The world has become a place where cruelty towards people we disagree with is not only accepted but encouraged.  The invention of the internet has created a platform for the cowards who were once afraid to express opinions in a callous manner face to face to do so anonymously.  Gone are the days where compromises were encouraged, and bipartisanship was not frowned upon.

Rather than debating intellectually, humans get into twitter fights and internet shaming people with different views is now an acceptable form of expressing one’s feelings. In 2016, respecting someone who has opposite beliefs doesn’t seem to be a trend. As someone who is incredibly passionate about my personal beliefs, there have been times when I have (wrongly) sparred over the internet with individuals I deemed not worthy of my respect.

I have never agreed with Conservative icon and anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly who is famous for making statements such as, “Sexual harassment on the job is not a problem for virtuous women” and “Sex education classes are like in-home sales parties for abortions.”

In fact, I could never like someone who is most famous for playing a decisive part in defeating the Equal Rights Amendment during the 1970s.  I admit, Phyllis Schlafly was a force of nature. She graduated college in just three years and went on to receive her law degree in 1978

As reported by the New York Times, during her wedding ceremony, “Mrs. Schlafly said, she did not promise to obey, only to cherish” which was incredibly progressive for a time when women were expected to stay at home and listen to their husbands. I respect her for having such a strong sense of self, even if only years later she became an advocate for maintaining classic gender roles and was vocal in her disgust for members of the LGBT community even after it was revealed that she had a gay grandson.

Many people seemed to share my dislike for Ms. Schlafly.  After she died September 5, the internet began to rejoice over her death. Jeb Lund of Rolling Stone wrote bluntly saying Schlafly was the “spawn of Satan and had gone to Hell to spend eternity with her master.” People tweeted “Ding Dong the witch is dead” and some promised to throw parties during her funeral.

However, I am mourning her passing.

Indeed, many have called her the female version of Donald Trump. Her extreme antifeminist views were even more confusing due to her being a woman. After all, how can any female not support feminism, which is just the belief that women are equal to men?  Yet I still feel sorrow over her death. Phyllis Schlafly taught me toleration and the importance of giving respect to everyone, even members of the human race who are filled with an inconceivable amount of hate.

Opponents of this woman did not always give her the courtesy due to all humans. Frequently people who vehemently opposed her ideas took such extreme measures to express their disgust. Not surprisingly, she was met with violent protesters and numerous death threats.

There was a time when I would have fought against Schlafly. Her extreme ideologies negatively affected the lives of women and her battle against creating a nation of equality for men, women and those who refuse to be categorized by gender was deplorable. And yet, as I sat staring at my Twitter contemplating what I should write in response to her death, no words came. As Harper Lee wrote, “It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you.” There’s always going to be a Phyllis Schlafly. There will always be a human being determined to oppress others. I know she is wrong and that’s all I need.

Although, I do agree with her on one thing: a woman’s place is in the House (and the Senate and the Oval Office).