I Admire Depth And Understanding
From my perspective - which is 35 white male in urban USA, we have been really focusing on the wrong things in this country.
We are brought up in a very polarized environment. Everything is either right or wrong - there is little in between. Then, when this type of lifestyle is combined with unrelenting individualism, judgement, isolation, and loneliness - it is inevitable that many problems will arise.
The youth of today interacts in very different ways than in the past. Much of social interaction takes place in the digital realm, and that brings with it an entirely different set of social skills. Since everything is looked at with such polarity, anything that isn't viewed as positive or beneficial by a person - is undoubtedly WRONG. In a world as diverse as our own, this is a ridiculous situation to have for a society's foundation. What we are doing is creating an incredible amount of in-fighting - since everyone is an individual and everyone is completely right.
We seem to have lost local community. I believe I feel this loss more than most, because of my life's experiences. I grew up in a town with less than 300 people, and things were very 1950's and "leave it to beaver"-esque. Now, I live in Denver - and I see how the wealthy separate themselves from the poor - and all the different class levels ALSO separate and judge themselves differently within their own class levels.
We are constantly looking at others, thinking how WE approve of them and how WE do not approve of them. Despite the fact that we know little to nothing about the person, their journey, or their hopes and motivations.
I think we need to work a lot more on acceptance in this country - and NOT just blind acceptance. For instance - I support transgender people, and I hope they can manage to find their place without enduring unhelpful criticism or bullying. But, that being said - they should not get their own bathrooms and many other special features. Why? Because children are really easily affected and they are undoubtedly now asking themselves "Am I transgender?" now, and they should not HAVE to ask that question. That question should only arise in the minds of a few people who have additional troubles to overcome. I don't fault them, but I do fault those who are so unconditionally eager to accept others fully - that they are marginalizing the bulk of the population distributed over the bell curve.
A small side note - I also support gays. I think they should be allowed to do anything straight folks can - including marriage - but - do they have to take anything rainbow? Can't they choose a specific shape and then rainbows are still for everyone? It makes me sad to think my niece, who is only 7 years old, that she will have to stop having rainbows on her things - and drawing them constantly - because they also are a symbol of ANYTHING connected to sexuality. Can't we all just share the diffusion of light?
Again - I support gays and them having a symbol - but just choosing the light spectrum - well, it's a bit selfish...
Also - does everyone know that people who used (and are honest!) intravenous drugs are FOREVER BARRED from donating blood or blood products? I have given loads of blood over the years - but apparently I used to lie about my drug past. I have always been healthy, clean, and careful - and my blood reflects this fact. However - when my father had multiple brain surgeries, I felt honor bound to donate blood back to the system - and even some platelets too (they said that was harder and so I was eager to help as much as possible)... But, even though I have been clean - and continuously healthy for years after my abuses - I am not allowed to give blood.
Red Cross - WTF? I was good enough while I was lying, but not now that I'm telling the truth?
I hope this wasn't too depressing - I'm trying hard to not be a downer. I want to mention that I'm also making a documentary on methadone maintenance, and I will have a Kickstarter campaign soon to spread word and hopefully gain some funding. If you are interested at all - please contact me. Either in participating, you have questions, experience you'd like to share, or - of course - money to donate to the process! (You can wait until the Kickstarter campaign, and just connect with me, so you don't think I'm just taking your money. )
We are brought up in a very polarized environment. Everything is either right or wrong - there is little in between. Then, when this type of lifestyle is combined with unrelenting individualism, judgement, isolation, and loneliness - it is inevitable that many problems will arise.
The youth of today interacts in very different ways than in the past. Much of social interaction takes place in the digital realm, and that brings with it an entirely different set of social skills. Since everything is looked at with such polarity, anything that isn't viewed as positive or beneficial by a person - is undoubtedly WRONG. In a world as diverse as our own, this is a ridiculous situation to have for a society's foundation. What we are doing is creating an incredible amount of in-fighting - since everyone is an individual and everyone is completely right.
We seem to have lost local community. I believe I feel this loss more than most, because of my life's experiences. I grew up in a town with less than 300 people, and things were very 1950's and "leave it to beaver"-esque. Now, I live in Denver - and I see how the wealthy separate themselves from the poor - and all the different class levels ALSO separate and judge themselves differently within their own class levels.
We are constantly looking at others, thinking how WE approve of them and how WE do not approve of them. Despite the fact that we know little to nothing about the person, their journey, or their hopes and motivations.
I think we need to work a lot more on acceptance in this country - and NOT just blind acceptance. For instance - I support transgender people, and I hope they can manage to find their place without enduring unhelpful criticism or bullying. But, that being said - they should not get their own bathrooms and many other special features. Why? Because children are really easily affected and they are undoubtedly now asking themselves "Am I transgender?" now, and they should not HAVE to ask that question. That question should only arise in the minds of a few people who have additional troubles to overcome. I don't fault them, but I do fault those who are so unconditionally eager to accept others fully - that they are marginalizing the bulk of the population distributed over the bell curve.
A small side note - I also support gays. I think they should be allowed to do anything straight folks can - including marriage - but - do they have to take anything rainbow? Can't they choose a specific shape and then rainbows are still for everyone? It makes me sad to think my niece, who is only 7 years old, that she will have to stop having rainbows on her things - and drawing them constantly - because they also are a symbol of ANYTHING connected to sexuality. Can't we all just share the diffusion of light?
Again - I support gays and them having a symbol - but just choosing the light spectrum - well, it's a bit selfish...
Also - does everyone know that people who used (and are honest!) intravenous drugs are FOREVER BARRED from donating blood or blood products? I have given loads of blood over the years - but apparently I used to lie about my drug past. I have always been healthy, clean, and careful - and my blood reflects this fact. However - when my father had multiple brain surgeries, I felt honor bound to donate blood back to the system - and even some platelets too (they said that was harder and so I was eager to help as much as possible)... But, even though I have been clean - and continuously healthy for years after my abuses - I am not allowed to give blood.
Red Cross - WTF? I was good enough while I was lying, but not now that I'm telling the truth?
I hope this wasn't too depressing - I'm trying hard to not be a downer. I want to mention that I'm also making a documentary on methadone maintenance, and I will have a Kickstarter campaign soon to spread word and hopefully gain some funding. If you are interested at all - please contact me. Either in participating, you have questions, experience you'd like to share, or - of course - money to donate to the process! (You can wait until the Kickstarter campaign, and just connect with me, so you don't think I'm just taking your money. )
