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You Can Be More
6 years ago
Glimpse The Thoughts of Jack the Beaver
This morning I was going through my news feed on my cellphone. I learned on there the kids show Arthur apparently had had a gay wedding on that. Except that's not how I found out. No instead I got to see claims that the "gay mafia" is brainwashing small children, and some networks in NC supposedly refused to air the episode. While I can't prove that's true, it wouldn't be the first time it happened if it was. What struck me was just how proud they sounded. Some of the commentators online defended this action. claiming that they were "protecting the morals of kids" and "protecting them from the wrong kind of thinking".
When thinking becomes wrong it's a sign something else has gone wrong.
In other news NC is holding elections in District 9, a district that was tainted by voter fraud on the part of Republican Mark Harris. Mark Harris, should you ever read this, I want you to know I consider you a vile human being and a pox on the human race. You are an unrepentant bigot and a disgrace to Christianity. While I won't argue your right to preach, I will argue no one should ever listen to you.
Mark Harris was almost sent to Washington, despite believing that women had only one purpose in life "Serving", that homosexuality should be criminalized again and claiming Judaism and Islam were tools of the devil. I don't know which god he serves, but my God is merciful. I know this because Harris got caught engaging in voter fraud. (On a much more frustrating note, Harris might have won the election legit, the votes that they confirmed were gained by fraud wasn't enough to sway the election the other way.).
My state almost sent a man endorsed by literal hate groups to Washington. And today they may nominate one again. While we apparently don't care about sending people endorsed by hate groups to Washington, we do care about gay cartoon characters. Our country is going down the tubes and we're whining about gays on TV.
At this point that's like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
We live in the age or arrogance. In a world where things are changing and by God we're going to fight that every step of the way. It's a world where we respond to hate with more hate, then are confused by the rise of more hate groups. We've seen things aren't working out the way we're trying them, whether it be in the economy, the government or in our daily interactions with other people, yet we keep trying them anyway. Just because it isn't working now doesn't mean it won't suddenly start working later!
At Fur the More they had ribbons for people to wear reading "Nazi Furs Fuck Off". in seeing those I was upset. Not because I sympathize with Nazi furs, but because we're going about fighting them the wrong way. We're fighting them by being hostile, aggressive and not allowing them to speak. Or to put it another way, we're feeding their victim mentality, showing them that it's okay to attack because we'll attack them, and giving them a bigger megaphone by trying to shut them up.
Seeing the upset at that stupid cartoon got me thinking about this again. Because the way we're approaching Nazi furs is the way we're dealing with these same problems on a larger scale. We're not trying to empathize with these people, we're telling them they're hate mongers and bigots. And we're right, at least in many cases. But throwing how awful they are in there faces is not solving anything.
The reason those stations refused to show the gay episode is because they morally believe it's the right thing to do, but also because they have people out there cheering them on. People who have been called bigot, homophobe, racist etc and been told their way of life is going away. I believe that way of life deserves to die. But I also believe that we're making things worse for ourselves with how we're dealing with it now.
We're fighting there hate with our own hate, and we're creating a big mess where bigots end up in congress and cartoons create moral panics. Hate groups are on the rise and we're all at each other's throats. So what do we do?
My favorite science fiction show of all time is Farscape, possibly the most creative work I've ever seen. There's a moment everyone on the show remembers, from the pilot. Chriton and soon to be ex-Peacekeeper Aeryn Sun are fleeing from her former commanders. Aeryn says she can't go with them, she's a solider, nothing else. Chriton tells here though "You can be more."
I think that's true of us as a species. We can be more. We don't have to respond to things we don't understand with fear. We don't have to respond to those who hate us with more hate. I mentioned earlier the Nazi Furs Fuck Off ribbon troubled me. As someone in a same-sex relationship I know that Nazi furs would not like me. And if I was around one who was ranting and letting me have it for being who I am, I'd want to punch them in the stomach.
But I also know that won't solve anything. So if I could resist my instinct, I'd do something else. I'd invite them to come to dinner with me, I'd pay for the meal. The only thing they'd have to do is tell me about themselves and let me do the same thing. Hate is born from fear. On the one side it's the fear of change. On the other side it's the fear of changing back.
I'm well aware that the members of hate groups have nothing to fear, no one is stopping them from living there life as they see fit. On the flip side I have legitimate reason to fear. Mark Harris, that man we almost sent back to Washington, believed that homosexuals should be subject to the rules of Leviticus. I live in a state where someone openly hopes for me to die. But by the same token, that's why change has to start with me and the other victims.
We as a species can be more. We can love them as much as they hate us. We can invite them to learn about us, we'll learn about them too. We can show them they have nothing to fear and stop them from hating us. We can be more. I know what you're thinking "I've suffered actual physical violence at the hands of these people, you want me to forgive them?"
What I want is irrelevant, if you don't want to that's fine, no judgement. I'm just making an argument on how things can change. I want to create a future where there is no more fear. Where worries about race, religion, gender, sex and in time nationality all fade away into the foggy mists of time. I believe love and forgiveness are the start. We can't win everyone over, but we can take there bite away. There will always be a few committed bigots, but we can ignore them. We're bigger than that. Instead of responding with anger, we can respond with love or just not respond at all. They'll look foolish and in time they too will fade away.
