By Ron Price* — My 105-year-old mother-in-law, who lives with my wife and me, has seen a few changes over her life span. As I near my 70th birthday, I can say the same for myself. Not all the changes I have seen would I consider favorable. This seems to be especially true of the rapid societal changes I see or hear about today. No doubt, some changes are necessary and positive, but I have a hard time accepting the “cancel culture” that seems to be so predominant on the news-–at least that’s what I hear.

So, since I want to fit in and not be an oddball, I thought I should give you seven reasons why you should cancel me, unfriend me, or simply unsubscribe from my email list.

I was born and raised in the Jewish faith. In this part of the country, it is safe to assume that you likely did not. Therefore, according to the prevailing custom, you and I must not have anything to do with each other. On the chance that you are Jewish, you must know that I am now a Christian and a follower of my Lord Jesus Christ, so feel free to write me off on those grounds.

Perhaps you, too, are a Christian, making you want to accept me back into your circle of acceptance. Before you do that, however, you might want to know that I am a member of the Seventh-day Adventist faith, so of course, unfriending is your only reasonable option.

I doubt there are many people left still reading this post, but I will continue, nonetheless. I describe myself as a moderate conservative in terms of my political leaning. While I am happy to dialogue with any who tend toward the more liberal or more conservative view of life, I realize that is simply not allowed today. So, while I will miss you, I fully understand that you no longer care to know what I have to say.

Still there? I have been married to the same woman for more than 40 years, and I believe that “marriage” is an institution for two people of opposite genders. I have no problem with civil unions and affording people equal rights based on lifestyles that do not infringe on other’s rights, but that view is not to be tolerated, so again, I wish you well.

Did I mention that I was born and remain a member of the Caucasian portion of the human race? I don’t like the term “white” because as I look at something that genuinely is white, it does not look like my skin tone. If I see you, I will still greet you as warmly as possible if your skin does not match mine, but I will accept the chance that you will not return in kind.

We all know that it is only permissible in today’s culture to associate with people who look like us, think like us, vote like us, believe like us, etc., so again I understand why you would want me out of your life. Well, at least I’m trying to understand, but to be honest, I’m having a hard time doing so.

I have some other thoughts to share on this matter, which I will plan to address next time. I guess it really won’t matter, though, will it? Since I am the only person on the planet with whom I can relate, I will be the only one who reads it. I sure hope I’m not too critical of what I write.

*Ron Price MA writes a regular column on www.RonPrice.com.  He is the owner/operator of Productive Outcomes, Inc., and has spent the last 30+ years as a mediator, helping people resolve their differences with others. He provides in-person and virtual training on a variety of life skills. He is a member of Piñon Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church in Farmington, New Mexico. For more information, visit www.RonPrice.com. To add your name to his weekly mailing list, please send him an email at Ron@RonPrice.com. Originally titled, “Seven Reasons Why You Should Unfriend Me,” the article is reprinted by permission.