I live in the United States of America
in a Southern state and I drink SWEET TEA
and I really enjoy it—it’s the only way to drink tea!

Now I know that there are people out there
who drink their tea unsweetened and
there are even some who don’t
drink tea at all—how sad!

So consider this . . . SWEET TEA supports
the job market in many areas like sugar
cane fields and the companies that process
the sugar and the vendors who sell it and the
ones who put it on the shelves in the stores—
I feel really good about drinking SWEET TEA—
it’s the right thing to do!

Of course, then there are those who drink
their tea unsweetened, just plain tea, and I
guess they could say they support the
tea plantations, the companies that process
the tea, the vendors who sell it, and
the ones who put it on the shelves in
the stores—yeah, that’s okay, I guess.

Then there are people who do not drink tea
at all! Maybe they don’t care for the taste,
maybe they have some sort of health issue
that prevents them from drinking tea, or
a religious belief that prohibits drinking tea,
or some other reason, but they just
don’t drink tea in any form—that’s a bummer!

That’s why living in the United States of
America has always been different than
other countries . . .
the idea that each person should have
the right to choose to drink SWEET TEA
or unsweetened tea
or no tea at all is a part of the
basic “freedom” package.

SO . . . come on, folks . . .
allowing each of us to choose
how we drink our tea—SWEET TEA
or unsweetened tea,
or not at all—
is what shows that we are willing to
allow others to have the same freedom
we want for ourselves.

I cannot demand a right for myself
that I am not willing to give to another.

Of course, trying to apply this concept
to other subjects has proven to be
almost impossible because of the
intensity of emotions involved.
Why?

Why can we not seem to be able
to discuss issues with each other
respectfully
and
with a willingness to listen to
the other person’s views
without flying into
angry defense mode” AND
how did we reach the point of
having to make all others
conform to our view of anything
while we do not even consider their
view or ridicule it?