As human beings we are social animals. We are attracted to each other based on several factors. When we gain someone's trust and friendship, we must also learn to manage each other's differences. Among the most common ones that we can perceive on a personal level, there are political beliefs and ideas. It may not always be easy to get along with a friend who supports a different political ideal from yours, but if you respect each other, it's possible to be friends even if you have diametrically opposed ideas.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Building Friendship
Step 1. Accept that you disagree
The best thing about making friends is to understand each other. If your friend embraces the Communist ideology and you support a different one, you can still get along well. Politics is just one area where you won't be confronted face to face. Remember that you don't have to share his beliefs to be friends.
Step 2. Be respectful
If someone doesn't share your views, they still don't deserve to be criticized or treated with distrust. Put aside his political views and treat him with the respect you think he deserves. Friends shouldn't be harsh with each other. Estimation should be based on aspects such as a person's commitment to work, skills and characteristics and how he interacts with others.
Step 3. Focus on the best aspects of your friendship and find common ground
Discussing communism will not help you build a strong bond. People have other interests besides politics; think back to the characteristics of this person that attracted you in the beginning, such as school, sport or work. The best friendships are those that are "all-round" and that are based on all aspects of the person.
Step 4. Help your friend when someone treats him badly
Nobody is to be bullied for their beliefs. If this person is being treated badly by other individuals who are against communism, you are on your friend's side. This is the best thing you can do for your friendship and you can also let others know that they are making a mistake.
Part 2 of 3: Knowing the Other's Point of View
Step 1. Ask him questions about his beliefs
In any relationship it is important to learn from each other and friends always have a lot to offer in this regard. Ask him for more details on Communist philosophy. Ask open-ended questions that begin with what or how, and avoid interrupting or making judgments.
Step 2. Learn about communism
It is a theory, but if you focus only on the mistakes of those who put it into practice incorrectly, then you cannot understand it. Try reading Engels '"Principles of Communism", Lenin's "State and Revolution" or Marx and Engels' "Manifesto of the Communist Party". Also be very cautious about the sources you get information from; propaganda and journalistic biases exist and sometimes foment both fear and hatred.
Step 3. Distinguish Communist Theory from Tyranny and Dictatorial Governments
A very common misconception is to refer to past events. Most of the countries that have tried to put a communist-type economy into practice have taken on more of the aspect of tyranny and regime. A true communist does not support a government of dictators over the people.
Step 4. According to Marxist theory, all governments in human history have been class dictatorships, which means that the state is guided by the interests of a social class
This is why the Communists call capitalism "the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie (the capitalists)" and refer to socialism as the "dictatorship of the proletariat (the workers)".
Step 5. Research the deepest beliefs of communism
Surf the internet and read some good books about it. You are certainly not denying your beliefs if you do some study on the subject. You may find that communism is made up of different political orientations, just as it happens in countries that do not have a communist government. All Communists share many views which are not necessarily political; for example respect for nature and the environment just as it happens in many other states.
Part 3 of 3: Having Healthy Conversations
Step 1. The attempt to debunk a political theory by slandering the personal life of its supporter is called argumentum ad hominem
This is a very easy mistake to fall into, so be very careful.
Step 2. Fully understand your beliefs
In order to have a good discussion, you need to be informed. Try to deepen your point of view. Very often our system of beliefs and opinions is influenced by the environment around us and in part it could be innate; the natural propensity towards a point of view, however, does not automatically provide for a deep knowledge of it. Furthermore, politics is a very broad subject that is constantly changing and offering new information every day.
Step 3. Listen to your interlocutor with interest and respond without being sarcastic
A healthy conversation can quickly turn into a heated discussion, and the best way to prevent this from happening is to listen as a good student or parent would. Listening does not automatically mean that you are bowing to the beliefs of the other. Also, when you answer, try to do it politely and with intelligent arguments. We all witness the "performances" of political analysts who express their opinions with sarcasm and violent words, both in debates and in monologues; however, it's all about entertainment. In the real world, sarcasm is not well received and is considered offensive by many people.
Step 4. Leave harsh judgments out of the question
Your friend doesn't advocate the communist theory just to piss you off. If you find yourself getting upset during the conversation, try to figure out where this anger comes from. Perhaps it may not originate from your friend's beliefs. If you are able to understand in advance what your vulnerabilities are, then you are able to avoid certain specific topics. If you realize that the conversation has made you angry, then be kind and polite enough to ask the other person to change the subject.
Step 5. Remember that you cannot impose your opinions
A conversation with a friend is for opening up and sharing ideas, but if you assume that you want to manipulate them to influence the other's opinions, then you won't get any good. Ignore any thoughts that lead you to want to change your friend's world view; even if you are very passionate about the subject, you have no right to impose on him.
Step 6. Listen to each other
A constructive dialogue arises from two individuals who develop new ideas by confronting each other. Problems can only be solved and new ideas created through active listening. When your friend is arguing about a point, don't interrupt him. Give him his time and don't argue constantly by starting each sentence with but; the use of this conjunction immediately presupposes the negation of what has just been said, as if it did not matter. If you want to get along, you should behave and treat other people's opinions as if they always matter.
Step 7. Admit that you are wrong when you are wrong
If the conversation constantly leads to discussion, then changes need to be made and someone must have made mistakes. When confrontation leads you to touch the same topic over and over again, then chances are you are trying to manipulate the discussion and, therefore, you are wrong. Try not to confuse facts with opinions. The facts speak for themselves, believe it or not. Opinions are questionable, so when you find that the conversation is almost entirely based on opinions, don't be stubborn on every point. Admitting that you are wrong with friends is a good thing. If you have the impression that admitting you were wrong is some kind of defeat or concession to your friend's opinion, then you need to rethink the reasons that led you to argue with him.
