How important is it to have friends who have different political views that you

1. 83

   LauraGTposted 13 years ago

   How important is it to have friends who have different political views that you do?

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2. 59

   ib radmastersposted 13 years ago

   It is not really important.
   What is important is that people vote for the best candidate regardless of their party.

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3. 57

   kdawsonposted 13 years ago

   I think it is essential.  I believe that Cartesian doubt must be applied to one's self and one's belief.  It you only hear one side of any argument you are ignorant and unqualified to have an opinion.

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4. 67

   Mercia Collinsposted 13 years ago

   If all your friends have the same political views as  you do, no one ever challenges anyone else's opinion and everyone gets complacent.

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5. 0

   Gusserposted 13 years ago

   Why would I want "friends" who are misguided? My opinion is the only correct one.

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6. 39

   loroselineposted 13 years ago

   If you are able to accept criticism from your friends, and if your friends are able to accept criticism, it might not actually be bad to have friends with different views. That way you'll have an intellectual argument, and you'll enrich each other's knowledge.

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7. 0

   ahorsebackposted 13 years ago

   The real answer might be , how open minded are you to accept different ideas ,  Im surprised  at the answers here ,  we can learn so much from each others differences ,  all melding into the final wisdoms that become who each of us are as people . Of course its important to have  different  minded "friends". The choices are,  do we remain closed minded or expand our views . Its more important to grow.....

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8. 61

   nextchapterposted 13 years ago

   The political viewpoint, is not a criteria that I even consider when choosing people as friends.  My friends are caring people, who are entitled to their own opinions, but who also respect the opinions of others.  I do not believe that politics should influence friendship -- it's more a matter of whether or not people are open-minded.

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9. 79

   JamaGeneeposted 13 years ago

   All of my friends happen to have the same political views, but are of different religions.  Meaning I may not be exposed to different ideas politically, but our discussions about religion, faith, and spirituality sure get interesting! And enlightening for all, I might add.  This only works, though, because we respect each other and the right to have an opinion different from the others.

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10. 41

    ChristinSposted 13 years ago

    Absolutely it is important and life enhancing to have friends of different ideologies and beliefs.  As long as you respect one another and can discuss ideas without degrading one another I think it leads to expanding the mind.  There's never anything wrong with expanding one's horizons and seeing all sides of a matter.  People that are so dogged they can't learn from others or insist theirs is the only right opinion are missing out on a lot of opportunities to learn - how unfortunate for them.

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11. 60

    aslaughtposted 13 years ago

    I have friends with different political and religious views.  It's not always been easy,  especially during an election year.  It all boils down to respect.  Different opinions are great,  but the people with the different opinions must respect each other.
    
    I think it does help us to expand our minds and grow as people,  just as long as the respect factor is alive and well.

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