Can we agree to disagree, please?

These are testing times, Covid-19 aside. Hard to believe, right? There is a lot of discord in the world as we speak. For somehow in the middle of a pandemic we've found a way to express our views on social causes, political decisions, media-fed trials, and more - for, life has to go on, right? Expression of views is not a bad thing, but it comes with an asterisk, which reads, conditions apply. Yes, whilst, we're trying to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, hoping for the economy to recover faster than it possibly can in the current situation, grieving over personal, financial, and professional losses; we're also managing to argue with one another, and unfortunately, ruining friendships of years.
We all have an opinion, yes. We all should have an opinion, yes. We are all well aware, or at least we think so. We all have social media accounts and a voice, we aspire to get heard. So far, so good. The chaos and the bitterness creeps in when we realise there is a difference of opinion. In 2020, more than ever, the cacophony is dominant. 
We're losing friends over decisions taken by international politicians. These loud discussions are happening on phone calls with friends, even at workplaces, with colleagues, who we thought were friends. Political ideologies are now sitting on the same table, where we once had lunch in peace. In our living rooms, we're arguing over whether it is okay to have friends over or us visiting them; the POV on what is safe and safe enough have been the issue of contention. "But, we will sit at a distance and it will be just the four of us?" We're divided, for we are confused, scared, and burnt out. On WhatsApp groups, we're refusing to stay mute or mute the group, when an actor's suicide case is brought up or another's blaring opinion on the same is shared. We're running our version of media trials on family and friends' group. Should we send our kids to school, or keep them safe at home? Exhausted parents are arguing with each other, and the children, who in shock are trying to adapt, each day.  
Healthy discussions on the necessary and unnecessary are always welcome, provided we're willing to hear out a view, which is not the same as ours. Whatever happened to the idea of agreeing to disagree with one another? Could we please give it a thought, a chance? Leaving you with a little something to help you started: Sushmita Sen, better known, loved and admired as Miss Universe 1994, also an Indian actor, model and more, shared an interesting visual on her Instagram on Sunday. It read: Our culture has accepted two huge lies.The first is that if you disagree with someone, you must hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don't have to compromise convictions to be compassionate. It garnered more than 240,000 hearts, and counting. 
Prevalent racism, gloomy pandemic, personal choices, and restricted environment for kids.let's remember that we need one another more than ever in these times. Let's not fall apart over a disagreement, for we all come from different places and our current living situations are not the same either. -purva@khaleejtimes.com