Stop Hate, Spread the Love (A Rant)

This is not a side of me you will normally see. I just want to clarify this now. Usually, I’m laid back and quiet, and I keep my opinions--especially controversial ones as this--to myself because I don’t like conflict. Simple as that. But the past couple of weeks have been weighing on my mind and I just have to get all this off my chest before I explode. I may lose followers because of my own beliefs and due to this rant, but if I do, then I do, and I’m sorry ahead of time. Not for my honesty, but for the fact that you can’t open your eyes to the world of how love is love. It shouldn’t be judged. It should be equal for everyone, and I’m saddened that religion has to take such a strong part in politics it seems almost all the time. Religion really has no place in politics, and I’m getting sick of this debate.


Let me start with a mini history lesson.


The United States was not founded on Christianity. If one more person tries to argue this point with me, I’m going to scream. Look, we’re all free to believe what we want. I’m all for this. I have no problems with it at all. I never judge someone on their religion or beliefs. I grew up in the church. I’ve read the bible several times. I’ve researched several other religions. I practiced Wicca and Paganism for almost ten years as well. It’s about the person. I respect the person always as long as I’m respected in return. It’s not my place to judge. Many of my closest friends are Christian, Atheists, and Agnostic. And they are highly respected by me.
But once again, I’m going to stress. This nation was not founded on Christianity. I’ve had many people try to stress this argument with but I've learned a lot from history, because, well, I'm a dork. Of course, people continue to not believe this, and that's okay. I do after all the reading I've done on the guys.


Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Adams were Deists. Our Founding Fathers. They weren’t Christian. And believed in freedom of religion, or freedom from religion if people choose to do so. I thought we went through this? Why are people still fighting about how they’re right and why others are wrong? How if someone doesn’t believe in what they believe in, they’re in the wrong. And whyyyy are people still, even in 2012, fighting for equality? It’s ridiculous.


Here’s the thing: You can think that being gay is wrong and that it’s against your religion if that’s how you interpret it from your system. That’s your right. Your freedom to believe that. You can say it’s not your belief. You can teach it in your churches and groups and say it out loud as it being what you believe on a personal level. But it’s not right to take that belief, try to push it, promote hate, and create a world where rights aren’t equal all because of those beliefs. THEY’RE HUMAN TOO. What if that was your daughter, son, brother, sister…you get the idea? If one of your family members came out to you, would you suddenly treat them like an animal just because they were gay/no longer considered “equal”? This is how the LGBT community is feeling when they’re denied the rights they deserve. They need all the help and support they can get in this time, too.


Chick-Fil-A announcing their Christian stance was not a shock to me. I’ve known for years about them being a Christian-based business, of course, and not just because they’re closed on Sunday. I want to get it straight that was not the reason that myself and many people are mad at the business either. Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion. Even if it had been a simple “No, I don’t believe in gay marriage personally because I’m Christian, but I don’t instill that into my business affairs,” I don’t think I would have had that much of a problem with that either (I still wouldn't eat there as my own personal choice but that would be my decision). It would have been Dan Cathy’s belief in his religion and he would have left it at that. But then it got out of hand. There was an open confession to donations (and may I add that it’s donations from profits made from the business, customers!) of anti-gay organizations that promote hate and to push legislature to ban gay marriage/to stop the proposal of bills for gay marriage. THIS is where the line is drawn. THIS IS WHERE IT BECOMES HATE. This is wrong.


I believe in the biblical definition of marriage.


Okay. Hmm. I get what’s trying to be said. I think it should be worded different if you’re going to be all mighty about it and try to spout off your definition of “marriage.” If it’s put that way, you’re saying this:


I believe in polygamy and adultery (concubines).
I believe in beating my wife.
I have the right to kill my wife if she isn’t a virgin on my wedding night.

(Hey, and a sidenote here: Jackson Pearce, the awesomely awesome YA author, recently made a couple of videos regarding all this as well. You should go watch.)


But all this is okay as long as the LGBT community can’t have equal rights, huh? When are people going to learn?


I read something interesting recently. It said “If gays were allowed to get married, what will happen? They’ll get married.” That’s right, folks. Plagues and famine will not crash down on us. The Zombie Apocalypse will not strike (though I’m still prepared for it on a completely unrelated circumstance). Simply enough: there will be more marriages. And what’s with the argument “divorce rate is already high enough,” anyway? That’s a lame-ass excuse.


What brought all this on for me today? Sigh.
I had to go out. I was stuck in an office for almost an hour, listening to the news when I’d rather have been home watching my favorite tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic, win his match at the Olympics today. I was stuck listening to people gripe in a waiting room while they listened to the news broadcast more about Chick-Fil-A and about people like me who support the LGBT community and equal rights. The most annoying part of all? A woman sat next to me holding a bible, all the while talking to her friend about which other friend slept with who over the last week…gave me a dirty look because I replied to her question honestly when she turned to me. She asked if I was going to eat at the local Chick-Fil-A later. I’d said no, I was never eating there again. She clutched her book, turned her nose up, and said, “Oh, you’re one of those.” Before I knew it, the entire waiting room was buzzing in the conversation and I’d walked out and decided to wait outside in the hundred degree weather because I couldn’t stand it anymore. I wasn’t getting into it and I was sick of hearing the hate spewing from mouths of people that needed to learn a little love. Especially the woman who had a bible in her hands. Just because she carried the book, it didn’t mean anything to me. As I said before, I judge the person based on the person. Not the religion they practice.


I’m feeling better now.
I hope I haven’t offended anyone really. I just had a lot to get off my chest after the day I’ve had. Like I said, posts like this are very rare from me. But this IS me even if you don’t see it much. I love people. We should all be equal in this day and age. It’s not rocket science. Love is Love.


Stop the hate and spread the love.




All of my love to you,
Pixie