Those little ions behind our LCD screens that make up our cyber space playground are getting heated! Facebook is an odd bird; it’s an obsession for some, a casual acquaintance for others, an electronic tabloid to go with our morning java or afternoon break. A place to give friends a high-five in the form of a thumbs-up, a place to share photos of your food, your dog or your latest vacation. A place to be silly, a place to be witty, and place to banter with strangers of similar thought, a place of computerized camaraderie that brightens a day, if only for a few minutes …

… and then there’s politics.

Memes with an orange hair comb over do battle with the nutty old man from the Muppets. Fiery Lefties and impassioned Righties comment and hit the “like” button with furor, “I’m right” “You’re wrong,” You say “To-MOT-oe” while I know it’s “To-MATE-oe” so let’s call the whole thing off.

Click. Unfriend. Ouch.

I was in my car last night listening to a drive-time political show on the commute home and went into a laughing fit over something that in actuality, isn’t really that funny, but just happens to strike you at a the moment. The hot topic naturally was what’s been happening with the recent terrorist attack in California and the president’s address, yada yada yada. A woman called in with an excitable tone in her voice and a pronounced southern drawl. She gave the show’s host her opinion on the matter and between catches of breath added, “I even had to UNFRIEND my son today!” The host responded to her comments then laughed, “Now go FRIEND your son again, and don’t let politics ruin your holiday.”

I had a belly-laugh. The thought of this woman, sitting behind her computer screen with perhaps a cigarette dangling from her terse lips or a cup of coffee wobbling near her mouse, and becoming so angry at something typed by a person who once came through her birth canal, struck me as funny. I envisioned her, slightly flushed, searching for the take down menu on her son’s profile page, a page that more than likely had a photo of her smiling with a cocktail in hand, swiftly banishing him from her wall of connected faces. “No Go-Pro dashboard camera for you this Christmas, young man!”

I’ve never unfriended anyone for a political opinion. I believe everyone is entitled to their beliefs, opinions and personal convictions and as long as they’re shared in a relatively civil and respectful manner, no name calling or over-the-top anger, it’s all fair game. The reason we live in such a great country is precisely because we’re free to state our opinion. And, to prevent those little political embers from becoming a full force flame, there’s a nifty little feature on Facebook called the “unfollow” button or “see less of so-and-so’s posts.” All can be enacted without hurt feelings, knee jerk reactions or the finality of unfriending.

If someone’s on your friend list, they’re most likely there for a reason. Either they’re someone you’re currently close friends with, someone from your past, a old friend or classmate, a friend from a job past or current, a friend of a friend or a ‘hey, let’s reconnect’ type of buddy. There were warm feelings at one time, and feelings can stay warm. It doesn’t matter if you’re Liberal, Conservative, Republican, Democrat or the person who still believes Ross Perot’s infomercial”Chicken Feathers, Deep Voodoo and the American Dream” didn’t get the recognition it deserved, it’s all okay … as long as respect is given.

So if your friend is looking through yellow tinted glasses and your’s are a shade of blue, just remember … there’s a green hue somewhere in there.