most important thing to know WHAT you believe, but rather, WHY you believe it.

Debate helps us to bring definition to the why. So don't cower from it.
Celebrate it. Just know the why.

Cheers.