The Post that Gets Me Unfriended by Everyone I Know

The Post that Gets Me Unfriended by Everyone I Know

I wasn’t going to make any sort of statement. I prefer not to delve into anything controversial. I like humor but today I had enough. 

Most of everyone that lives here knows what’s going on. I’m not going to rehash the details. 

Most people don’t realize this storm has been brewing for a while and the national attention is not helping. I have heard accusations of bullying and harassment from both sides. I do know the teacher and several of the kids involved and I also know students that have commented from the shadows and don’t feel inclined to choose a side.

Make no mistake I DO NOT CONDONE an anti-gay day. 

The simple fact that McGuffey didn’t foresee a backlash from the National Day of Silence was incredibly naïve. 

There are people that do not believe in a homosexual lifestyle. They believe this is wrong. They are allowed to have that opinion. 

I also read 2 major complaints from students at the High School. One - there are cameras everywhere. If you are being bullied go to the office, report it and they will pull the tape and punish the offender.

The other complaint is a complaint that would only occur in a predominately agricultural area like ours. “No one cares that the farm kids get called names and bullied.” You only get protected and they only care if you are gay. 

On a completely side note…I also keep hearing about the mold at the High School? What’s up with that? 

I understand school are trying to stop bullying as they should. As an adult however I also know that your boss, your spouse, your in laws and your neighbor are all going to try to bully you at some point. That’s life.

There is also the question what’s the difference between bullying and standing up for yourself?

I’ll use a story to illustrate this. Back in the 80’s there were shops in West Alexander. The shops were so well known that charter buses would come to the town with lots of ladies so they could shop their little hearts out. In this town there were also two high school boys. Okay there were a lot of high school boys but we are only concerning ourselves with these two. Every day after school the bigger boy would throw the smaller boy’s trumpet into the weeds. Well one day the smaller boy had enough and he proceeded to beat the daylights out of the bigger boy. A tour bus was going by and the little old ladies made the driver stop the bus and three old ladies hopped off the bus and pelted the smaller boy with their purses for being a bully. 

They only observed one small fragment of those boys lives.

Just like the media is doing here.

If you are gay, lesbian, bi, transgendered and you live your life openly and proudly then more power to you. I admire that.

However there are people that are not going to agree with your decisions and choices. You are going to be called names and bullied. In a perfect world this wouldn’t happen and I truly wish this was a perfect world but it’s not. 

If you are going to put yourself out there and take a stand for your faith then by all means stand by your convictions. You are going to be called names and they are going to post your picture.

The thing about names is, it’s usually more about the person doing the name calling. 

I go to church. There are several sermons that have stuck with me over the years. “The church is in sales not management.” God loves everybody. Forgiveness is for everyone that asks for it. God does not discriminate.

The New Testament says to “Love thy neighbor as thyself” there is no footnote that says except if they are gay, or Muslim or a different ethnicity or they vote for a different political party. 

I don’t have to agree with you and you don’t have to agree with me. 

I really debated writing this next part. I’m going to out myself.

I am a Christian Feminist Liberal Democrat that is pro-choice and pro- gun control that works in the oil and gas industry and has an IVF baby. 

There are whole sections of the internet devoted to being against what I believe in. Call me all the names you want and unfriend me. 

I’m still me and no argument in the world will change my stance on any of my self-imposed labels so don’t even try. I have my reasons.

I’m not going to change your way of thinking and you aren’t going to change mine. But we can begin to see that underneath the labels and the opinions is a real live human being that deserves respect.

I also believe you should be able to do business with whoever you want. Not that you should discriminate against anyone for their beliefs or gender or orientation but because we had a neighbor who liked to show women his penis and I refused to let him into my place of business. I reserve the right not to have to see old man penis. 

So this brings me back to today. What happened that set me off? I have been responding to some of the national posts with the phrase, ”Please don’t believe everything you read.” 

Today I was told by a stranger that I should apologize for our community.

I only apologize for the things I do. 

The truth is we aren’t all good or all bad as a community. 

We are complicated and complex and most of us are just trying to get through the day. 

I will not apologize for being part of a community that I love.

Love and peace to all of you that understand why I wrote this. 

Everyone else? 

Piss off.