It’s The Choices That Make Us Who We Are

                For a few months I have been thinking about this post. Mainly because it is a touchy subject among many people and I had to make a choice of I wanted to say. With having said that I want you, the reader, to have a neutral thought as you read this post. Because I have thought about it for so long I have become a little passionate about the thoughts here:
               As long as I can remember, my mother has always had the thought (which was ingrained in me since I was little) that you need to do unto other as you would want them to do to you. Whenever my siblings and I would fight and hurt each other she would always say; “would you want them doing that to you? Put yourself in their shoes.” And that is something I have lived by for as long as I can remember. Put yourself in their shoes.
       I was talking with a friend of mine at work, and this subject came up. My friend is getting married in November; she has 10 bridesmaids and 1 man of honor. I had to think about that for a second… a man of honor? So I asked her about that. Her best friend is gay, and she wanted him in her wedding. That is different for me but it should be interesting. Later I asked her how long she has known her friend was gay. What she told me is that he has the personality that was obvious to people in high school but he did not actually tell anyone until after he graduated. During high school he was made fun of and scrutinized for the assumption of others. I am not one to sit here and tell you that you need to accept gay people, but have a respect for them. They have different struggles in life and they are dealing with them. I don’t see people out saying they hate alcoholics, so why do ‘normal’ people hate gay people? I will tell you why, because for a lot of people it is out of the norm or it is gross to them, but for the majority of them that hate gay people, it’s because of their religion. In Utah that is a large reason why. But I have studied my religion and I can tell you it does NOT say anywhere that we need to hate gays. What it says is that it is not in accordance with God’s laws. But it does NOT say you are to hate them. Put yourself in their shoes.

                I have never had a real opinion on this subject until I lived in California. I guess you can say my views were changes in a liberal way. I was living there during proposition 8. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it is the proposition to legalize gay marriage. I have heard fighting words from both sides of the conflict. I was one who would have voted yes on proposition 8 (yes meaning yes make gay marriage illegal) but my reasons are personal and I will keep them to myself. But because I picked a side I don’t want anyone to think I did not hear both sides of the argument. And when I made my decision I had to put myself in the shoes of both sides of the proposition. I understand both pleas, but my decision is solid.

                At work yesterday, through all my busy-ness, I happened to notice two guys come into the store. With the way they were acting I could tell they felt a little uncomfortable I still greeted them and the woman they were with. As I helped them the realization that this was a gay couple became prominent really quick. Here they are in Provo Utah; I can understand why they seemed a little uncomfortable. I still helped them and treated them like any customer. If anything I treated them better than any customer to make up for the harshness of others around.  They returned the friendliness, and it was not the flirting kind. A lot of guys are freaked out when a gay guy hits on them, but all you have to do is kindly tell them that you don’t swing that way and it does not have to be awkward at all. After these guys left I was talking with Logan, a guy I work with, and whenever we notice something out of the norm we tell each other. And I asked if he could tell the sexuality of the guys I was helping. He said yes, and then he said, “I don’t agree with the way they are living their life, but I have to say that gay people are some of the most kind people you will ever meet.” And I have to agree with him.

                The idea of making this post started after I read a friends blog. My friend was openly gay before he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormon church). Since he joined life has been interesting. I want him to know that he is one of the greatest people I know. Once you read his blog, you can’t help but agree with me. He told me about his blog just after I started the Bitter Critic and I have been hooked on every post ever since. Since reading the blog it has made it easier to put myself in his shoes. I can see how he struggles in his life, how he tries to do what he is asked while he has such a strong temptation to go away from his newly grown faith in Christ. I recommend everyone clicking on the link at the bottom of this post and read his blog, starting at the oldest post first (that post is January 2, 2011). It will make sense if you read it that way.

                I am always thinking about what life would be like in someone else’s shoes. The most common type of person is someone who is rich and has just about everything, and also another common one is living the life with the temptations of a homosexual. I think that people don’t have to agree with what they are doing, but have some respect for them as a human being. I wrote about a similar thing in my post titled; If you’re a Strong Female You Don’t Need Permission. I try to have respect for others around me. Remember to put yourself in their shoes…

Dr.K

(Song: Unwinding Cable Car, Artist: Anberlin)

The Liberty Crusades: Genesis, Part One...: