So, as a gay man, I was pretty upset about the fact that the local Baptist church
is sponsoring one of these ridiculous 'Celebrate Recovery' groups. For those
unaware, this is a group that says the only way to be freed from addictions is
through Oh Mighty Jesus, commander of trans formative lightning bursts. And--
oh yeah--being a homosexual is a sickness from which Ole' baby Jesus' can save
you! Mmmm-hmmmmm.....
So I was venting and talking about what to do as protest, and these two chicks
that like to play friendly and liberal start chiding me for speaking out against it.
What difference does it make?
You can't change anything.
What do you think you can do?
You're wasting your time; nothings going to change
...and so on.
So, it's one thing to not be supportive. It's one thing to say some thing's not your
cup of tea. But since when does someone fighting The Man need additional
nay-sayers and detractors?
These are folks that speak out against policies and people and places they don't
like--only from the comfort of quiet whispers with like-minded people. There is
no dedication to a higher ideal or fighting the good fight here....and that's fine.
But don't 'reign in' my parade......don't seek to add your weight to the collective
boot heel of oppression.
Is the only fight worth fighting the one you think you can win? Is there no good
to come from being heard and seen and noted? How can someone who is so
unilaterally defeated in their thinking even bother getting out of bed in the morning.
These are the same people who watched as I spiraled into a deep, dark,
depression last year. Watched daily as I lost everything I had and gave up
hope and withered away. They talked about it amongst themselves; but no
one ever, at any point spoke up and said a word. Not to ask if I needed
anything, offer to help, address matters directly, etc. It's more of the same;
all talk, no action. No one ever wants to stand up for what they think and put
their money where their mouth is.
It's a sad day for me to realize how uninterested in living life some people
are. It certainly is no wonder that the world is in the condition it is when
good, educated, informed people...simply choose to do nothing. Apathy
is a crippling agent of the forces of evil. And not simply give up themselves,
but to shame me into their pit of nonresistance in order to feel less guilty
themselves. Shame on you.
I remember a great ad for opposing censorship; Frank Miller drew a little
girl having her eyes, ears, and mouth taped shut, and being told "That's a
good girl!" (or something to that affect.) We get to keep our little measure
of comfort by looking straight ahead and not upsetting the apple cart.
I will surround myself with the enemy from now on; I would rather be beaten
and spat upon than condescendingly tolerated. At least with an enemy, an attack
or abandonment is expected.
We don't any of us know for a certainty what our actions will bring. Ever.
We can hope and plan and imagine...but it means nothing.
But when good people know that something is wrong, and refuse to speak
of it.....that's how evil takes root and prospers. Evil is not unavoidable. Despair
is not a constant. These things occur when the vigilance of those who 'can' choose
'not to.'
'Group think' is a horrible thing. Avoiding becoming part of the hamster wheel is
difficult work.I may not receive instant gratification from standing up to wrong
thinking. I may never know what effect--if any--it has. I may save a life by
giving an insulated and brainwashed kid a chance to know there is another world
out there. I may spark a piece of hope in a closeted gay man who hates himself
and wishes to commit suicide. I may begin the wheels turning for a woman who
thinks something is wrong with her for doubting the holiness of her church's work.
Regardless; I'm gonna be the one lighting that candle. Whether I get ignored,
lampooned, beaten, shot, defamed, or humbled....I'm lighting my candle. Y'all curse
the darkness from the sidelines until Hell freezes over. Hate away.
**************************************************************
Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as
pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.
- Winston Churchill
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in
every difficulty.
- Winston Churchill
(What can i say? I'm in a Winnie kind of mood.)
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