I don’t really agree with the sign holder’s logic, because Biblical rites, rituals, traditions, and rules do not belong in our government. It’s a nice thought though.
October 26, 2009
December 10, 2008
The Devil DOES have a face!
I think many of my blogs may have come off as anti-Christian or anti-religious. Frankly that’s the wrong impression. I really respect many people of many different faiths. I think religion can provide strong morals, such as ‘love thy neighbor’, and other wisdom to live by. In fact if I were surrounded in a world of practicing Christians, I wouldn’t be so bitter all the time. The fact is though, there are a lot of people in America who, under the guise of religion, spread hate and discrimination. That is what I cannot stand. If you’re going to say you believe in something, actually take the time to know what you’re believing in and practice it.
Why were women so restricted 200 years ago? Because people used the Bible to justify the housewife position, women only existed to serve their husbands and procreate. They could not do ‘a man’s job’. Perhaps that is why our country was founded on the principle of women not being allowed to vote for their own president, they didn’t have as much going on up in their heads as men. Then the Bible was used to defend slavery. There are extensive topics regarding the subject, all pointing to the absolute obedience of a slave to his master. White supremacy ruled over our nation and churches did nothing to stop the vast injustice. Now we come to a new century. One in which two people in love aren’t allowed to get married. The World Health Organization has already ruled that, no, I do not have some medical illness. No, more likely that I won some sort of genetic lottery. Or, as current science is looking into, was affected by a mix of hormones while I was developing in the womb. A little less sin, a lot more born the way I am.
So. There are a lot of Christians in my life whom I love and do truly respect. Please note that any bitter rants about religion are not directed at you. But the great thing about America is that you can choose whatever religion you want. And I can too. This isn’t some system where beliefs are stifled. This is a country that is fertilized so that its population can believe what they want. That is the absolute beauty of our system here. Why some conservative right wing [neo Nazis] want to push THEIR views on a multicultural, multiracial, multireligious nation is up in the air. Would I ever want to push legislation banning religion because I personally am agnostic? No. In fact I find the timeless quote going along the lines of ‘I may not believe in what you say, but I’ll give my life so that you have the freedom to say it’ outstandingly true.
A lady came in to Guest Service on Monday and talked to me for 20 minutes. It was a complaint. Why? Because we sell the Fischer Price dolls that apparently say ‘Islam is the Light’. Ok, yes, if you listen and are looking for words out of baby gurgling, you can hear that. Or you could hear ‘Salami is so Right’. What do you think the media is going to sensationalize though? Anyways, she sits there and very seriously says how awful this is that we still have it on our shelves. KMart and Wal Mart have apparently taken them down. Then she drops a political bomb on me:
“This is America”
REALLY?! You’re going to sit here and tell me that you don’t want a product sold because you don’t agree with what it’s saying? IN AMERICA? In a land that was founded because a group of people were persecuted for their religion? There are millions of Muslims in America. They are AMERICAN. They are no better and no worse than anyone else in this country. That is OFFENSIVE to them. That is one of those ‘beyond-words’ its so offensive. It was offensive to me, not as a Muslim, but as an American. A patriotic American who believes in freedom for all, even if I’m not going to agree with them. And she has the FREEDOM to believe that America has to follow HER rules and bow to HER will. But it is not, in any way shape or form, her right to impose her beliefs on anyone else.
Really? This is over a toy. She’s going on, threatening to talk to churches boycotting Target stores, etc. I don’t care. If people want to discriminate against another religion, I don’t want them anywhere near me. Grow up lady. Grow the hell up.
The real kicker about all this? I held a straight face. I was sympathetic. I assured her that I would pass the complaint on internally and that I could see where she was coming from. She actually told me that I was much better than workers at ANOTHER Target who had treated her rudely. Not just a worker, the manager of toys. Then when the store manager was called over, apparently they were rude to her too. Wow, I wonder why.
But I stuck by the points I’m making here. It was by no means my place to tell her that, no, I thought she was dead wrong and ought to be hung out to dry by real and honorable Christians throughout the country. She can have her beliefs, I can have mine. The difference is that I use a personal blog to express myself and she tries to change what a store sells so that she can feel comfortable and secure in her religion.
I don’t consider her a Christian, and I don’t consider anyone else who is willing to use their religion as justification for pushing their beliefs onto other people. I’m hoping that people reading this will see the difference between expressing yourself and your opinions vs trying to graft your will onto a nation with a diverse population.
