Opposition.

Michael: Wait. You forgetting something?
Oscar: What?
Michael: This chat. Two men, one white, one latina. A boss and a money cruncher. I could fire you.
Oscar: What's your point.
Michael: My point is... that as long as people like you and me don't stop talking, nobody can stop the USA.

The other day I was in the gas station and overheard a couple arguing over by the fountain soda station about something unrelated to soda, however they were still together and both seemed to agree on one thing, to drink a soda. If a robber were to come into the gas station and threaten the lives of its customers, would whatever the couple had a disagreement on still exist? Would the once large instance of disagreement, more than likely a miscommunication, be a memory in the face of losing the life of a partner? In this instance, the opposition from which the couple had toward one another, a differing of opinions, would switch to the opposition against them, no longer making sense to oppose each other. After the robbery, the couple may now appreciate each other more, appreciate their own life more, and may even appreciate soda a little more intensely. 

Opposition has a funny way of bringing about the best or worst in us depending on who implicated the opposition and what we were being opposed to. If you come in my office and simply threaten to take my pen, I might not think too much of it, except that is quite an odd thing to “steal.” Where if you come into my office and threaten my life, all of a sudden any ill feelings I have towards the police are set aside as the panic button gets pushed and I pray to God they show up. I went from being impartial to police to relying on them as though they were my best friend, my confidant in a time of need. I did not call my wife, nor a childhood friend, but a stranger, a stranger with the expectation to assist me in this vulnerable, helpless, time of need. 

Opposition is necessary for relationships to grow. Not only are we trying our best to survive physically, but socially as well. To make connections with other people, other resources; grow our own minds to be more creative, productive, and again, survive and procreate. We cannot do these things alone, for ideas only come about with the influence of other people, even through, yes, opposition. 

America was born and raised on opposition, even within herself. We banded together when 9/11 happened, and every tragedy after that has some significant indicator as to what to call it so its supporters can show their affiliation. I can’t tell you if I am more Boston Strong or Vegas Strong, maybe I am primarily Paris Strong. What we do is respond to opposition by banding together, setting aside smaller, insignificant differences as we see the larger threat. No longer is skin color a matter when we are in battle to survive, or even a battle in a sporting arena for that matter. No longer do people care for backgrounds if the weather turns on us and it is us versus her. If a bear comes at me, which believe it or not, has never happened, anyone with a stick or rock or sharp enough pencil just moved up my Facebook friends list (Remember there used to be TOP friends). 

What has to happen in life is opposition. Whether or not you respond well to the necessary component of any relationship is up to you and what you perceive as threatening and just how threatening you perceive the opposition. If you view your life being taken, then the discord in a relationship, or the reliance on another, may increase 10-fold. If I feel someone threatened my department at work, then even the most unfavorable coworker and I have one thing in common and all the differences I dwelled on for so long, all of a sudden, poof. Opposition is what makes agreement significant, for if everyone agreed all the time, then there would be nothing ever changing, things wouldn’t get done. Nobody would set up a reason to change if we all agree. 

Here I am having to prove that opposition is necessary as though anyone with half a brain would logically disagree, but then again, I do need even a possible opposition to make my statement of any significance. Without opposition, even to the most truthful, obvious statements, then the statement has no validity, for even research has to be falsified, and research is the scientific foundation on which so many people’s beliefs lie. Even God has the less than, Devil, and Heaven has its Hell. What we choose to do is to hopefully end up on the winning side and do our best to reinforce it. 

Over time or through any relationship, if there are no, “hard times” or opposition to a way of life, then the discord will be left to within the relationship, a cancerous problem where discounting of each other’s opinions and ideas, just enough to do something, again, just enough to change. For some this means start over, with someone new, for others it can mean to change from within therefore reducing the conflict, because after all, it probably was your fault, something we can all agree on. 

Appreciate the opposition, see the purpose in even the most painful situations or disagreements. Click Here for me versus myself, the best opponent in mental health.