So this isn't a very nice topic, really, but I guess it's still something we should talk about. The thing that made me start thinking about this today was that I saw a link to an image that showed letters sent to a lesbian couple. It was from a group of people who were trying to 'cleanse' their city of gay people. And they said that though they try to remain non-violence, they are sometimes forced to use violence in their persuasions. There were actually multiple letters shown, indicating (and I guess proving) that the group was going to be persistent in their insistence.
Obviously, this link was met with a lot of negative feedback. Understandably, too; it really is a terrible thing. There were also comments (including by the person that posted the images) saying that they wanted to commit some sorts of acts of violence on the people who sent the letters. And that seems like a natural reaction, but...it honestly gave me a bit of pause. If we, the rational people, are condemning the hatred and threats of violence, then should we be expressing the same towards them? I don't think so.
Now, of course, someone who is gay can't really be compared to someone who is acting on their beliefs. The former is being judged on who they truly are in their core self, and the latter is being judged on how they're acting as a result of beliefs, which are chosen. It is still a similar situation, though, since both are being judged, in a way, based on who they are. And I do realize of course that a gay person being gay doesn't really have any effect on the rights and safety of others, while someone hating gay people does in fact harm others. But I don't think that means that we should hate or become violent towards them, lest the chain continue.
Instead, I really feel like we should pity these people. I mean really, when you think about it, they actually have some sort of mental retardation. I don't mean that in a derogatory way at all either; it seems to me that there is something wrong with their brain such that they have a warped view of reality. The reality is, of course, that gay people have no more negative effect on other people or society as a whole than straight people. There must be some reason that they can't realize that.
And the reason, I guess, for a lot of (maybe even most?) people is their religion. But, I think my point still stands here. I feel like if someone in their right mind was part of a religion that required them to hate certain other people, they would realize that something is terribly wrong with that. Like, it sounds kind of weird, even to me, to say that everyone that is part of these religions has some sort of mental problem, but...what other explanation is there? Why would any logical, rational person accept hatred being acceptable?
I dunno man. This is a pretty controversial topic, and there's no way that I can say for sure that I am right. It's just something I was thinking about today, and for whatever reason I just wanted to get my thoughts out there. Hatred makes me sad. Imagine how much nicer the world would be if everyone was judged by nothing else than their actions. I always make a bit of a face and grumble when people call me a hippy because of my hair, but maybe they were on to something after all, eh?
So what is the solution then? I really don't know. But I do truly believe that reciprocating hate does no good for anyone.
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