Differences

I have been thinking a lot about things that are happening in the world today and the differences of individuals. I am definitely a strong, religious conservative. I know and love people who think completely opposite of how I do on many different topics. This does not change how I feel about them one bit, and I would hope that my differences don't make them love me any less. I accept them for who they are, but it does not change my view on how things should be. Thankfully we live in a country where we are able to express ourselves. However, I am saddened by some of the events happening. I hear all of the time on t.v. and the Internet about 'acceptance, tolerance, etc'. It seems to me that a lot of times this is only expected to go one way. I can love you and accept you without changing my beliefs (or try to do what i think is best for me, my family and country), but I deserve the same thing in return. Those words do not mean 'change how you feel and what you believe or you are a bigot'. I saw on t.v. that yesterday there was a huge march at the L.A. temple and that there will be another one in Salt Lake tonight. Yesterday they had to shut the temple down. Where is the respect in that? I have seen people shouting at brides on temple square through bull-horns about the bride going to hell. Where is the respect in that? I have read about people on both sides of the abortion issue screaming and giving death threats. Respect? I remember my dad and our family receiving death threats when he voted to have no clubs in the schools to keep inappropriate clubs from being there. You may not agree with me, but I deserve the same respect that you do. I believe that God loves all of us and expects us to treat each other with dignity and respect. It needs to go both ways. Love me for who I am and I will love you for who you are. We may not change each other's beliefs but we can still love one another.