When in a sticky situation does your opinion adjust to the audience you're addressing or do you make your argument and stand by it come high tide?
 
In a debate, do you waffle or are you firm in your argument?
 
Right, wrong or indifferent, do you express your stance or do you waiver when the topic gets hot?
 
Whether you're arguing your overcharge at the Department Store or Hospital or expressing your opinion in front of the school board, how you deliver your beliefs at the present,  determines how you will be thought of in the future.
 
We lose respect for Politicians and other elected officials when in private they support your stance, and in a Public forum, they will say and do the opposite.  Not to spark a debate on the upcoming election, but look at how divided the Democratic Party is right now.......even they cannot make a solid commitment on who should stay or who should go or if they both should run together.  As a card carrying member of the DNC, I am disgusted at those whom we've placed our trust and vote in come November. 
 
The same goes with people we deal with everyday....Doctor, Clergy, Friends, Advisors, Co-workers.  How often have you gone to those you've trusted or wished to form an alliance; felt you had one and then........BOOM!!!!...They've broken your trust and confidence  by running to the other side.  When you ask why, they can't seem to give you an upfront answer.  It would be OK if they said, with conviction, they weighed all the facts and then came to another conclusion.  I can respect that; but when they cannot even tell you that, did you want their alliance in the first place?  The answer should be a resounding.....NO!!!! 
 
We all want to be liked and invited into the inner circle of a clique.......but at what cost?  People should like you for WHO you are...opinions and all.   And if you can't join the inner circle because you believe something different.......then they can step off...you shouldn't want to be in their company anyway.  It doesn't matter either if your opinion is right, wrong or indifferent......You've got to express yourself! That's the difference between Respect and disrespect. Your true friends will respect you even if you've acted like the southbound end of a northbound mule. The false ones will drop you like yesterday's news.  Scrape 'em off.....they weren't worth  the  effort.
 
Respect, like love, starts within yourself.  You can't love or respect someone until you love and respect yourself first. 
And remember.............................Opinions are like the holes in your body......everybody has at least one.
 
So the next time you're in a quandry about whether you should or shouldn't......... GO FOR IT!!!  And remember...... It doesn't matter if you win or lose, but how you stand  by your opinions, beliefs, and convictions. 
 
Enjoy your day!  Cheryl