I know that I'm late, family, but many things have been on my mind with all that is going on in this quite eventful world in the year of 2015.
One of the biggest issues I have had for a few weeks is the reaction to the Supreme Court ruling that same sex marriage is to be legal in all 50 of the United States of America.
We all know that society as we used to know it is fading away, and the world is starting to become more accepting of things that we weren't so keen on before. However, we also know that many Americans tend to forget about the idea of separation of church and state that our country was SUPPOSED to be founded on.
This is not to bash a particular group, so please do not take offense, however, many conservative Christian Americans like to try to make the U.S. a Christian country. They feel that the laws should abide by those of the New Covenant aka the Christian Bible.
If anything goes against their higher power's word, then they immediately vote and/or speak out against it.
Yet these same Americans would NEVER allow Jewish, Muslim, nor any other religion to override the laws of the U.S., so why they feel their beliefs should is beyond me and beyond the subject of this blog.
On to my main topic, I stumbled across some rather irritating and disappointing Facebook posts a few weeks ago,
"What's new?" I'm sure you're asking. Facebook is full of people who post things they shouldn't (i.e. bigotry and/or their personal relationship or family problems) all of the time, and many of us have learned to ignore the ignorance (or just unfriend the perpetrator).
However, these particular posts upset me because of WHO was saying it.
After the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality, many took to social media to express their support or their oppositions to the idea.
We all learn to pick and choose our battles. If it really isn't worth arguing over social media about a certain topic with people on Facebook just to avoid the drama, just leave the post and keep scrolling. Or if you have to, walk away from whatever device you're using.
I did not engage with many of the opposing posts that were made by people I know or went to school with. However, what really disappointed me was to see so many black people speak so negatively about the situation and/or treat it as if it's not important.
Why?
Because black people should be the last ones downplaying others' rights!
As much as the black community has gone through (and STILL goes through today) in the history of the entire WORLD, let alone all of the horrors we've faced here in the U.S., we should be the first ones to care and be happy that another oppressed community is finally getting the rights they've fought so hard to gain for so many years. Just as black Americans had to do (and still are in many ways).
I saw a post on Facebook where a black girl captions "If only people cared about this as much as gay marriage."
The picture accompanying her words was of type writer text on a blank white space which read, "make college tuition free."
I do not know the girl who originally posted it, but an acquaintance of mine (and another black girl) shared it, and her caption was even more disappointing.
She added that the country is legalizing "irrelevant shit," referring to the Supreme Court ruling (it should be noted, however, that I went back to the individual's Facebook page to quote her directly, but it seems she has deleted the post and surprisingly has shared a marriage equality post and how happy she is about it. Hmm.)
This is sad.
Yes, it would be WONDERFUL for college tuition in the U.S. to be free. It would be a great step for our government to take, and a big step for our nation's education as many believe we are becoming less and less intelligent.
Many jobs require degrees these days, whether the individual's degree has anything to do with the job or not.
I guess the simple fact that you have a degree at all is good enough for them.
Sort of a status thing for the employer, I'd say.
Anyway, this would give many people the opportunity to receive a good education, and, ultimately, living a good life, making a decent living. This would also prevent people from paying off the debt of their student loans until they're in their 40s (in a lot of cases).
While this is important, and something that even I'd like to see happen, it does not mean that one should make it more important than the rights of someone else.
There was a time when many blacks weren't allowed at certain schools, and had to fight to get into some schools. And even once they jumped that obstacle, they still had to deal with oppression inside of the school or while entering and exiting school property (like the Little Rock 9, for example).
So, for these two young ladies, who both seem to be intellectual and intelligent to sit there and disregard a huge obstacle that our country as a whole (not just members of the LGBT community) has gotten over is saddening.
Gay people have rights, and their rights aren't "irrelevant." Just as blacks getting an education wasn't/isn't.
They have to right to marry, just as you have the right to attend school.
And just like you have to pay tuition and all other school fees, gay people STILL have to pay to get married like everyone else.
Marriage isn't free! Even at the courthouse.
If you disagree with gay marriage, fine, but it doesn't mean you have to try to make your problems or obstacles more important than their right to get married, or anyone else's rights for that matter.
Once again: this goes back to another life lesson that each of us learned from our mothers and grade school teachers: IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY, THEN DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
