Recently I was approached and asked to speak at a Civil Rights service. At first I didn't think I'd be in town so I had to decline but after a recent change of schedule I'm now set to speak.
The only problem is I'm not exactly ready. I mean I'm always ready to speak but I don't know what I want to read.
My first thought was to find a poem, one inspired by the Civil Rights Movement. Many poems I found, however, didn't feel right to me. They were all great they just didn't fit my ideas. I wanted to stray away from poems about racial equality and instead focus on equality in general. Because civil rights deals with more than just race. It's about gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, nationality, etc.
My second thought was to ask my friend if she'd want to write a poem. Just before I began searching for poem my friend Kaelyn had said how much she enjoyed writing poetry. I asked her if she'd be willing to write a poem for this weekend. She then began to write something about racial equality and I proceeded to tell her that I was looking for something about equality in general. And she said, "I don't think I'd be able to write a poem about equality, since I don't believe in it." Then it dawned on me, neither do I.
Equality is defined as a state of being essentially equal or equivalent; equally balanced; "on a par with the best."
People are simply not created equally. Some people will always be better somethings that others are. If equality among people existed than our world would be a very boring and mundane place where diversity wouldn't exist.
I believe that people often think that the Civil Rights Movement deals with equality, when in reality it deals with equal opportunity.
I believe in equal opportunity. I think everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves and no one should be given less of chance because of what they may believe or how they may appear. This is what our country should be based on but sadly isn't. I hope that some day we can look past gender, age, race, sexual orientation, etc. and see people for who they are and not what they are. When and if this happens true love will finally people in the presence of our society.
We just have to remain optimistic and be role models for our peers and colleagues. We shall be the change. We will inspire!
I hope that I can portray this message through my speech Saturday evening.
Simple question: People of faith cannot void their beliefs in name of "tolerance." The faith teaches Christians have a duty to stand against what Scriputure teaches to be immoral (ex. homosexuality, abortion, racisim, etc.). I know all aren't Christian, but what do those are do???
Christianity teaches this through the words of Saint Augustine, "Love the sinner, hate the sin."
I firmly believe that people need to realize that faith is a personal thing. Once they try to instill their PERSONAL beliefs on another by telling them they are immoral or have sinned, they are playing God. Just because one person has a moral conviction and believes that something is wrong, they don't actually have the right to impinge on someone else's beliefs because they don't know if it's true. They base it on faith, or on a document written some 2000 years ago that has been translated various times in may various ways. It isn't fact. It's faith.
I have to agree with you.
"Love the sinner and hate the sin simply doesn't happen."
Many christians protest homosexuality in a way that doesn't support this notion. There are websites and campaigns that entitle, "God Hates Fags."
That does not make the sinner feel loved, nor does that fact that you don't support their lifestyle. I agree faith is something personal.
I think it's great that people have faith in something but I do not think their faith should have to hurt anyone else. I thought christianity was about loving and accepting people and helping them. Christianity today does not seem that way. I am sure there are christians out there that fit this category and some that simply do not. I have nothing against christians I just think you need be aware of tolerance of other people's beliefs. I don't believe in a god but I respect that some people do.
People must accept that fact that I am a homosexual regardless of their beliefs. It is what it is and to accept that it's there makes the world a more peaceful place. Now shouldn't that be people's goal?...Peace