I read something this morning that talked about four important boxes, one of them being the soapbox. That's probably how this post should be categorized...you have been warned. Click away right now. Politics & religion may be involved.
It hardly seems right that I haven't put a post up since March, and I am here now with this one. Seriously, the reason I haven't written isn't because I don't have anything to say. It's because I have too much!! I have started more posts than I can recall...some I delete knowing no one will "get it", and some still languish about in that "written but unposted" region. Which means they will probably be deleted too.
Have you seen the bumper sticker that says "coexist"? I was planning to put a picture of it up on here just in case you haven't...but it tweaks me enough that I can't do it. Google it if you have no idea what I'm talking about. Every time I see one, which is quite often in the town I live in, it irritates me. Is that really the best you are shooting for?? And is that really what you want? Because I really don't believe that it is, or you just would.
I make no secret of the fact that I am a believer in Christ. I also make no secret of the fact that I don't think that makes me better than anyone else. I screw up all the time, and I freely admit it. I don't want any special privileges because of it. I don't want to be treated differently either. But I am...all the time. I get the eye rolls, catch the "look" between people...one to warn the other to "be careful". I appreciate it when people temper their language around me, but I don't ask them to. Well...except for using God's name as slang or as a swear word...that one makes my stomach hurt. Physically. It's like someone cursing your favorite Grandma (the one that bakes those special cookies you like) times a million. Why do we do that?
anyway..........
I don't understand why groups fight for preferential treatment because they are "different". If you are gay, be gay. If you are black/brown/green/purple...be it. If you are a liberal democrat (I'm sorry) or a right wing republican...be it! If you are for an issue...support it. If you are against an issue...support YOURS! Don't tell me how stupid I am. Give me the facts about why you support what you do. I will listen, but that doesn't mean you should expect me to change my mind. If you bring a darn good argument...you may sway me. But if you start telling me that I need to stop being so narrow minded because I don't agree with you...well...you just lost me.
I want more than a world where we coexist. I want a world where we love & respect each other, even if we have opposing views. If you are involved in something that I believe is harmful to you, I hope I have the courage to tell you...and I hope you have the courage to listen with an open heart. It's crazy to me that we have all these special groups for people who are shouting about being discriminated against. I actually read a story recently about a guy who was handicapped making a living off of going around to businesses and testing their compliance with laws for people with disabilities...measuring how far the toilet paper roll was from the ground and the toilet & how high the sink was...stuff like that. Then, if they were off (not that he couldn't reach them...just that they weren't quite right), he would sue. And win. He has all this time and the capability to get around in his wheelchair well enough to do this, but not work. what the heck??
The atheist groups suing to have God taken out of every corner of the world really perplex me. If you don't believe in God, why does the fact that I do bother you so much. He's my "imaginary friend"...right. Nothing to see here...move along. Merry Christmas.
I know there are people reading this that will think I am some right wing religious nut who doesn't have a clue what it's like "out there" for you in the real world. I am guilty of being a republican who is a believer. Don't tell me how hard your life is without understanding that mine hasn't always been a cake walk either. If you want to know my story...let's talk. I do that pretty well. I'll tell you about the discriminated group I could start for single middle aged white women with no dependents at home to support that are working 2 jobs and going to college full time that need a vacation. I do complain about it sometimes...but it doesn't define me. It's who I am...I just live it. Sometimes it is so hard that I just want to throw in the towel and call it a day (and if the entitled generation we are raising succeeds in getting the minimum wage jumped for entry level jobs...nah), but I won't.
We are entitled to nothing. We are so busy drawing lines in the sand and watching for people to stick their toes over that we don't take time to look at the whole beach. Watch the waves roll up.
I miss the beach...the end.
