Facts and Opinions

Just remember that no one has feelings or thoughts that are true or false.  You can agree or disagree with someone's thoughts, but you can not say those thoughts are true or are not.  They belong to that person.  They are inside that person.  You are not that person, so you can't say what is inside him or her.  You can only agree or disagree with the statements that person makes about the thoughts.  That is, you can only say if you have the same thoughts inside you or don't have them.  Okay?

This comes from a book I am teaching (BREAKING THE CODE IN READING COMPREHENSION).  We are studying facts and opinions.  The book teaches that you can find opinions by looking for certain words.  We are at the level now where we are looking for words that tell how a person feels.  Those would be OPINIONS.

I have been around some people who seem to think that their OPINIONS  are FACTS.    They think it is their way or the highway.  If you don't agree with them, then you are wrong.  It is hard when instructing my child to admit that she can have an opinion that differs from mine.  She is growing up and she is entitled....even if I think she is wrong!!! Knowing how it makes me feel when I am not free to have my own opinion, I need to start letting my daughter freely express her opinions.  Oh Lord, just help me survive it!!!  Her opinions about her clothing, the boys she likes, the way she wants to fix her hair....I swear if she would just listen to me and do what I say....well....    OH, OK, everyone has opinions about everything.  We need to learn to express our opinions in a positive manner and accept other's opinions.  Give peace a chance....that's all I'm asking....