20 Feb
Of Mixed Messages:
Equality
I recently read the statement: “we were just saying that men should have such a group to go and share and support one another. Not really something guys do much though.” The source of the statement really doesn’t matter, but it got me to thinking. I’m not sure I like being categorized in such a manner. Isn’t that type of generalization that women have been fighting for such a long time? Does that now make it right for women to do the same thing with regards to men? Is it really right to take an eye for an eye, or is it simply an excuse for hypocrisy?
It seems greatly unfair to categorize someone without even reaching out to see if such a thing is true. It’s unbalanced and unbecoming of a society seeking equality and change. It also speaks to the backwards development now happening within society. Instead of moving forward into healing of rifts and divides, society seems to be widening the gaps, and moving towards secularism and individuality.
I guess what gets me most though is that we sit at a table blaming one another rather than truly working out any differences. It seems far easier to cast blame, or suspicion rather than casting out a net of peace and justice. Indignation is in, equality and justice for all is out, and this has been the pattern in our government, and our society.
It used to be that the call was for equal rights, now we have to have specific rights for specific groups. Where does it end?
When you start calling for individual rights for one group over another, then you enforce stereotypes and build walls rather than bridges.
That’s what we need: more bridges! We need a coming together of people rather than an individualizing of one group versus another. We need to share ourselves with each other without regard for race, gender, or any other moniker AND we need to get rid of the stereotypes. We need to end the focus on what is different and find the common ground.
Not all males are the same, and not all females are the same. It’s time to judge people on their individual merits and get rid of the secularisms of judging a person based on some obscure observation of an angry individual.
Equality is just that: equal for all, not some.
Oh, and by the way, we men share our feelings more than people realize. I don’t know who ever came up with the stereotype of hardened men who don’t show emotions, but we have em, and we aren’t afraid to show em, and they can be trodden on and hurt! The few ridiculous examples of “male bravado” do not encompass the whole of the gender, just as the stereotypical Scarlett O’Hara doesn’t reflect the whole of the female gender!
End the cycle of ignorance and injustice! Bring equality back to the forefront and end the cycle of discrimination in ALL forms!
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