Maybe I'm too naive, but I don't think so. I believe we can be more.
When thinking becomes wrong it's a sign something else has gone wrong.
In other news NC is holding elections in District 9, a district that was tainted by voter fraud on the part of Republican Mark Harris. Mark Harris, should you ever read this, I want you to know I consider you a vile human being and a pox on the human race. You are an unrepentant bigot and a disgrace to Christianity. While I won't argue your right to preach, I will argue no one should ever listen to you.
Mark Harris was almost sent to Washington, despite believing that women had only one purpose in life "Serving", that homosexuality should be criminalized again and claiming Judaism and Islam were tools of the devil. I don't know which god he serves, but my God is merciful. I know this because Harris got caught engaging in voter fraud. (On a much more frustrating note, Harris might have won the election legit, the votes that they confirmed were gained by fraud wasn't enough to sway the election the other way.).
My state almost sent a man endorsed by literal hate groups to Washington. And today they may nominate one again. While we apparently don't care about sending people endorsed by hate groups to Washington, we do care about gay cartoon characters. Our country is going down the tubes and we're whining about gays on TV.
At this point that's like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
We live in the age or arrogance. In a world where things are changing and by God we're going to fight that every step of the way. It's a world where we respond to hate with more hate, then are confused by the rise of more hate groups. We've seen things aren't working out the way we're trying them, whether it be in the economy, the government or in our daily interactions with other people, yet we keep trying them anyway. Just because it isn't working now doesn't mean it won't suddenly start working later!
At Fur the More they had ribbons for people to wear reading "Nazi Furs Fuck Off". in seeing those I was upset. Not because I sympathize with Nazi furs, but because we're going about fighting them the wrong way. We're fighting them by being hostile, aggressive and not allowing them to speak. Or to put it another way, we're feeding their victim mentality, showing them that it's okay to attack because we'll attack them, and giving them a bigger megaphone by trying to shut them up.
Seeing the upset at that stupid cartoon got me thinking about this again. Because the way we're approaching Nazi furs is the way we're dealing with these same problems on a larger scale. We're not trying to empathize with these people, we're telling them they're hate mongers and bigots. And we're right, at least in many cases. But throwing how awful they are in there faces is not solving anything.
The reason those stations refused to show the gay episode is because they morally believe it's the right thing to do, but also because they have people out there cheering them on. People who have been called bigot, homophobe, racist etc and been told their way of life is going away. I believe that way of life deserves to die. But I also believe that we're making things worse for ourselves with how we're dealing with it now.
We're fighting there hate with our own hate, and we're creating a big mess where bigots end up in congress and cartoons create moral panics. Hate groups are on the rise and we're all at each other's throats. So what do we do?
My favorite science fiction show of all time is Farscape, possibly the most creative work I've ever seen. There's a moment everyone on the show remembers, from the pilot. Chriton and soon to be ex-Peacekeeper Aeryn Sun are fleeing from her former commanders. Aeryn says she can't go with them, she's a solider, nothing else. Chriton tells here though "You can be more."
I think that's true of us as a species. We can be more. We don't have to respond to things we don't understand with fear. We don't have to respond to those who hate us with more hate. I mentioned earlier the Nazi Furs Fuck Off ribbon troubled me. As someone in a same-sex relationship I know that Nazi furs would not like me. And if I was around one who was ranting and letting me have it for being who I am, I'd want to punch them in the stomach.
But I also know that won't solve anything. So if I could resist my instinct, I'd do something else. I'd invite them to come to dinner with me, I'd pay for the meal. The only thing they'd have to do is tell me about themselves and let me do the same thing. Hate is born from fear. On the one side it's the fear of change. On the other side it's the fear of changing back.
I'm well aware that the members of hate groups have nothing to fear, no one is stopping them from living there life as they see fit. On the flip side I have legitimate reason to fear. Mark Harris, that man we almost sent back to Washington, believed that homosexuals should be subject to the rules of Leviticus. I live in a state where someone openly hopes for me to die. But by the same token, that's why change has to start with me and the other victims.
We as a species can be more. We can love them as much as they hate us. We can invite them to learn about us, we'll learn about them too. We can show them they have nothing to fear and stop them from hating us. We can be more. I know what you're thinking "I've suffered actual physical violence at the hands of these people, you want me to forgive them?"
What I want is irrelevant, if you don't want to that's fine, no judgement. I'm just making an argument on how things can change. I want to create a future where there is no more fear. Where worries about race, religion, gender, sex and in time nationality all fade away into the foggy mists of time. I believe love and forgiveness are the start. We can't win everyone over, but we can take there bite away. There will always be a few committed bigots, but we can ignore them. We're bigger than that. Instead of responding with anger, we can respond with love or just not respond at all. They'll look foolish and in time they too will fade away.
Maybe I'm too naive, but I don't think so. I believe we can be more.
Those who claim to be christian and yet spout hate are the most vile evil and hypocrites.
Love and forgiveness are only possible with Truth, otherwise you won't even know what to forgive or how to love. Seek the Truth and try not to let the emotional stuff get in the way; the Truth isn't in wild emotion. All this talk of hate here and hate there only further inflames emotions and makes it harder to find Truth.
Dominus tecum