Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

“Don’t look at me. I had nothing to do with it. Don’t look at them either. Don’t look at anyone, in fact. It was just inevitable that this would happen. Stop asking questions.” This quote from Jake Meador from the article On David Gushee Dishonesty bluntly and accurately describes what's happening in our country today.The fact of the matter is, is in today's society if someone whines and complains and makes a big commotion about something eventually they will get their way. Why are we raising the next and current generation like a bunch of bratty kids who have a tantrum until they get what they want? Why are we asking people to choose between conscience and their livelihood? One of the main issues is the fact that people are refusing service to the LGBT community. But why? Business owners and workers have always reserved the right to refuse service to anyone. So by giving the LGBT a "pass" ,because we don't want to offend anyone, we are essentially making them higher. Which defeats their fight for "equality". I, personally, am pro gay. Though that is a topic for another time I can truthfully say that I and many other people I know who also support that community agrees that The LGBT are getting too much leeway. The government has fought them for so long with little success that it seems they are just giving in. The so-called prosecutors have now become the prosecuted with countless lawsuits being made against them throughout the year. And most of the cases the court sides with the LGBT. The government is practically forcing private American citizens to make the decision between, again, conscience and livelihood. Why did we fight so hard for freedom of speech when we are just going to yell over the top of the opponent so no one can hear? They are just fighting for what they believe in and even if that is against what you believe, let them talk, rant, yell. Because isn't that what you are going to do when it's your turn to make a case for your cause? But under no circumstances should a community whine and complain and kick and scream until people are guilted into giving in. That is not what America is, we are not a country who just give in. So why are we acting like it? Make a case, a point, a life changing statement or argument. But don't just scream your opinion until the others agree because they've gone deaf from you yelling. Jake Meadors article was in response to the article by David Gushee about how the middle ground between the LGBT and others are disappearing and how is just "happening". In reality, we have just grown numb. We are allowing it to happen by either not doing anything and "turning the other cheek" or fighting in a way that just rises pity and guilt for the other side. What each side of this fight, of any fight, needs to understand is where the other is coming from. That doesn't mean we need to sit down and have a heart to heart and light candles and sing songs about our feelings. No, we just need to respect that the have an opinion and they've made their choice. Doesn't matter what side you may be on. That doesn't mean we stop the fight. Always fight for what we believe in, but respectfully. Don't conjour up excuses, beg for pity, or say vulgar and demeaning things. State your belief, why you believe it, and never ever just roll over and "take it" without a fair fight.

Pick Your Poison

Since 2015, one of the hottest debates is over who should be our next commander-in-chief. While some argue over which will truly help our country others are wanting a "none of the above option" on the next ballot. Voting is a serious matter and should be treated as one though it seems some are voting for one just to keep the other at bay. Picking the lesser of the two evils is not necessarily the better option. To vote for someone just to keep the other lacks principle and is honestly lazy. If you want your vote to count and make a difference you must research and compare and think, not just read on article on one candidate and none on the other because that article was so convincing and you don't need any other proof. No candidate will be perfect or provide everything you want or what they've promised. But instead of looking for the worse of the two look for the good candidate with flaws. The people we are electing are exactly that, people. We need to look at the people, who they are, what they've done, and what their morals are. We also have to respect others decision even if it is opposite to ours, as long as they are well informed. To say you have done research on Trump or Hillary but the articles you read are clearly biased towards one way or the other is the same as reading nothing at all. You've learned nothing to challenge your faith in them. To truly be completely in support you have to not only be aware of the questionable things they've done or said but also be able to make an argument in support of them despite of that. Don't lie for them; research for them, defend them. Voting for one just to spite the other is not a great use of one’s vote, but an even worse one is just too simply throw it away. To not vote at all is disrespectful to our rights. As a female I love the fact I have the power to vote and I can’t wait till the day I'm registered and I get to add in my own two cents. We fought hard for our democracy and the fact that people would just not vote because the candidates aren't their prime choices is indescribably stupid. Our country is sitting around staring in awe at how the two top candidates got to be the top two. Who do you think put them there? Don't complain about the situation we are in when you did nothing to stop it when there was time. People say they supported Trump as a joke and can’t believe he's made it this far. Do you think his campaigning team took all the support as a joke as it was intended? No they ran with it saying look at how many people support him and all the people walking around with an original thought in their brain went right along with it. And yet people sit around amazed at the state the country is in and the people in line to lead it. Just because you are not happy with how our country is at the moment doesn't give you the right just to turn your backs, throw out your vote, and hope for the best. If you want any improvement you have to make the decision, the educated decision. So yes we may be stuck in hard place but that doesn't mean we can’t get through it. So do your research, dig a little deeper, make a better argument, and make a decision.