So I don't think anything specific led to wanting to write this post. But the bottom line is this: I don't care who you are- what your religion is, what color your skin is, what gender you are or what your sexual preference is. You are human and I believe regardless of anything else everyone should have equal rights. I think everyone should have equal opportunities to make their dreams come true, but I also think everyone should work hard and be willing to settle if their dreams are not profitable to make a life for themselves and their family.
I was originally thinking about women's rights. I like being a woman. I believe women are equal to men. But I don't want to be a man I want to prove I am a woman but still equal. I believe women should be able to work if they want or need to. I also think a woman who chooses to stay at home is equal to men or other women. I believe women should get paid the same amount and be treated with the same amount of respect. I believe women are powerful and capable of many things. Yet when I go to church on Sunday I wear a skirt and a dress to show that I am feminine and a woman. (With the exception of only a few cultures skirts and dresses are still for women.) I also am starting to realize that sometimes the feminist movements demean men. Men need to feel needed. I think they (historically) became the breadwinners because it gave them a purpose. Something that they were good at. Men can do many things and some are awesome stay-at-home dads. Men can also do anything and are equal to women. I think I need to pull back sometimes and realize, as much as I think women are awesome, men are too. I need to make sure I don't demean the opposite sex in my praise of women.
That got me thinking about race. I don't consider myself to be racist. I believe anyone, regardless of race should have equal rights and equal opportunities. If someone grows up and circumstances prevent them from getting the right opportunities I believe in finding a way to help them. But there comes a time when race quotas just hurt those who are qualified. I believe in helping any person, regardless of race, be qualified for the jobs they want. But there comes a time when the job should go to whoever is best qualified, regardless of race and regardless of quotas. I know that blacks were underprivileged and enslaved. The slaves were freed over a hundred years ago and legally they received the same rights almost a hundred years ago. I believe in making sure they have those equal rights, but there comes a time when the minority punishes the majority for stuff that happened before they even lived. I don't believe that is right. We should help everyone have the same opportunities, give them every tool they need to succeed but then it's up to the individual to work hard. And if there aren't enough jobs for everyone to be a doctor someone will have to humble themselves and flip burgers until the right opportunity comes. I don't care if that person is white or black.
And your sexual preference. I don't care what it is. I didn't like the Chick-fil-a stuff a few years back with gays making out in front and boycotting the business. But I also didn't like when straight couples wanted to retaliate and make out at Chick-fil-a. Why? Because I believe intimacy is between two people and supposed to be (mostly) in private. I'm ok with a kiss in public, or holding hands, or snuggling, but I don't want to see anyone making out in public or more.
And while I'm at it. Public nursing. They say it's not about a woman's right and indecency, it's about a baby's right to eat- a basic need. I agree with this. But at the same time I don't like the photos where women blatantly are breastfeeding. Sure it's natural. So is sex, but I don't believe that because something is natural that means it should be public. Sure breastfeeding may show a boob or a nipple and that should be fine, but that doesn't mean you have to show as much as you can when you're feeding your baby. Try to cover up- and if your baby doesn't like the cover, then people may see things but at least you tried. I also think it's absurd when people get mad at women for feeding a baby in public but a girl with cleavage that is SO MUCH more provocative is somehow fine. COVER UP! (This is not to nursing mothers but anyone who's showing so much cleavage that they're wearing stuff that should be reserved for the bedroom.
Anyways, I think my rant is done. Just because your ancestors were underprivileged does not mean you are or have to be. I will help people get equal rights and opportunities when I can. But with those rights, you can take away someone else's rights.
