So it's the 4th of July and it almost feels like it's mandatory that as a 'blogger' I write something about the importance of this day. Something that gets to the heart of what this day means to me and to my family and to this country as a whole.
I'm not going to do that.
I would imagine that hundreds of others are writing about that at this very moment and probably saying anything and everything that I could on that subject.
However, I do feel the need to speak to independence. Specifically about what independence means and how we use and sometimes abuse that right that was fought and bled for - and continues to be fought for - by the citizens of this country.
I was on a website that sometimes I frequent earlier today. The website isn't important, it's basically just a bunch of people that express feelings on subjects - any subjects. Anyway, there was a comment made that I'm sure I've seen a million times before in regards to what someone else had wrote about their feelings on something.
The comment was "that's gay."
I'm not trying to being sanctimonious, and I have CERTAINLY said things in the past that were not appropriate and I would imagine that I'll catch myself saying things in the future that are not appropriate as well. However, regardless of 'independence' and a right of free speech, I think it's past time that as a country we learn that some things or words are better left unsaid.
There's a movement right now - you've probably seen the commercials - to get rid of the 'r' word in common usage. I fully support that movement, but I think the movement needs to get much bigger.
Whether it's retard or gay or any other racial slur you can think of, there just is no place in this day and age in this country or any other to call people those names. It goes beyond a disagreement in philosophies or opinions. It goes beyond even calling someone 'stupid' because of something they have done - granted that doesn't make that right either.
Whether you're saying it in 'jest' and really hold no ill feelings toward the people that really suffer from the affliction you are joking about or about the gay community as a whole, those are real people with real feelings, and to them the joke isn't funny.
As an independent people we are more than free to hold any personal feelings that we want against any other group of people that we choose. Our freedom of speech gives us the right to comment on things that a lot of other countries don't allow their citizens.
But just because we are independent and just because have freedom of speech, doesn't mean we should set aside good judgment or common sense and open our mouths and say things that are just downright mean or ill-conceived... whether meant or not.
Next time before opening your mouth and spouting out something that might be taken the wrong way or could be hurtful to a segment of society, take 2 seconds and think if it's really necessary or really that important to say. Or maybe just find another way to express your opinion that isn't hurtful.
Live life,
Richard B.
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