Like many people, I count among my Facebook followers relatives, former co-workers, old high school chums, and (of course) many Progressive activists. Many in those first three groups are religious (to a certain extent) and conservative-leaning, even if they're not politically active. In the past, I have avoided making political statements on my personal page, with the exception of environmental issues. There's more than enough drama out there without setting the stage for a pissing contest between the people who follow me.

But there's also a little voice in the back of my mind that says, "If you're not willing to speak your mind in front of your friends, for fear they might reject how you feel, are they really friends?"

The answer is: I don't know. I don't want to become that person who avoids anybody that isn't just like me, and I know you can disagree with another person (sometimes a lot) and still be there to help each other. My friend James would probably tell me it's healthy to push yourself out of a comfort zone from time to time, and the truth is *always* preferable to dissembling or avoiding. Film at eleven.