A rare personal post this time.
I may be able to write fiction, but I have a terrible time
putting my personal thoughts and feelings into written words when it comes to
important societal issues. I’ve seen people on social media saying that if you
have a platform, it’s important to speak out now, but my platform is small, and
I’m doubtful that many people who see the world differently than I do follow me
on social media or read my blog. And even if someone of a different mindset sees my message, what
good would it do? If they’ve held onto their point of view this long – after everything
that’s happened in America over the last few years – how can I get them to even
think about what I say, let alone change their minds? Still, for whatever small
amount of good it might do, here’s what I believe. I believe humans can
accomplish more by working together than by being in conflict with one another.
I believe that people matter more than things. Things mean nothing. People mean
everything. I believe in seeking the greatest amount of good for the greatest
amount of people. I believe making a better world serves everyone in the long
term, whether you’re altruistic or self-focused. A better world is a better
world for everyone. I believe this is a position that’s equally supported by emotion
and logic. I believe people should never stop growing mentally, emotionally,
and spiritually, and that it’s our responsibility as sentient beings to seek to
be the best version of ourselves we can be. We should never be afraid to
question our beliefs and we should do so regularly. I believe we should never
be afraid to change and never be afraid to apologize when we’ve wronged
someone. I believe we should listen more than we talk because we learn so much
more when we do. If you can’t listen, it means you believe what you have to say
is more important than what anyone else has to say, and that means you’re either
self-centered, arrogant, foolish, close-minded, ignorant or any combination. I
believe humans are never finished growing until we die (and maybe not even
then). I believe all human beings should have equal rights in all things and be
treated with dignity. I stand with people of all races, all gender expressions,
all sexualities, all religions, all backgrounds, all anything. I do not
stand with hate of any kind, with those who believe certain people should be
excluded or oppressed or marginalized or disenfranchised or brutalized or killed
because they aren’t the “right” kind of people or living the "right" kind of way. I do not stand with willful
ignorance. I believe it is wrong to exploit others, in any way, for our own
benefit. I believe that everyone should support our LGBTQ family, and I believe
that if your response to “Black lives matter” is anything but “yes,” you need
to do some serious work on yourself. I believe if you need a gun in your hand
to feel strong, you’re weak, and if you get off on the power of holding a gun
and can’t wait to use that power against others, even if only to intimidate
them or impress them, you are an extremely sad and potentially dangerous person.
I believe I can speak only for myself and of my own experiences, and I cannot
speak for others. I believe I was fortunate to be born white and male in a time
and place where that puts me automatically at the top of the power structure. I’ll
never fully understand all the ways this benefits me, and I’ll never be
completely free of the attitudes that I was taught by society as I was growing
up, but I will keep on trying for as long as I live. I believe in doing what I
can to help others and using my privilege to make the world a better place. I
am not religious. I don’t care if there is a god or an afterlife. I believe in doing
the right thing because it’s right, not because some powerful being will punish
me with hellfire if I do bad or reward me with a cosmic lollipop in the end if
I do good. I believe in extending my hand to all of you to shake, holding out my
arms if you want to come in for a hug, and if you turn away from me, and from
the rest of us, that’s your choice. But I believe you will live a small, lonely,
and ultimately empty life.
I never close comments on my posts, but I've closed them for this one, for obvious reasons.
