/All things being equal/All things being equal/All things being equal they're not

[jackofallgeeks]

Hmmmm, I donno that I have much to say. So I'm going to say it all, anyways. Today, after work, I'm going to see an old friend of mine, Jackie. I met her back in Virginia when I was Homeschooling, then she moved to Italy, and now she's over here in San Diego. Just now got in touch with her, and so we thought to hang out t'night. ^^ I'm going to see someone I KNOW.

Talked to Liz last night for the first time in forever. She's just NOW 16 - or at the very least she's not 17 yet. ::Shakes head sadly:: That means she must've 'started' really young...

Not sure how I feel about 'West Wing.' The scene I last 'saw' I thought was very ignorant, but another one I'd apparently heard earlier I quite agree with. I'm half-sorry (heh heh, Nancy) to say that I may have to watch it to make up my mind (though, really, that should go without saying...)

Been going through and reading Claire's old entries. Turns out she didn't start until December 3, 2001. I think I've made it up almost into February 2002 now. It's all a pretty good read. I may eventually move on to read through everyone else's old entries....

Made a few observations recently. Despite fear of sounding like Josh (who tends to jump to conclusions and make sweeping generalizations) I'd like to share them.

First off, it occured to me this - that when most people break-up, it ends badly. They tend not to speak to eachother, and if they have to interact, it's cold if not hostile. Each points out the failings of the other - to the point where I find myself wondering, 'why were you even with her in the first place?' So I thought, 'you know, it kind of makes sense.' Take a look - when you're with someone, you build a relationship, right? Stepping up from that, 'dating' someone is something more than just being friends. Naturally, one would expect that there would be a higher end intended to "Going Out" than that of "Being Friends" - and there is, we know, because generally dating (should be) about finding a spouse. That's the goal. But if you don't reach the goal, then what? You've failed, on a subtle level even if that was never you're concious intent. I would venture that no one likes failing, and so my guess is that, to compensate, they point out all the negatives - if their partner was so bad, the blame is placed elsewhere, that kinda thing. People don't like to think about their own flaws and failings.

That brings me to my next observation. That is, I think people...inflict isn't the right word, but maybe impose their fears on others... That is, if I'm afraid of something, I'll SEE evidence that people, in general, are afraid of the same thing. ^^;; This is one of those Catch-22s that I come upon where I can't really prove it - if I see it cause I want to see it then, uhm, of course it'll be there when I look, you know? I don't like admitting to my failings, though I acknowledge that I'm not perfect.
^^;; This has gotten rather awkward rather quickly. Let's move on...

Here's another thing I noticed. Did you know that Catholicism is the largest religion in the world? Did you further know that the second largest religion is Islam? Did you further realize that after that comes Judaism. And after that, it's reasonable that Protestants, collectively, follow. You will then notice that all these - the largest religious groups in the world (and yes, I include atheists and pagans, too) all worship the same God? They all claim Abraham as an ancestor and worship the same One God. Now then, it's also a fact that the United States Supreme Court has declared "God" to be a religiously neutral term - not designating specifically Allah or Jesus or Zeus...
So WHY are we losing prayer in school? WHY is the Pledge of Alliegence under dispute? WHY has it come to the point where the Declaration of Independance could be "unconstitutional?" Because of the small 0.02% or so of vocal Athiest, that's right.

Which brings me to my final observation, and an old one. I really can't say I'm not againt Atheists - it's really a sticky situation. But I do believe it's their choice (do you see the sense, that it's their choice and I'm STILL against them choosing it?). But am I wrong to say that 0.02% of the population should not have such a foundation-shaking effect on the other (get this) 99.98%? Is that what 'equality' brings us? ::Shakes head:: I don't agree with that. People have rights - life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness - but it's sensible that those rights END when they infringe on the rights of another, with the higher rights (life over liberty over happiness) taking priority. Though I'm not against minorities, I am against special privleges for minorities, because it doesn't make sense. Why should someone get different treatment - positive or negative - because of their race, religion, gender, sexual preference, or ANYTHING? Is that equality? Putting the few above the many because 'they have no one to look out for them.' Isn't that insulting!? I know I would want people to respect my ability to "look after" myself, thank you very much.

^^;; I fear these last two observations have gotten me a bit riled up. I'll end this with a note - in my pay check, I was "paid" some $850. My account was credited about $600. $150 of my money was given to the government. Most of that was given to Medicare and Medicaid, which I can never get back, and which I won't see the benifits from. It's one thing to make a personal donation to a clinic or shelter or soup kitchen to help the needy. It's quite another for someone to take my money without my consent, just to....
I'll end here.

Comments

[dreamingaloud.livejournal.com]

But, as a question... if I wanted to marry a girl, if I wanted to have a job and not worry about being fired because I wasn't married to a man like most of my female co-workers, if I wanted to buy a nice house and raise a family (something I've always dreamed of) without fear that someone is going to deem it wrong, say I'm a bad parent and take my children away based on the fact I married a girl.....

... why shouldn't I be allowed to do those things? Why should there even be the issue of doing those things? Those aren't "special rights" ... they are the same rights that just about every straight person I know has open to them. I mean, you don't fear any of those things. You don't fear getting your ass kicked, or raped, or anything else... based on the fact that you love women, right?

I agree. Special rights - meaning, I'd get the job JUST BECAUSE I was a woman, or gay, or black or overweight, etc - just to fill some sort of "well, we have to because there's this law that says (dot dot dot)..." is stupid. It's out of line and wrong. I don't want anything given to me because of those things. I think I can do just fine on my own. I think lots of people can. But when I want to do the same things as other people do, and I'm told I can't because of a law.... how can that be right or fair? Especially when it's not harmful and it only concerns me, the girl I marry, and our possible future children?

You wanting to marry a girl isn't considered special rights, nor is the possibility of you having kids and wanting to raise them yourself in the best home you know how to create for them (heh - I get the best picture of a WHOLE BUNCH of little Andrews running around. Awwww). My wanting those things too shouldn't be considered special rights.... because they are the same rights you'd get by default.

But I can see where you could probably not agree with what I've said. And that's fine. Because if we all had the same views it would get boring, nobody would talk, we'd never make meaningful connections or have reasons to seek out other people.

And besides. I still think you're cute. ^__^

Salute Emm :-)

[yellowwisdombus.livejournal.com]

"I am half sorry that I came around for you..." :-D

[surichan.livejournal.com]

God love ya for usin' a Jim quote. ^_^ I find the song somewhat disconcerting still, because I don't know if I can agree with all of it just yet...but I do love that sarcasm, "After all, isn't God an angry white guy?" ::sigh:: Yeah, Jim rocks.

And you know how much I agree with you. If we ever want to achieve true equality, people need to stop hiding behind the mask of "minority" and realize that all they're doing is perpetuating the inequality and widening schisms between people. This is precisely why Affirmative Action needs to be drop-kicked somethin' awful... >_< Razza-fraggin' stupid reverse-discrimination buuuuull-honkey mutter mutter grumble...

Funny...I see the exact same thing Mel sees for your family. ^_^ Gawwwwwwwd, they're multiplying...