I live in a very conservative area, so I'm used to the hate. I use that word broadly. It wasn't specifically aimed toward me. Which is part of the problem. The people being mentioned, with different justifications, fixated on groups they saw as less than for whatever reason. You got your racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and classism. To name a few. You different in any way? They'll find somehow to outcast you.
But, we aren't talking about everyone. We are talking about Jane* and I in gym class. This was 7th grade and we'd been friends for a while. We both knew were the other stood and chose not to talk about it. This one day some comment about religion came up. Who knows who said it. There was no malice in it, just a sweet thing. Maybe it was Easter? And as we walked around the track, we had a conversation I will never forget. Back and forth, we exchanged traditions we experienced. She was strictly, what I call "mainstream Christian." I do not want to offend by mis-labeling. They seem loud and brash with their opinions, and lead with a need for you to agree. #praythegayaway What I mean is, people too often just say Christian. When it is an umbrella to a number of different churches. I say mainstream because we are talking about what is on the media right now. I'm Quaker and in many ways I contradict everything she was raised upon. Love everyone? Not really in her vocabulary. But, then this magical thing happened. A conversation. Even one between to people we didn't agree and also not on a path to change each other's opinions. Calm. And matter-of-fact. This is what I believe. Oh, you don't agree? That's ok. We can coexist, as long as you are happy. *names changed for the post
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Who Am I?Hi there! I'm Whit, my pronouns are they/them, and I write a lot.
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Painting by Whit Acrylics on masonite April 20th, 2019 Words are a Quaker saying. George Fox? |