“People aren’t afraid to keep the company of someone with whom they disagree, because I’ve proven to be respectful, I just happen to disagree with them.This is where peaceful, cooperative dialogue exists–a necessity for liberty.”
Read more at Thoughts on Liberty.
I’ve also found, through long experience, that your chances of having a respectful, useful interchange depend upon the level of fundamentalism you and the other person have. I don’t just mean religion. If somebody’s views of finance, politics, even music are ultra-orthodox anything, they won’t be able to bend or take a step toward walking in the other person’s shoes. Everyone’s an individual, but people are essentially more alike than different. Fundamentalism emphasizes the differences, and it increases conflicts and animosity.