I am sure by now we have all formed an opinion about the Mosque that is scheduled to be built near Ground Zero in New York.
Haven't heard? Pick up a newspaper and read about it!
It's not the news that bothers me. It's the opinions. Yep. The OPINIONS. Now, I know that the Constitution gives us the right to a freedom of speech (among other things), but that doesn't mean that you should exercise that right, especially if the words that you are using to exercise it are insensitive, vulgar, or just plain wrong. Just because you HAVE an opinion, doesn't make it RIGHT; and it doesn't necessarily mean that I want to hear it.
I have an opinion about the mosque being built. Want to hear it? Then you will have to ask me for it. It is not something that you will ever hear me talk about - unless I am asked.
I am a firm believer in keeping quiet and hearing what others have to say, thinking their ideas through, and then forming my own opinion. Some people attribute this to being "slow". I have never been labeled "slow" (except maybe in track....because fat girls don't like to run.......). Thorough is a more acurate word.
Now, enough about opinions, and more about what todays blog is REALLY about: PREJUDICE.
I can hear the ooohhhhs and aaaahhhhhs now. I want to address all prejudice.
When my daddy started to school, he started out in a segregated school system. It was integrated when he was around the age of 9, I think. I never have, and I never will, understand why someone would HATE another person for the color of their skin. It makes no sense to me.
When I was in high school, I signed up to play football. The coaches laughed at me. My parents would not support my idea, and therefore, I did not play. That doesn't make the prejudice against me being a girl any more right. Girls can do things that boys only WISH they could do! ~and vice versa, I might add~
Once upon a time, in this great nation that we love, young girls were sent away for getting pregnant out of wedlock. Now days, you see it in most towns you go to. I don't necessarily think this is a prejudice situation as much as it is an acceptance situation. I think that back in the day, this was sort of taboo and now it is merely accepted more.
But, to link the two, I will tell a story.
Once upon a time a young girl got pregnant out of wedlock. She longed to marry the sweet boy that promised to take care of her and the baby. But, promises were all that he ever offered. Once the baby came, she gave the baby to her mother to raise for two reasons: (1) She was smart enough to know that she wasn't ready to be a mother; and (2) No one else was offering to help her - not even the boy that made empty promises. So the baby was taken care of and the girl returned to the boy - only to be told more promises and eventually to be heartbroken.
The girl took the breakup bad. She was unsure of what her future held. Then she met a wonderful man. This man loved her and cared for her and KEPT his promises. They wanted to start a family of their own. They tried and tried, only to find out that the girl had some health problems and that they would never have children together. The girl was sad, but the man said not to worry. It wasn't meant to be.
The girl tried to go on with her life, but was saddened everyday by all of her friends and family that were having children all their own. So, the girl had an idea - what if we ADOPT! Yes! We will adopt! The man liked the idea and they decided to pursue adoption through their local agency.
(Now, the girl and her mother and her daughter all have a good relationship, keep in mind...)
After filling out all the paperwork, attending all the classes, and doing all the homestudies, the couple was so excited that they were just steps away from adopting children of their very own......until a phone call came.
It seems that since a child was already given up, another cannot be placed. What? How can this be? Oh no. There goes the hopes and dreams......
Now, the girl, 10 or more years down the road, was discriminated against because she made a mistake and then acted in the responsible manner (making sure the child was provided for). The boy (the baby's father) has nothing against him. No where in the rule book does it say anything about dads that don't do right, but a mother has only one chance - and if you ever mess up, it follows you for life.
So, my message today, boys and girls is this:
PLEASE don't judge someone just by what you see, hear, or read about them. You never know the whole story until you get to know someone and the best way to get to know someone is through talking WITH them - not ABOUT them!
Haven't heard? Pick up a newspaper and read about it!
It's not the news that bothers me. It's the opinions. Yep. The OPINIONS. Now, I know that the Constitution gives us the right to a freedom of speech (among other things), but that doesn't mean that you should exercise that right, especially if the words that you are using to exercise it are insensitive, vulgar, or just plain wrong. Just because you HAVE an opinion, doesn't make it RIGHT; and it doesn't necessarily mean that I want to hear it.
I have an opinion about the mosque being built. Want to hear it? Then you will have to ask me for it. It is not something that you will ever hear me talk about - unless I am asked.
I am a firm believer in keeping quiet and hearing what others have to say, thinking their ideas through, and then forming my own opinion. Some people attribute this to being "slow". I have never been labeled "slow" (except maybe in track....because fat girls don't like to run.......). Thorough is a more acurate word.
Now, enough about opinions, and more about what todays blog is REALLY about: PREJUDICE.
I can hear the ooohhhhs and aaaahhhhhs now. I want to address all prejudice.
When my daddy started to school, he started out in a segregated school system. It was integrated when he was around the age of 9, I think. I never have, and I never will, understand why someone would HATE another person for the color of their skin. It makes no sense to me.
When I was in high school, I signed up to play football. The coaches laughed at me. My parents would not support my idea, and therefore, I did not play. That doesn't make the prejudice against me being a girl any more right. Girls can do things that boys only WISH they could do! ~and vice versa, I might add~
Once upon a time, in this great nation that we love, young girls were sent away for getting pregnant out of wedlock. Now days, you see it in most towns you go to. I don't necessarily think this is a prejudice situation as much as it is an acceptance situation. I think that back in the day, this was sort of taboo and now it is merely accepted more.
But, to link the two, I will tell a story.
Once upon a time a young girl got pregnant out of wedlock. She longed to marry the sweet boy that promised to take care of her and the baby. But, promises were all that he ever offered. Once the baby came, she gave the baby to her mother to raise for two reasons: (1) She was smart enough to know that she wasn't ready to be a mother; and (2) No one else was offering to help her - not even the boy that made empty promises. So the baby was taken care of and the girl returned to the boy - only to be told more promises and eventually to be heartbroken.
The girl took the breakup bad. She was unsure of what her future held. Then she met a wonderful man. This man loved her and cared for her and KEPT his promises. They wanted to start a family of their own. They tried and tried, only to find out that the girl had some health problems and that they would never have children together. The girl was sad, but the man said not to worry. It wasn't meant to be.
The girl tried to go on with her life, but was saddened everyday by all of her friends and family that were having children all their own. So, the girl had an idea - what if we ADOPT! Yes! We will adopt! The man liked the idea and they decided to pursue adoption through their local agency.
(Now, the girl and her mother and her daughter all have a good relationship, keep in mind...)
After filling out all the paperwork, attending all the classes, and doing all the homestudies, the couple was so excited that they were just steps away from adopting children of their very own......until a phone call came.
It seems that since a child was already given up, another cannot be placed. What? How can this be? Oh no. There goes the hopes and dreams......
Now, the girl, 10 or more years down the road, was discriminated against because she made a mistake and then acted in the responsible manner (making sure the child was provided for). The boy (the baby's father) has nothing against him. No where in the rule book does it say anything about dads that don't do right, but a mother has only one chance - and if you ever mess up, it follows you for life.
So, my message today, boys and girls is this:
PLEASE don't judge someone just by what you see, hear, or read about them. You never know the whole story until you get to know someone and the best way to get to know someone is through talking WITH them - not ABOUT them!