Tomi Lahren: Free speech doesn't give you the right to attack someone I decided I will never allow mean and hateful people to taint my outlook on the world.

Tomi Lahren | Opinion contributor

Show Caption Hide Caption Tomi Lahren calls out people who threw a drink at her Fox News Contributor Tomi Lahren was eating brunch with her parents in Minneapolis when other customers threw a drink at her. Veuer's Sam Berman has the full story.

It’s not in my DNA to cry over spilled milk — or in this case, thrown water. What happened to me and my family at a recent brunch in Minneapolis wasn’t fun and it wasn’t right, but I have thick skin. It’s not the first time something like this has happened to me and, sadly, it won’t be the last. But this isn’t about me. My incident is just an example of a much larger problem in this country.

When did we get to the point where we feel justified in physically attacking someone we’ve never met and don’t know — simply because we disagree with their political views? We are blessed to live in a country with freedom of speech and expression. Generations of Americans — of all races, genders and ethnicities — fought and died for our First Amendment rights. We don’t have to like or agree with one another, but freedom of speech does not give us the right to physically attack one another. It’s disheartening to see it get to this point.

This past weekend, I was out with my friends feeling incredibly paranoid and anxious. This time it was water, next time it could be much worse.

Scrub off your assumptions

We live in a political climate so heated and divided that we have completely shut off reason and tuned out the other side. “Who did you vote for?” becomes the litmus test for friendship. If we don’t like the answer, we shut down.

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We’ve been taught to avoid talking about politics and religion, which has led to a lack of understanding of how to navigate difficult conversations. We’ve become so unreasonable and stubborn, we ostracize or attack those who don’t think like we do.

Our Founding Fathers wanted us to be able to speak freely about religion and politics. That’s what makes this country great. Our faith, political beliefs and the way in which we see the world are important pieces of who we are. We shouldn’t hide them, sugarcoat them or change them to fit in or be accepted.

I know I am a target and disliked by many. I’ve accepted that. It’s the price I pay for speaking out and standing up. I can handle the backlash. But I do worry for the young conservative girls who have yet to find their strength and voice. The No. 1 comment I hear from my young fans is: “How do I stand up for what I believe in around my liberal friends?” It’s shocking to hear how many young girls, and guys, feel uncomfortable expressing their conservative political beliefs. The goal isn’t universal agreement, the goal is respect. How boring would it be if we all agreed on everything?

We need to get to a place where we can separate the person from her politics. You may think you know someone because you’ve watched them on TV or know who they voted for, but unless you’ve taken the time to truly get to know someone, you have no idea what kind of person they are.

I will always forgive those who hurt me

Honestly, I too have let anger get the better of me a time or two. I'm not too proud to admit and acknowledge my mistakes, but I have learned along the way that words are more powerful when I can stand behind them. If I go too far or hit below the belt, I apologize. I have asked for forgiveness and, in turn, I will always forgive those who hurt me.

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I am also proud to say I have several liberal friends. I don’t agree with their politics, and they don’t agree with mine, but we love and respect one another. I’ve had the honor of discussing politics with late-night comics Bill Maher, Trevor Noah, Chelsea Handler and the women of The View. Each time, I learned something. I think Handler’s political views are borderline insane, but I have tremendous respect for her as a woman. She was kind to me. That’s all I can ask for.

I've had people boo me, yell at me, taunt me, and even try to trip me. Then, one night, a girl came up to me, stopped and stared. I thought, “Oh no, here we go again.” I was ready to deal with yet another hostile incident. To my surprise, she told me I was her role model and how much she appreciated my tenacious spirit. It was then and there I decided I will never allow mean and hateful people taint my outlook on the world. I might be a lightning rod and hated by many, but if I am an inspiration for just one person, I’ll take all the rest.

Remember, your assumptions are your windows to the world. Scrub them off once in a while or the light won’t come in.

Tomi Lahren is a contributor at Fox News Channel. You can follow her on Twitter: @TomiLahren.