Unwelcome Truths

Amidst the uproar over politics, some fundamental facts are disregarded by all parties in their protests against various individuals and ideologies. Instead of rationally discussing the merits of different ideas to move toward the truth, many arguments sink into the morass of fallacy as people seek to protect their beliefs from refutation. I therefore offer these few unwelcome truths resisted by most people on all sides of any issue:

1. Opposition to a proposed solution is not ignorance of the problem. Recognition of a problem is not ipso facto proof for the necessity of any given solution. Beware the Politician's Syllogism.
2. Disagreement is not hostile discrimination. Accusations of racism, socialism or any other -ism in the face of disagreement (absent clear verifiable evidence of such) is just an ad hominem attack demonstrating the weakness of your own position.
3. Hurt feelings are not an actionable injury. Ostracize the offending individual if that person is obviously just a troll out to cause grief, but grow up and explore the conflicting ideas if you might actually be the one in the wrong. And just because someone is trolling you, don't assume it proves you are in the right...
4. Other people opposing your worldview means you might be wrong. Be open to this possibility. The world is full of alternative facts that need to be overcome despite emotional attachment. Examine your own core beliefs through the lens of reason and evidence. Then you can better defend what you find still persuasive, and know where to seek new information when you find weaknesses.
5. The use of violence for any purpose beyond proportionate self-defense against a clear and present danger is itself initiatory aggression against the equal rights of others. If you need to confront opposing ideas with violence, perhaps your own ideas are too weak to stand on their own.

Source

Growth hurts sometimes. The natural urge of humans as social creatures is too readily perverted into tribalism, and logical fallacies are used to build walls to defend against intellectual opposition. A strong argument can withstand criticism. A weak argument must be strengthened rationally, or else modified/abandoned in the face of reason.

Never stop questioning and learning.

EDIT - One more unwelcome truth: You and that other person you think needs to read this the most are probably thinking the exact same thing about one another right now. Don't let confirmation bias get the best of you!