I have a question everyone. And a plea for everyone.

How does everyone form opinions about subjects? For instance, you could even use the war in Iraq. In making an opinion, do you base your status on whether you believe the war is justified or not on what your parents say, or your friends say, or even what you hear your teachers say?
OR
Do you go out and learn, and formulate opinions off of the news, and factual information?

The reason I ask this is because where I live there I find that I am a minority. I mean this in no way to sound stuck up, because me admitting that I am a minority in political views where I live is not a good thing. truly. But around here barely anyone will ever stand up for issues or speak out against the government. If your father was an NRA member and Bush advocate your children for generations to come will have the EXACT same views. And I'm not bashing those groups I'm just using them as an example. Stereotypes are huge in our area. It seems that if someone is muslim they must be aching to become a terrorist. Now I don't believe that, and its because I don't believe that, that I am a minority.

And now here comes the plea. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE think for yourselves. This website is amazing because it shows that there are youth out there who do, but continue to do so, you have no idea how inspiring it is. Just because your parents or your friends think a certain way doesn't mean you have to. For god's sake go out and make personal connections, research things, read the newspaper, watch the news...become an informed person. The only way to get rid of stereotypes and to change things is to actually get out there and spread the word. Everyone can make a difference, I just wish I could get people in my area to believe that...thank you for your time