Loosen up?
In today’s society, one looks on and wonders why there are so many murders, beatings, and just utter cruelty towards other human beings. I say it is because people can’t take a joke, or are too self-opinionated to allow someone else to hold their own opinions. I do not want to go into the rights and wrongs of this issue, but people need to lighten up.
There are so many different groups, beliefs, societies, practices, and ideas in this world today that we will never have complete agreement with one another as a whole. There will always be racists, there will always be different forms of religion, and there will always be different definitions on ethics and moral beliefs. I say, so what?
This gets down to the basis of our country, freedom as stated in the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” This also allows people to have their own opinions and ideas about other people. A key word in the first amendment is peaceably. By no means am I arguing for or supporting any violent actions regarding free speech.
That being said, how many people have told, laughed at, or sent via e-mail a racial, sexist, religious, or degrading joke? I would say it is safe to assume that the majority of us have. Again, I say so what? These jokes are funny. Laugh at them. I have laughed at jokes about whites and Christianity. I find them just as funny as the rest. I am not going to get all heated up about it, even if the joke was started by someone who actually believed what the joke is jesting about. That person has a right to his opinion, and I have a right to mine. I am tired of hearing about people being beat for their beliefs, or some kid gets made fun of in school, so he takes a gun and blows people away. I know words can be hurtful, but they aren’t going to kill you. Get over yourself and laugh at it.
On a similar topic, what is with all of these organizations trying to regulate the entire population with their beliefs? One of my favorites is PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). So the members of PETA are animal lovers and don’t want to eat meat. More power to them, but don’t hinder my ability to enjoy a good steak. I have also come to realize that every religion thinks they are right. And why shouldn’t they? Isn’t that why we believe in a god or certain practices, we think we are right. And we should tell people about our beliefs, but we can’t force people to believe one thing or another. Just because someone decides to believe something different from you, does not make them a bad person. Nor does it give you the right to beat, mutilate, take the life of, or pass laws to regulate someone who holds different opinions.
These thoughts are based on beliefs not harmful to society, or people in general. There are laws which are made for the betterment of society and the well-being of her people. I don’t believe we should be a lawless society, but people do need to loosen up about political views, the gray line moral issues, race, sexuality, and religion. Thoughts and systems of belief do not hurt people. It is the non-acceptance of other people’s thoughts and beliefs that starts wars and arguments which may or may not lead to violence.
Now I love a good debate just as much as the next person, but that is the joy of not holding others beliefs against them. Get into a heated conversation, defend your points and argue others. But when the conversation is done, no matter who wins, if someone wins, we are still entitled to believe what we want. My college buddies and I get into debates almost every time we get together, the great thing is, we can be yelling at each other one second, and still know that when the conversation is done, we will still be friends.
Basically, people just need to lighten up. You should care about your beliefs and values, but don’t let that get in the way of getting to know someone else. Embrace the differences in opinion we all share. That is what makes this country great. We can all have different ideals, and yet still live together.