Over the past week I have heard many conversations that have to deal with hate crimes. Hate crime is defined as any offensive behavior which causes harm to another person, or descrimination on bases of race, gender, religious affiliation, or sexual preferences.
There have been many instances where a person has been physically harmed because of their race or sexual affiliation. Do you remember the young gentleman who was beaten and left for dead simply because he was gay? I don't remember his name, but if someone reading this knows it, please contact me to tell me. There was even one instance where a black gentleman was dragged behind a truck for several miles simply because he was black.
It makes me very upset to think that we as a nation have so much animosity towards someone simply because they are different. I'm saying that you as an individual have to like what that person is doing. If someone's lifestyle goes against your personal or religious beliefs, then it id fine for you not to like the life style.
Your religious preferences, or personal beleifs are fine. They're yours to have, and you have every right to think that something is wrong. However, it is not right for you to hate someone simply because of their beliefs or preferences.
As a Christian, the Bible tells me that homosexuality is wrong. Faith aside, I still do not like the lifestyle. That is my opinion, and I'm entitled to it. I do have gay friends, and we get along fine. They know I don't like their way of life, but they also know I would never pass judgement on them.
We live in a society where it is "politically correct" to be open minded. open mindedness is fine, if that's your thing. What I would like for you to get out of this entry is the knowledge of what I like to call open heartedness.
The difference between the two is very simple. Open mindedness is the acceptance of someone's lifestyle, race, or whatever. That person is accepted, along with whatever or whoever that person is.
Open heartedness is the acceptance of a person as an individual. They are human so am I. You may not agree with what they are doing, and you don't have to accept it, but you accept them as a person (who like you) makes mistakes and does things that others don't agree with.
How many of us have a friend that does things that you don't agree with? I know I do. Whether it be promiscuity, pre-marital sex, drugs, whatever. We all have them. No one has a "perfect friend". And yet we still hang out with them, and call them friend.
To anyone who came this far to read this, thank you for reading me rant. I would like you to do one thing for me. Look deep within your soul. Take a look at the type of person you are. Please don't allow little differences of others to breed hate in your heart.
If at any time you hear a friend making fun of someone because of sexuality, weight, color of their skin, etc... Please stop them. Let them know that you don't like it. We are all different. We are all children of God, and we all have to live on the same earth for quite a while.
I know that I don't want to live in an environment that descriminates and makes fun of me because of my differences.
Thank you, and God bless.