The picture above is Sally Kern, who got re-elected to senate in Oklahoma or something. Her and her husband want me to be sent off to a “Re-Education Camp” (direct quote from Mr. Kern) because the way I am does not fit with their beliefs.
It is better to give more freedoms and let people take advantage of them on an individual level than for a majority to withhold rights from a minority because they may not agree with them.
Good photo editing though, right? All the Devil horns ‘n stuff look superb. Photo-realistic if I must say. Then taking a Zombie head and putting it on her “pastor” husbands head…wow. No one could tell that was a human beforehand. Those people are not Christians in any sense of the word. They can say they are, but honestly, according to their own beliefs, it will be Jesus who decides that. And Jesus has preached nothing but love. Spreading bigotry and hate was not part of his gospel.
PS- If anyone wants to read the article that finally made me write all this out, it’s here. Remind me not to ever vote for a politician just because they’re KERN-servative.
PPS- I’ve always wondered why Muslims don’t do more to discourage radical behavior like terrorism that draws so much hate their way. Now I’m left wondering how Christians are any better when their base is rallied to vote in the embodiement of hate into our government.
PPPS- This article was written by a Christian. Are you the same kind of Christian as him? Comment on this post. Is he really the voice of today’s Christians?
November 11, 2008
October 24, 2008
Please don’t vote for Michele Bachmann / Vote NO on 8
Just, y’know, a request for voting-age Minnesotans living in the 6th Congressional District here in MN.
Not only has she said more stupid things than should be allowable, her recent comments about Barack Obama have been disgusting. I don’t call McCain ‘anti-American’, nor Palin. In fact it seems to be the right who like to judge about what being American is all about.
Second half of the title is I would ask all California voters to vote NO on Proposition 8. Homosexuality exists in almost all species of creature and is not some random perversion that occurs in humans. The only reason we seem to view it as such is because of preconcieved notions that we were taught through different venues. Medical and Psychological associations have all agreed that it is not a mental disorder, not some sort of illness, nothing. It’s time that we stopped hiding behind hate and just accepted everyone for who they are.
Seriously, it’s society’s own doing that we feel it is innappropriate to see two guys or girls together. Same reason we saw it innappropriate to see women in anything but dresses. Or interracial couples. Or teachers in school while they’re pregnant. Something biological that one cannot change especially is important to recognize as a valuable difference that makes us unique, not something to shame and cause undue hardship for the person.
A fair number of people know how difficult my life has been because of my choice to face myself. It’s a hard thing to do, which is why some men end up coming out after having a life and family already. And it’s not easy. So when society tells you you’re second class because of the way you were born, well, it’s no wonder there’s such a high suicide rate among GLBT teens.
And if you don’t think sexuality is biological, I’d like a good response on why you decided to be straight. Including your struggle with looking at males and females equally and your decision to choose the opposite gender.
PS- I cleaned a lot of garbage out of my car! Yay! </random note>
April 25, 2008
Tomorrow is day of silence
Students who want to support the fight against school bullying based on sexual orientation are encouraged not to talk tomorrow for the entiretly of the school day. I’m participating, as are many students at my school (we’re liberal folk for the most part).
Cannon Falls has a big issue with homophobia. It is a very conservative and religious town for the most part and likes to keep itself firmly entrenched in past beliefs. In fact Cannon Falls has a problem with bigottry in general. Racism pops up when teachers leave. I’m not sure if the administration actually cares about any of this, I know some teachers do, but nothing is really done.
Whatever. Keeping your mouth shut for a day may be hard, but living as a minority every day is infinitely harder.
February 29, 2008
Is being gay immoral?
Or, is that a completely outdated question? Because to call it immoral would hinge on us having an accepted set of moral standards. In some ways, we do. Obviously people do not normally accept, say, murder as a moral thing to do. In other ways though we project some of our religious beliefs on others and hold them to the same standards that we voluntarily (read: VOLUNTARILY) submit ourselves to. it seems to interfere a disturbing amount with American politics even though we’re now in the 21st century.
