To My Beloved Royalty...

        

Guest post by "Being Useful"
That's a really weird thing to be afraid of, "acceptance". o.0

I would imagine the fear is normally more "if I can be wrong on them, who else? EVERYONE ELSE? WHAT ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD IF EVERYONE CHANGES AT WILL!?!"

'cuz people like stability, they equate it with safety... a lack of stability like that would make them feel unsafe.

Just sayin'.

Submitted November 23, 2014 at 9:32PM

        

I think it's more a fear of the world changing about them, and not wanting to change it. I think that's the reactionary impulse, from misogyny, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, etc. I can't tell you how often I see angry people saying "THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYONE ACCEPTS THAT!" That's a fear, I believe. A fear of change, and of being left behind, unable to cope. Or accept. It is really about acceptance? I don't think so. BUT I think that's how they see the situation: fighting back against a societal compulsion to accept something they see as abhorrent. In other words, they see themselves as victims in the face of unreasonable forces demanding they give up their principles.

Last edited by Pinkbatmax
Edited 2 time(s).

Submitted November 24, 2014 at 12:15AM

        

Guest post by "Nestor Notabilis"
In my (probably pretty difference via Saudi Arabia and Bahrain) experience, fear and feeling like victims are secondary to keeping up an illusion of power and the status quo. An often literal pecking order where the people society says are best can take out their frustrations on those it says are below, which makes them feel better about their own lives no matter how dire. Perhaps there's a 'fear' element in that, not wanting to let go of that power but I think the power is more important than the fear associated with it.

Submitted November 24, 2014 at 12:49AM

        

Guest post by "wondering"
RE: The quote. Not just "a" civil servant, but the Prime Minister of Canada. That's pretty much like calling the president of the USA a civil servant.

Submitted November 25, 2014 at 6:41AM

        

Last edited by Pinkbatmax
Edited 2 time(s).

Submitted November 25, 2014 at 2:03PM

        

Guest post by "..."
Got to love kids.

It reminds me of a discussion with my sister in law about anti-LGTB rhetoric. She didn't like the fact that it should get someone (say an athlete or an actor) in trouble the way a racist talk would. (She doesn't know about my  identity.) She described it as a reasonable religious belief that someone shouldn't be punished for expressing a differing opinion. It really had me miffed.

In hindsight, I think this is more about avoid applying the label of bigot to people one cares for, groups one's part of, or where one comes from. (Her family's church is kind of scary.) Some part of what those groups are is part of who you are, and no one wants to internalize that part of their background is bigotry. So I can understand why one would be resistant, even if those aren't their beliefs anymore. (I don't believe it is for my sister in law.)

Submitted November 25, 2014 at 2:06PM

        

Guest post by "Mystic pecan"
This is a bit long.
The fact is hate is the easiest thing to do, if you pick to hate and fear, you don't need to learn or grow and nothing is your fault. All the haters in my life are people who wants to blame the world for why they are not rich or not powerful. Some want everyone to see their opinions as fact. Read the doctrine of haters through history, it starts off simple, and spirals out, no one ever notices it, if hate gives a person absolute power what happens when the group who is prosecuted runs out, they find new ones to prosecute. It starts off "Lets isolate them" and the followers support their righteous leaders. The followers don't get infinite food and harmony or streets of gold or heaven on earth. So the leaders take it further, untill they actually resort to genocide. Hitler did that exact thing. Hate is the easiest tool for manipulation. and what happens when a nation does not solve all the problems like that? they blame more and more people. Some folks are so intwined in hate, that they ignore all good examples and see only bad ones, they are literally blind to anything that denies their belief.

Truth cares not what we believe in or feel.
         Even if hate wins this age, new people will be born with new ideals. The only hope is one day we will learn from history's cycles of hate and acceptance. Which built the nations and which collapsed them. And, it was not hate that built the sky scrapers bridges railroads airplanes and even a rocket used in war was once the dream of a man who wanted to go to the stars. Hate separates, tortures hate tares down houses and nation, hate burns bridges and crushes hopes. Hate closes borders and limits Knowledge.

Acceptance, compassion, learning, growing all these things tie in.
       when we accept another persons ways, we might see the things they do that's good for the world or others around them. An accepted and loved person is inspired, hopeful, and while people on hard times make beautiful art and create ideas it is always with hope they will see a better day. Compassion is the greatest power of humanity, and empathy is the reactant that fuels compassion, like a wick to a flame, empathy is to hope. If we cannot empathize with another human does that make them less human or us? Learning, is not easy, nor is tilling a field and growing a crop, nor can you do that without being taught how to do so. And growing is never ending the world will alter and change for all time the mounts will wear to hills while others will crest above Everest one day, lands will crack and split by waters. The only reason we don't notice is because we are so small, we can not see far in time nor the world.
            For some hate and fueling powers who hate makes them feel strong, powerful and a little less small. As I learn how small I am, I learn how great I can be, I do not see my littleness as weak, but as potential, I am human, I can build, I can think, I can invent, I can live in snow capped mountains, on seas, in jungles, in desserts. I can make ice, fire, lightning, wind, and many other things. I can see stars far from the world I live, and things so small that millions can live on a pin.
I can only do these things thanks to others, and I can only do these things with knowing I am doing it with the help of others. That is the ultimate weakness of the haters, and power of acceptance. When you can accept you are but one dust grain in the cosmos, and must accept the strength and will of surroundings in accepting that weakness, it can give you power.

Submitted November 25, 2014 at 2:15PM

        

Guest post by "Cheese burger girl"
Also it is funny how people like this Penny act that way. But, at the same time they go out of there way to punish the people they don't want to accept. I don't care if anyone likes me, but for Pete's sake don't pursue me attack me block me spite on me. It is sad that some folk don't see the difference from belief and assault.Also it is sad when each individual group of people have to uniquely fight for each individual right.
I like the song "How many mile?" by Peter Paul and Mary, it asks the important question, how much does a people or a person have to suffer before they are treated right.

Submitted November 25, 2014 at 2:30PM

        

You all are amazing. Thoughtful, sometimes beautiful comments here. I literally told people to come here and see what you were all saying in the comments. For real. I'm honored.

Submitted November 26, 2014 at 10:28AM

        

Guest post by "Autumnotopia"
Hahaha, loving the Vivian James comparison here. Very fitting. (Assuming it was intentional, but it's so spot on it would be astounding if it wasn't)

Submitted March 4, 2015 at 8:29PM