It's the holiday season and in my mind, everyone should be friendly and cheerful and just being good human beings. It's the time of year where even your most hated enemy gives you a smile and wishes you a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Whatever Holiday Well-Wishes That You Don't Find Offensive. (Not in my case; my enemy has decided to just straight up ignore me. In the immortal words of RENT's Tom Collins, "Merry Christmas, b*tches!") But to my dismay and honestly distress, there is a cloud hanging above me on the eve my favorite holiday.
There have been many disturbing and unfortunate examples of intolerance and just general nastiness this whole year and in recent years. People have been brought under fire for numerous reasons, whether they be justified or not, and the reactions, or lack of a reaction, of those individuals above said people are also brought under fire. It's a never-ending cycle of hate and finger pointing.
In a world where we've seen great acts of humanity, awareness, and generosity, it's hard to believe there is still so much hate out there but we can't pretend that it's not present. With social marking making it an option for millions of people to express their opinions, opinions are just that; a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge. But what happens to the world when you can't see past your own opinion to at least acknowledge another person's view?
I do not condone any negative comments said toward any faction of society. A person is allowed to have their own viewpoint but in today's world your viewpoint is instantly labeled right or wrong with no room for discussion. Instead I wonder what happened to people's general niceness and why we must all be so mean to each other. Who are we to condemn people for their lifestyle, religion, political affiliations, and any other subject that I've missed. The world is too bleak as it is to focus on the negative and yet that is a favorite past time for most of the world.
The recent comments by a certain reality star are disturbing for multiple reasons and there are many people to blame. It's also not the first time in the history of the entertainment industry that a person has made derogatory remarks and gotten punished for it. Regardless if you support the comments, you can't say them to a national magazine and not expect to get a reaction. I don't watch the personality's TV show nor am I included in a group of people that he offended in the article, yet I was offended on a human level. Why do we have to tear each other down?
When I see all the fighting that is directly or indirectly caused by these remarks I think of Pope Francis' recent words on the subject and I am filled with hope for our future. "If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?" The most important man in the Catholic Church has expressed what I've always said, 'Who am I to judge?'. We aren't God, or whatever other religious figure that you believe in. I don't believe that God will punish people for who they love and for wanting to be treated equally. And that's about all I have to say on the matter.
So during the final days of the Christmas season, can we please remember why it's supposed to be 'the most wonderful time of year'? As Linus famously quotes the Bible during A Charlie Brown Christmas, "And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
Key word: All people.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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