How does this happen? I mean, January is already half way done. I wish I could say I've done some wonderful things so far this year, but I have not. I mean, I have had a little fun... We got to go to the Cotton Bowl, and watch the Aggies win. That was fun. I was able to at least get the city our business is going to be in, to give me an application for a contractor's permit, so we can get moving on making the changes needed in our building. NOW, I'm waiting for the city to email or call, telling me to come pick up our permit. This whole "working with the city" thing is frustrating.
Anyway... I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about "rights." You know, those things people fight for, go to court for, take a stand for.
I think our fight for equal rights here in America is often screwy. I think the things we end up fighting for aren't things that are beneficial to our country, or to ourselves. Or the things we fight for, are often abused because "Hey, we have that right now!" How can we raise our children to take a stand for what is right, when the examples being set are so screwed up. I know, I know... this is all a matter of opinion. What I think is worth fighting for, may or may not be worth it to another. I get it, but lets talk about this, shall we...
Gays and lesbians have been fighting for equal rights to marriage for a long time (this isn't about gay and lesbian, so stick with me for a minute). This is a huge issue, because adult human beings are being told they cannot do what other adult human beings are doing, because of their choice in who they want to do it with. They are looked down upon, and deemed unworthy.
SO, let me just say, since people have fought long hard for our right to legal marriage, then that right needs to be respected. In other words, don't run off, and get married after a year of dating because it's legal. Have a ceremony if you must, but before you make it legal, make sure it's right. Show the people who don't deem you worthy, that you can do this right (as compared to the many others who possess this right without having had to fight for it---the straight people.) I just get disgusted with people who run to another state to get married after dating for a short amount of time, and then 6 months later, they have to file for divorce. Wait it out, make sure it's right. Don't ask me the amount of time to wait. I've no idea. I say get to know each other well. Let that romance stage pass, because it will pass and life will get real. Live together... I mean, why not, you're already living in sin because you're gay, right? Anyway, I would give the "wait it out" advice to anyone, but please respect the fact that we've been granted these rights (in some states). Respect it enough to go into it, with the mindset that there is NO way out... if that thought makes you feel a little ill, then I'm thinking you better not do it.
Now what about the freedom of speech. Oh my, there is not a day that goes by, that I don't read, hear, or watch something about someone claiming their rights due to "freedom of speech." Just the other day, I read two news stories... not one, but two, about freedom of speech. In one story, the right to "flip off" a police officer actually made it all the way to the Supreme Court. In case you ever need to know this, we now have the right to do that, and it's okay! Hooray for laws backing our right to flip off someone who is paid very little for what they do... someone who may or may not make it home safely to his/her family because they are out there protecting us.
The other story was about a woman in Oklahoma whose Christmas light display was a huge hand flipping off her whole neighborhood. It was actually meant to only flip off the neighbor she had some disagreements with, but the whole neighborhood suffered through this. Police were called, and she was asked to remove it or be fined. We know what happens now, right? She goes to court to fight to leave this light display up not only through christmas, but the whole year... all the time. The case is currently pending, and I'm sure will eventually also make it to the supreme court.
Since when did our society become so distorted that our Supreme Court Justices are hearing cases like this? OH, and I would so be bragging if I were this woman, and I won this court case. "Look kids... Grandma won the right to flip the whole neighborhood off in a Christmas/whole year, light display!" "Now we can all enjoy the right to put obscene language on our homes for ALL to see." NOT!! Or, "Look kids, Daddy won the right for the whole country to flip off our police officers..." NOT!! Not, not, not. What is wrong with people? Gah!
Here are my guidelines for taking a stand.
Make it count. Make sure it's something that is going to be beneficial to society. Make it something you are proud to tell your friends, and kids/grandkids about. Will it benefit our community, city, state, country, or will it only benefit you in that moment. Hmmm... I don't know.
Okay... time to step off of my soap box now!
Anyway... I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about "rights." You know, those things people fight for, go to court for, take a stand for.
I think our fight for equal rights here in America is often screwy. I think the things we end up fighting for aren't things that are beneficial to our country, or to ourselves. Or the things we fight for, are often abused because "Hey, we have that right now!" How can we raise our children to take a stand for what is right, when the examples being set are so screwed up. I know, I know... this is all a matter of opinion. What I think is worth fighting for, may or may not be worth it to another. I get it, but lets talk about this, shall we...
Gays and lesbians have been fighting for equal rights to marriage for a long time (this isn't about gay and lesbian, so stick with me for a minute). This is a huge issue, because adult human beings are being told they cannot do what other adult human beings are doing, because of their choice in who they want to do it with. They are looked down upon, and deemed unworthy.
SO, let me just say, since people have fought long hard for our right to legal marriage, then that right needs to be respected. In other words, don't run off, and get married after a year of dating because it's legal. Have a ceremony if you must, but before you make it legal, make sure it's right. Show the people who don't deem you worthy, that you can do this right (as compared to the many others who possess this right without having had to fight for it---the straight people.) I just get disgusted with people who run to another state to get married after dating for a short amount of time, and then 6 months later, they have to file for divorce. Wait it out, make sure it's right. Don't ask me the amount of time to wait. I've no idea. I say get to know each other well. Let that romance stage pass, because it will pass and life will get real. Live together... I mean, why not, you're already living in sin because you're gay, right? Anyway, I would give the "wait it out" advice to anyone, but please respect the fact that we've been granted these rights (in some states). Respect it enough to go into it, with the mindset that there is NO way out... if that thought makes you feel a little ill, then I'm thinking you better not do it.
Now what about the freedom of speech. Oh my, there is not a day that goes by, that I don't read, hear, or watch something about someone claiming their rights due to "freedom of speech." Just the other day, I read two news stories... not one, but two, about freedom of speech. In one story, the right to "flip off" a police officer actually made it all the way to the Supreme Court. In case you ever need to know this, we now have the right to do that, and it's okay! Hooray for laws backing our right to flip off someone who is paid very little for what they do... someone who may or may not make it home safely to his/her family because they are out there protecting us.
The other story was about a woman in Oklahoma whose Christmas light display was a huge hand flipping off her whole neighborhood. It was actually meant to only flip off the neighbor she had some disagreements with, but the whole neighborhood suffered through this. Police were called, and she was asked to remove it or be fined. We know what happens now, right? She goes to court to fight to leave this light display up not only through christmas, but the whole year... all the time. The case is currently pending, and I'm sure will eventually also make it to the supreme court.
Since when did our society become so distorted that our Supreme Court Justices are hearing cases like this? OH, and I would so be bragging if I were this woman, and I won this court case. "Look kids... Grandma won the right to flip the whole neighborhood off in a Christmas/whole year, light display!" "Now we can all enjoy the right to put obscene language on our homes for ALL to see." NOT!! Or, "Look kids, Daddy won the right for the whole country to flip off our police officers..." NOT!! Not, not, not. What is wrong with people? Gah!
Here are my guidelines for taking a stand.
Make it count. Make sure it's something that is going to be beneficial to society. Make it something you are proud to tell your friends, and kids/grandkids about. Will it benefit our community, city, state, country, or will it only benefit you in that moment. Hmmm... I don't know.
Okay... time to step off of my soap box now!
