Here is another interesting quote, this time from the childhood legend Dr. Seuss:

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.
- Dr. Seuss

This somewhat reinforces the lesson that I learned yesterday about making friends.  There are risks to take, particularly standing the chance of stepping on someone’s toes by expressing your opinion or who you are.  Nevertheless, I believe that if someone is serious about negotiating communcation with you, then he/she will tolerate it.  This is especially true at UT because it is a diverse campus.  Everybody is bound to have differences in one way or another.  Getting your toes stepped on is a guarantee here, and the mark of maturity will come when you learn to tolerate rational arguments that disagree with your views.