Yes, most Christians believe that homosexuality is a sin. Or at least giving into homosexual desires. And I’m completely willing to defend their right to believe that because I believe that we live in a free society and I value individuality and free thought. The problem arises when these Christian groups try to put their values into motion through legislation. A perfect example would be the proposed amendment that tried to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Why, if I do not accept a certain religion’s beliefs should I have to care or conform to them? This is AMERICA! Land of the FREE!! That is the beauty of the whole situation. If I want to tell you Satan created cats to be his spies and we should never keep them as pets because they would corrupt us, I can totally do that. But would it be appropriate to propose an amendment outlawing cats as pets? Does that really seem reasonable at all to you? So while I fully respect the view that homosexuality is a sin and immoral, I don’t personally believe that. And I refuse to follow any law that would condemn the biological process of love simply because a group would love to play ‘high and might, I’m right you’re wrong’ with America.
If we did evolve as Darwin hypothesized, there are always going to be little offshoots of a species that either survive or die off. I would not be the one to argue that being gay is normal. I think it’s just another human oddity such as depression, schizophrenia, genius level intelligence, or artistic ability. It’s just something you’re born with. The four aforementioned things can also be factors of life of course, just as being gay might be. Does a male become gay if he sees a vagina too early ala lactose intolarents having drank milk too young? I don’t honestly know and I think if the public is seeking an answer it’s a misguided waste of time. You can ponder and ponder and ponder how Stephen Hawking comes up with his theories, but he’s already published his thesises. Now it’s time to look at the information in front of you and try and make the best of it. I think I’m simply getting at the fact that I don’t understand why a religion would want to make someone feel even worse about their life if they can’t even help something. But, y’know, congrats anti-gays, we have the highest suicide rates. You must be doing something right. Show God’s love, huh?
We only get a limited amount of time on earth. Obviously. Because we are going to die. So what’s the point of wasting time judging each other when we could just spend more time making the quality of life better for each other? That is more imporant than making money. That is more important than making sure you have a cookie cutter American Dream family. Whatever you can do to make your life and the lives of those around you better is what you ought to be doing. Not condemning and literally wrecking lives. Religion is being abused and ruining lives. That’s what it comes down to. If you want to argue your point, look no further than the verses that explain how God gave us free will. He did not appoint anyone to rule the earth in his stead. In fact God made the very same point I’m making: make life better for those around you. That doesn’t mean appealing for legistlation that goes against your beliefs, but that definitely does not call for advocating legislation that ruins lives for millions of Americans.
I don’t think half the people who call themselves Christians in this country understand the religion they think they belong to. And you will be in no better boat if God does end up coming down from a cloud and smiting anyone who didn’t believe in him. God doesn’t want lukewarm Christians, remember?
February 4, 2008
January 21, 2008
I’m ready to clear up a few things
1) I’m gay. Honestly, I don’t even see how this is a big issue anymore. This isn’t some choice I made when I woke up one morning, this isn’t being a pervert, this is who I am. I am Caucasian. I have dirty blond hair. I have green eyes. I am gay. People are people and love is love. I don’t believe on discrimination based on anything.
2) I’m switching schools. Why would I do that when I have only one semester left? Because I need a new environment. I’ve been going through a sever depression from, well, a long time ago. I went from being an A/B student to getting mostly Ds now. I need a place in which I can work in a less stressful place. So I’m going to a charter school which focuses on independent study and where I can work on my Japanese. Believe it or not, depression can be pretty hard to deal with and debilitating.
If anyone wants to discuss me being gay, contact me. Not my parents. This is just who I am and it has nothing to do with them. It seems rather silly that anyone would think that, but some do. I also do not believe that homosexuality is a sin. The Bible can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. Christians should see that they base their beliefs off of the New Testament, and wonder of wonders, Jesus said nothing about being gay. And if we’re going by the old testament, looks like having concubines, multiples wives, selling girls for slaves, etc are all now legal. But the most important fact is that people really have no right to force their moral beliefs on others. I can be who I want to, and you can too. It’s the joy of being in America.
Some people who found out about this via my Facebook account handled things badly. I’m not even going to mince words or cover up the truth. My family was deeply offended and so was I. Thank you to the family members that have been overwhelmingly supportive through what has been a difficult time for me. I hope others will gain some understanding for people who are just a bit different than they are.
And to CFHS students, I’ll miss some of you a lot. And some of you I think need to grow up.
January 20, 2008
I suppose I should address some things…
…and I think I just might do that. When I find a way to put what I want to say eloquently and as not to offend people, even if they wouldn’t take the same precautions.
