Friday, July 5, 2013

Independence Day ramblings

I will say that I understand Independence Day.  I understand it's significance.  I believe it is a wonderful holiday where we get to celebrate our country and the freedom that we have.  It is also a time where we get to thank the military for all they do for us.

However, it has also become a time to show off about how patriotic you may be.  All day long, people are posting pictures up on facebook just so people know they are more patriotic than anybody else.  You won't see this much one-upmanship until Christmas time when people will post non-stop about their love for Jesus.  I am always picturing people getting in a room and yelling, "I LOVE JESUS MORE",   "NO, I LOVE HIM MORE".  "WELL, I POSTED THAT MANIPULATIVE STATUS ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE JESUS.  YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT SAYS IF I DON'T RE-POST IT, THEN THAT SHOWS THAT I DON'T LOVE HIM."  "We're done 'cause you're just a moron".  (The argument has to end sometime) 
After all, most people are competitive by nature.  You have to be better than other people somehow, don't you?  Oh, you don't?  Dang, now I know!!

Every year, I hope that we are a little more free than the year before.  More free?  How can people be "more free"?  Lucky for me, I'm as free as I can be.  I can't be any more free.  You want to know why?  That is because I'm a white, straight, Christian, male.  We can basically do whatever we want, as long as it's legal. 

However, all people who aren't white?  They're still discriminated against.  Believe it or not, the KKK is still around.  Racism isn't has prevalent as it used to be.  However, it still exists.

My gay brothers and sisters?  People still use the Bible to justify their hatred.  When somebody uses the Bible to spew their diatribe, that just proves to me that he/she has never read the Bible.  I believe that someday, all of my gay friends will be able to marry the person that they love.  Isn't that what we all want?  The "gay agenda" is the same as the "straight agenda": to marry whomever we love.  The world is getting more accepting.  I feel that each year, they will be more and more free.

My non-Christian friends?  The "religious right" constantly preaches against any other religion.  If you don't believe as they do, then you are going to Hell.  They want you to know that.  You want to know something?  They are full of crap.  As my second paragraph stated, that is their way of being a better person than you.  Luckily, they do NOT speak for all Christians.

Women?  People are trying to make it to where the gov't has control over a woman's body.  I'm sorry.  You don't get a choice.  We will make it for you.  Oh my friends, that's not all.  We are also going to shut down women's clinics all over the world.  Ummm...what?  Maybe someday, women won't be treated as the weaker sex.  Hmmm...just maybe.

Yes, I look forward to a day when we, ALL AMERICANS, are more free.


-Philip