Stand Up

I get so frustrated with the world sometimes. Maybe frustrated isn't the right word...Angry? Disappointed? Upset? All of those words?...and more?...

I just don't understand the human race sometimes. I correct that. I don't understand a portion (although a large portion) a lot of the time. When will people understand the consequences of their actions? And I'm not talking about consequences to themselves, but to others.

It breaks my heart to hear stories about people, usually kids, killing themselves because of bullying. Although most of this post will be about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, I think it is important to point that they are not the only ones targeted.

Maybe it's because October is national Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History month, but it seems like lately I have seen so much about this issue in the media and in my own personal life. Hate crimes seem to be happening across the country and on campus, and my emotions about the issue are going so haywire. I get so angry that people can be so incredibly hurtful and hateful, and I feel so hurt for those who are targeted.

Take a look at the Phelp's family/church. I warn you that this video below could be hard for some people to watch (there's a 30 second ad before the video). It really boils my blood. (There was a block to keep me from embedding the video, so you have to follow the link.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRAYFYjam-E&feature=related

It baffles my mind that there are people out there who are so unaccepting, so disrespectful, so hypocritical. They claim that God hates homosexuals. They claim they are the ones being Christians and following Christ's teachings, but the last I checked, God taught us not to judge one another. And there they stand, not only judging, but also hurting, those who are different from them.

How is there so much hate? And most, if not all, of it hate towards people who are different. Just different. Why can't the world be more accepting. There is hate between religions that believe in different doctrines. Hate between people who have different values. Hate between people who look different from one another. Hate between people who practice different traditions. Did you know the Ku Klux Klan still exists? Did you know there is an American Nazi party? Search on the internet and you'll find hundreds of hate groups targeting hundreds of different kinds of people.

What makes one type of person superior than another? We all, no matter what religion, color, age, background, whatever, have a beating heart. We all feel pain, love, sorrow, grief, joy. We all breathe the same air, live in the same world. We're all people.

I think I've rambled enough about my thoughts on the issue for now. All I ask is that people please start standing up. Silence is acceptance. Do not accept or tolerate hate. Make your voice be heard. I'll leave you with a heartfelt message from Ellen Degeneres.