I have had people tell me I’m stubborn and even “combative”
which while I can see why they might think that, I don’t see myself that way. Rather,
I am unwilling to accept things as they are just because “most people” think
that’s the way it should be. In fact, I
like to challenge the status quo, and challenge myself to try to see things the
way others might. But I will always question someone if they are trying to be the boss of me.
I grew up in a commune whose members relished going against the
grain, for example, not using money for a period of time, not putting their
birthdays on their ID’s, instead telling the powers that be they were
“eternal”. They also practiced non-monogamy or “free love” and other such things, that fly in face of acceptable behavior in our rather puritanical Christian
dominated society. Ironically, within the community, expressing dissent with
the communes’ leader and his guidelines, or being autonomous or independent in
any way was highly discouraged.
So I believe I ended up with an interesting mix of
influences. I was taught by example both to thumb your nose at established cultural
norms but also to taught to accept blindly what I was told by my “elders” Guess
which one won out? I love coloring outside the lines, I don’t like “society” to
dictate to me what I should and shouldn't do, other than your basic good and evil
issues such as rape and murder, the types of rights and wrongs that basically cross all cultures, or harm innocents.
Beyond that, I find it rather distasteful for the government
to have their proverbial hands on my body, or in my home. (I did not give them consent, last I checked
that was rape.) Now I understand there are people who feel we need to control
what other people put in their bodies, or do behind their bedroom doors, or
even how to educate their children, because we hold the higher moral ground
don’t we? Wrongo! It’s appalling to me to
think somebody else can dictate those kinds of choices for anyone else but
themselves.
I understand, and have heard, all the arguments. There are many
issues we make broad and sweeping laws to try to prevent, and fail miserably. Last I checked, not selling liquor on Sundays
hasn't prevented alcoholic people from being alcoholic, illegal drugs are used by the masses every day turning good people into "criminals", and for Petes' sake you can't stop a gay from gay! But this
country was founded on “In God We Trust” wasn't it? Shouldn't we guide people
to be morally upstanding? Wrongo…It was established with the idea that people
would be free to practice whatever religion or lack thereof without fear of persecution, and with freedom as a foundation.
What we need to stop doing is wasting time and money trying
to monitor people’s moral values; WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME! If you want to go to church every Sunday and
abstain from alcohol, guess what? That’s fine.
You are entitled. Worship Chickens? Have at it. Believe Aliens are
coming to take you off the earth and into heaven…enjoy the wait. Just don’t try
to force your beliefs on the rest of us. The War on drugs, the endless battle to
suppress gay rights, restricting womens' access to healthcare etc…is heavily influenced by antiquated religious beliefs, and is a huge waste of resources.
And now instead of wasting all that money enforcing and arguing those
ridiculous and tedious “moral judgment laws” lets EDUCATE! Educate our children
about dangerous substances, responsible sex, and tolerance. Let’s TREAT
addictions and mental health issues…and most importantly RESPECT peoples' choices
to live their lives how they wish, instead of forcibly trying to make people
conform. Because in the long run, that is the only thing that makes us a free
society. I would like religion to get its dirty hands out of government, and
let us have real “American Freedom.”
Now lets all go smoke a joint and get gay married!
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