2016 is a year for the history books. Between the killer clown craze, the Olympics and the election, many people are finding themselves confused, hurt, angry and even afraid for what the future holds.

    So what do we do next?

    We have to move on. We need to focus on the future. We have to look at what happened this year and learn from its events.

    Discrimination has always been a part of human history; even today, people are still fighting various forms of discrimination, such as that of gender, wealth, race and lifestyle choices.

For example, vegans face discrimination because of their choice to not consume animal products. Many people mock the vegan lifestyle, even if there are legitimate reasons behind it.      

    In fact, many religions, such as Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam, encourage some form of abstaining from animal products, even going farther than just food, such as leather.

In the case of Chenzira v. Cincinnati Childrens’ Hospital, a vegan employee, Sakile Chenzira, was fired for refusing an egg-based vaccine for herself. She claimed that it was violating her right to religious freedom because she was simply following her ethical beliefs. The case was eventually closed in Chenzira’s favor, but the discussion of whether or not veganism is protected under religious  freedom continues.

    Some vegans choose to be vegan because they refuse to contribute to an industry they believe is corrupt. Others choose to follow the lifestyle for health or religious reasons. There are many reasons people believe the things they do, and we, as humans, must try to understand why, without judging their decisions.

    And, like how vegans shouldn’t be harassed for their lifestyle choice, no one should face intolerance and hatred for the candidate they supported in the 2016 election. Each of us has our own reasons for choosing a candidate, or not choosing one at all. If we want to progress as a country, we can’t be filled with hatred for our fellow citizens. The Mill Stream believes that everyone has the right to stand up for their beliefs without facing intolerance and hatred.

    The First Amendment may protects citizens’ rights to freedom of speech, but that doesn’t mean they can say whatever they want with no consequences. In a country with a population of almost 320 million, there will always be disagreements in opinion. Sometimes it even leads to full-scale protests, such as the recent Dakota Ppipeline Access protest and those breaking out all over the country beacuse of the election. And while disagreements don’t have to be destructive, intolerance and hatred direct at people with different beliefs only furthers the current divide in our country.

    So instead of writing off people who disagree with you as idiots or bigots, talk to them. Have a conversation with them. Put aside your beliefs to listen to another’s. Reach across the divide instead of pushing people away.

     Here’s a 2017 resolution: broaden your horizons and try to understand other people. Even if you disagree, even if you 100% oppose their ideas, listen. That’s where you’ll learn the most.