In defense of the 12 year old - that letter could have been written by a 12 year old. I have a very intellegent 10 year old, he has an extensive vocabulary. He learned Algebra in his gifted classes last year, he reads at a High School level. Yet he immitates things his friends do - the fist bumps, the way they talk, small items that allow him to fit in. She may be at the age where she knows what words to use - but squeals OMG! to fit in with her friends. Just pointing that out.

It is very apparent that Cassie has only been exposed to the "hate" gays factor’s in her life.  Whereas Hippie either know’s a gay person - or is also been exposed to loving all your fellow humans.

Hippie should suggest to Cassie - since she is so adement and full trained and taught to "hate gays"  Hippie might think about creating a challenge - for her and Cassie to make a study out of gay’s.  Maybe do an essay or report on them.  During this study neither- will not be allowed to use any opinions from Cassies parents or family, nor are they allowed to use any from Hippie or her parents and family.

List 6 resources each- one being the bible if wished, but must average out a report of pro and con. And if their parents will allow - to accompany them to meet at least two gays - guy’s or gal’s would be acceptable. 

Then exchange the reports with each other - take them home  to read in solitude.  Meet and shake hands and no more mentioning hate for another human being. 

This way the girl’s have actually went out and searched for their own conclusion.  One for WHY they hate and the other for why they dont.

As long as there are young folks like the wondeful one who wrote to Margo, there is hope in this world! We all have people in our lives who drive us up the wall with their strange, out-of-sync, politically button-pushing opinions that they are absolutely bound and determined to hang onto despite anything and everything to the contrary. OK. So be it. But to read the letter from a young person who is actively seeking ways to learn more, do more and widen horizons - what a breath of fresh air. My advice would be, since a move to a larger school is looming in a couple of weeks, to get involved in some great after-school activities that will enable our letter-writer to meet lots of new people. This will have the advantage of helping on the learning and growing journey, as well as limiting time spent with her friend - who is a buzz-killer. I have one friend whom I love dearly, and respect for her terrific insights into many areas of life. But when it comes to politics, she and I must not engage ourselves in discussion. One friend of mine describes himself as being so politically left he is almost ashamed to admit he’s right-handed! I echo that sentiment, while my other friend is situated slightly to the right of Bill O’Reilly. So I take the fun stuff, as does she, and we agree to mostly keep out of the political pond. Good luck to Hip in school this fall! Something tells me all will work out just great!

As a compulsive reader, I never go ANYwhere without a book and my journal. Nothing is more appealing to some people, however, than the sight of a woman reading a book or scribbling in a journal. I’ve had people ask polite questions about whether the book is good - which I always answer politely. But all too often, it seems that people think they are somehow "rescuing" me from isolation and loneliness. "Poor thing - look at her at that table for one, nose in a book, or writing some sad thing in a notebook. I’ll just go over and give her a lift." To me, a table - or park bench, or beach blanket for one is a choice I embrace. And having a book means I am NOT alone. Writing in my journal means I am actively engaged and perfectly contented. I appreciate a sincere comment about a book: "I read that and LOVED it!" being my favorite. I try not to intrude on others when I see them similarly occupied, although I did strike up a conversation about a year ago with a teenager I used to see around. A head-to-toe black-clad, inked up Goth kid, always alone. Heard there were problems at her home. One day, I saw her reading one of the Sandman graphic novels, and I stopped and asked if she had read anything else by Gaiman. She said no, but that she really liked him, and I recommended Coraline and American Gods. Sure enough, about a week later, she and I passed one another, and she grinned and pulled a copy of Coraline out of her bag and waved it at me. I grinned back and gave a thumbs up. But for the most part, when I’m into a book, or writing in a journal, I want to enjoy my journey. And I extend that courtesy to others.

Regarding Focus Interruptus

I read also, as often as I can and where ever I can. I am looking forward, as a matter of fact, to someday owning a Kindle. Sounds like a sort of heaven to me to have a library of books to choose from tucked neatly inside of my purse.

I simply tell the truth. I engage in the conversation just long enough to determine whether I want to continue or I don’t. If I don’t I simply say:

"I’ve really enjoyed chatting with you but I am going to return to reading now."

 I smile when I say. In almost all cases this works…except with children. They are the reason I carry a couple of little children’s books in my purse.

It is SO funny that the title of Margo’s column today is "out of the mouth of babes" I have to share MY experience. I am so not a George Bush fan, I could go on and on about the man, I won’t….so, with that being said, when Obama and McCain were running for office my husband and I would have discussions on how we hoped Obama would win because we didn’t care for McCain.

Little did we know that StevieAnn, our 7 year old sprite, would be taking it all in and taking notes too !!! I picked her up from school one afternoon and asked how her day was. She informed me she had a terrible day and when I asked why she told me this lil story, it seems the teacher handed out two pages to each child, one had a picture of McCain and one had Obama, and they were told to color them.

StevieAnn, in all her glory did just that , and she even added some handy dandy extras to the McCain picture, what, might you ask would that be? Well, it was horns!!! When the teacher asked her why she added horns to her picture she batted her eyes and told the teacher in her sweetest voice.

" I added horns because John McCain is bad, he is George Bush’s evil minion!!!!" The teacher was not amused and gave my dear daughter a severe talking to, I, however laughed my ass off!!!

Out of the mouth of babes indeed!!!!!

I think a lot of folks are getting caught up on LW1’s friend’s ideology, rather than on the writer’s stated problem: "I do not want to hear everyone ranting about their freakin’ opinions!" She wants to talk about things like moving up to middle school, but instead she gets political diatribes.

I’m sure she knows that she can avoid this by dumping her best friend. But can she solve the problem without losing a friendship that’s important to her? (Anybody who’s ever been a 12-year-old girl should know that abandoning your best friend is a pretty traumatic move.)

I think that the only way is to stop trying to "convert" the friend’s thinking and just try to declare certain topics off-limits. "Look, we’re never going to agree on some of this so let’s just not talk politics, ok?" It’s worth a try before getting more drastic.

P.S. Yes, some twelve-year-olds can definitely write like that. Heck, my husband once thought our SIX-year-old had copied a book report from the back of the book because it sounded so slick. She just absorbs the style of what she reads.

Adults have the same problem as Hippie and Cassie.  I have friends that I have known for years but it seems that everyone is polarized over guns, gays, god and babies.   I don’t feel the same about a friend who said she was  attending a class at her church about gay marriage.  I asked her what was the purpose of the class.  She said she didn’t know what to think about it.  She didn’t know if it was right.