Ever listened to two people or two groups argue? Both opponents believe there is only one real truth – mine! Doesn’t matter how loudly the other side yells. Doesn’t make a difference how many facts the other side lays out and cites triumphantly. These volunteer advocates for living with sky high blood pressure scoff at anything that doesn’t back up what they know to be ‘the absolute Truth, so help me God.’

You’ve seen it happen, or probably been part of it at some point. Sure you have, don’t lie to me.

You can frequently hear it between parents at little league games. Although at those friendly little get-togethers, often the two enemies have a shared target in the umpires or referees. God help the poor misguided man or woman who agrees to be the judge and jury for a game between the kids of super competitive moms and dads.

And if you could somehow hide under the kitchen sink or the bed in many of our All-American homes, you could definitely experience first-hand the foundations of a civil war in the making. It’s a no-holds-barred, nothing-out-of-bounds free for all. And the one who wins is as emotionally bloodied as the loser. And don’t even get me started writing about the effects on their kids.

How about between belligerent, unhappy neighbors? Ever hear the verbal guerrilla fights that can occur over who truly owns, and therefore has undisputed territorial rights, regarding that six-inchwide strip of grass that lies between their fence lines? I have heard of wars between entire countries started with less insults, curse words, and all-out threats thrown at each other.

Speaking of countries ready to throw down their gardening tools and cooking utensils, and take up arms against each other … I have lost count of how many countries in the last few months that are fed up with the actions of another, and have been lobbing friendly little bombs over the border at each other. Subtle little messages that are saying, “Hello there, neighbor, it’s me again. Reminding you that your ungentle actions have offended my country.”

Oh yeah, that’ll make the other side want to call and extend a warm, heartfelt invitation to meet for coffee and pancakes.

And now that I’ve brought up pancakes. Those little morsels always have two sides. Never seen one that didn’t. Same with arguments. But try explaining that simple fact to two angry opponents in a marriage or in a board meeting. It always seems that they suddenly develop acute hearing, vision and memory problems.

Simply put, most of us don’t want to realize that the other side just may have some valid points, and that, “maybe I might be a tad bit at fault for the problem I’m having with my neighbor or my spouse.”

It sure makes the work of ambassadors, referees and relationship counselors rather spicy and interesting.

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