I was involved in a pretty heated, but controlled, discussion on Facebook the other day. It related to politics, the economy, and such…but that’s not really important. What is important is a comment that was made to me. The guy I was debating said “I’m afraid you’re on the wrong side of history”.

I didn’t take it quite the way he intended. His intention was to point out that I’m out of touch with the way things are going and I needed to get back on track, accept that things are changing, and pretty much shut the heck up. While I thought he knew me better than that, I guess I was wrong in that regard.

You see, I’m proud to be standing on the “wrong” side of some things. There were people who told Dr. Martin Luther King that he was on the wrong side of history, but he kept persevering, and things got better. Mahatma Ghandi was on the wrong side of history, until he changed it. I’m not delusional enough to think that I’m a Dr. King or a Ghandi, but I do know that there are times when you have to travel alone, on the “wrong” side of things before everyone realizes who was right.

There are certain things that I believe in, and I’m proud to espouse them. I believe that people are basically good, and that large groups can do amazing things. Sure they can do stupid and hateful things, but for the most part folks are good.

I believe that individuals will do what is best for them and their families, especially when there is little interference or disincentives to do so. I believe that folks will go through Hell and high water for their families, even against the odds.

I believe that most parents want the best for their kids. They will sacrifice for those kids, even when their kids are being bratty and self-centered.

I believe that people will help their neighbors in times of crisis. I’ve recently seen examples where the level of help was absolutely beyond anything I could imagine.

I’m not afraid to take a stand. I’ll use my ability to write and speak to make my points. I’m willing to go toe-to-toe with folks and make my points. I’m also civil enough to listen to what other folks have to say. I’m a firm believer that it’s best to listen to those with different points of view than to just shout them down.

Most of all, I believe that one small voice can be the start of something big. Like I said, I’m no Ghandi or Dr. King, but I do believe that they started with small voices at their dinner tables, in the streets, and in the coffee houses. They formulated their ideas, made their arguments, and sought out those of like minds as well as those of differing opinions, honing their ideas along the way.

While my friend believes that I’m on the wrong side of history in that particular argument, I respectfully disagree. It would be totally against my nature, my ethics, and my morality to compromise my stance to be on what he considers the “right side of history”.

I would rather be known for being the voice of opposition than to quietly watch things spiral down into an abyss that will hurt us all.

How about you…which side of history are you on?