I don’t know if it’s the same in the U.S., but here in Belgium, all anyone can talk about is the potential of the Brexit. As I write this on Thursday morning, the British polls have just opened. By this evening we’ll know which way things will go.

Despite the fact that I have moved from the American capital to the European one, politics is much more of a common topic of conversation here. As is true in Washington, a good percentage of the population here is from somewhere else—usually another European country, although there are quite a few South Americans, Africans and Asians. In fact, of all the many people I’ve met since I moved here (including shop keepers and clerks), only one person has claimed to be from Belgium, and she was born in Argentina of Eastern European Jewish parents.

As in DC, when you meet someone new here, the first thing you ask is “where do you work?” after that, the next question is always “where are you from?”.

With the political turmoil currently happening here in Europe and the varying backgrounds of those discussing it, you get an amazing, if not surprising, variety of viewpoints.

Imagine, if you will, what it’s like to be at a party where almost no one is from the same country and where every race and religion is represented—I attended one that was almost that way last weekend. In such a situation, how safe it is, do you think to preach your own point of view?

I would recommend that one mention their political beliefs, say what you think, but then be open to truly listening to what others have to say because they come from such a different background; because they have completely different experience; because they might be able to shed a new light on the subject.

This is the way I view Facebook as well—and all social media. It is an opportunity to converse—which includes listening and not just talking—with a vast number of people from every country in the world, from every religion and, just about, every socio-economic class.

When I’m at a party, such as the one I attended last weekend, I prefer to stand back, to watch. On Facebook, I do a lot of lurking, but I also try to contribute a bit here and there, but only rarely—almost never—do I make my political opinions known because I’m not there to preach or to teach or to convince anyone that what I think is right. I’m there to learn and to make friends, and friends can’t be made if one person is offended by the views of another.

So, all this is a long-winded way to say: be careful about what you say in public. Be careful of what you post on Facebook, Twitter and anywhere else, because it is public, even if you think it’s just going to a few like-minded friends. Be mindful of the opinions of others.

We all want to be friends and write and read great books, because that’s really what’s important.

Rant/lecture over with. Please tell me what you think—agree or disagree in the comments below (I won’t be offended)!