Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Stand Your Ground Without Destroying the Ground Others Stand On

Two points of argument have come across my Facebook News Feed.  One attacked the definition of marriage as being malleable due to the use and abuse of marriage by straight people.  It was the following:
 
The second was a quote about ridiculous beliefs deserving ridicule.
Both posted by the same person who argues that marriage is deserved by all because those who currently are married or have been married are doing it wrong.  I in turn responded to him that my marriage is good.  My wife and I love each other.  We are expecting a baby girl in November.  We have argued and disagreed on many topics and it hasn't been easy sometimes.  But our marriage works.  We honor the covenants we made to our Heavenly Father.  We also know plenty of people who hold their marriages in the same regard.  Marriage does not change and is perfect.  It is those who are married that are not perfect.  The poor choices of some should not put into question what marriage truly is.

The post of ridiculing that which seems ridiculous is literally promoting a negative behavior due to differences in beliefs.  Again, I responded to the person who posted this picture.  He said that we should ridicule and point out the errors of other peoples beliefs.  How else are they going to come to the realization that he is right and they are wrong?  I told him it is bullying to make fun of someone in order for them to think they are wrong.  There are groups and organizations who abuse the privilege of freedom of speech(KKK, Neo-Nazis, and other actual hateful organizations).  They make fun of others beliefs or ways of life because it is different and therefor inferior to their own.  I posted two definitions:
According to Wikipedia: Bullying is the use of force or coercion to abuse or intimidate others. The behavior can be habitual and involve an imbalance of social or physical power. It can include VERBAL HARASSMENT or threat, physical assault or coercion and may be directed repeatedly towards particular victims, perhaps on grounds of class, race, religion, gender, sexuality, appearance, behavior, or ability. 
Ridicule: the act of making fun of someone or something in a CRUEL or HARSH WAY: harsh comments made by people who are laughing at someone or something (http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/ridicule[1])

We do not have to harm or offend others in order to be who we are and believe what we want.  This country is built to protect our rights as human beings to live how we want, be who we want, and say what we want.  It doesn't mean that in order for our rights to be protected, we have to attack those of others. 

I have friends who are gay or straight, Jewish or Christian, men and women, different colors, backgrounds, and lifestyles.  I love and respect them and their differences.  They know my beliefs and lifestyle as well.  I disagree on many points with some of them.  They disagree with me on many points as well. 

These differences should not be dividing lines between anyone.  We are all human.  We are all imperfect.  What good does it to pushing others away and calling them out on their mistakes or your opinion of their alleged ridiculous beliefs?  There are actual bad people out there that need to be called out for their actual crimes and not bickering amongst ourselves for things like religion, sexual preference, etc.