(no subject)

[demeter918]

I've written and deleted about six different posts about the 'gay rights meme' floating around and to be honest, I'm not sure of how to voice my hesitation with it. Most of you know I skip on the majority of the memes that float around, mostly because I can't be bothered half the time. Once in a while, a meme will strike my fancy and I'll do it... but not if it's basically saying that if I don't post the goddamn meme, it must mean that I'm homophobic. Bullshit. That seriously irritates me.

Luckily, there are others who say it much better.

So, for the record? I believe in human rights. Not gay rights.

Comments

[minni.livejournal.com]

I was wondering that myself. The first time I saw it on my friendslist it was posted by my former roommate, who is a lesbian who came out during the time we roomed together in college. And I've never had any issues with Tina; we got along fine (she was shocked when I was accused of being homophobic, because I was truly the only person who fully and unconditionally supported her during her coming out).

I think it was the quote of Dr. Seuss that bugs me - mostly because he's not credited when people didn't remove it, but the entire thing reads of a superior, holier-than-thou attitude ("We're better than you because we speak out about supporting gay rights! Neener neener neener!"). Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.. That appears to be spliced away from most of the memes I've seen.

See, Tina matters to me and I don't mind her being a lesbian. Do I still have to speak up? What about those of us who treat them like human beings with the respect deserving to them, but disapprove of certain things? You know, I'll pick drunks out of the gutter where they've collapsed and sit and keep them company until they're sober enough to walk without being a hazard to themselves or anyone else; I give them respect and treat them kindly. Should I be speaking out about how they have a right to drown themselves in a lethal substance and then wander off without a leash? I know that homosexuality isn't the same thing as alcoholism, but if I don't approve, why should I be expected to support? And simply because I don't approve doesn't mean that I treat such people likle they're the scum of the earth.

I don't know why people make such a big honkin' deal about their rights of whom they should have sex with - that doesn't strike me as being nearly as important as, say, the right to speak up against government without being tossed into prison, killed, and their organs given to people who pay enough money China, anyone?, or the right to have as many children as they want without being forced or pressured by society, culture, or government to limit themselves to one child, who is most often a boy, or to have as many sons as possible because the daughters do not bring honor to the family India, anyone?.

But in the end, Dr. Seuss is right. I matter, therefore Tina doesn't mind if I don't post the meme. Tina matters, therefore I don't mind if she posts the meme.

[demeter918.livejournal.com]

For me, a meme is a meme is a meme. It's just about the most useless form of 'support' there is. Is it fun? Oh my, yes. There are tons of fun memes. But as a mode of uprising, to support people, to change something? It just irritates me, partly because people start thinking, oh, I've posted this, this is enough, this is all I need to do. Please.

I don't know why people make such a big honkin' deal about their rights of whom they should have sex with - that doesn't strike me as being nearly as important as, say, the right to speak up against government without being tossed into prison, killed, and their organs given to people who pay enough money China, anyone?, or the right to have as many children as they want without being forced or pressured by society, culture, or government to limit themselves to one child, who is most often a boy, or to have as many sons as possible because the daughters do not bring honor to the family India, anyone?.

For me, there can't be a measure between the rights. The moment I start deciding which one is more important than another is the moment where I start putting pedestals on what people should at least be able to do.

None of the above things sit right with me. And I fully support actions, either through grassroot groups or donations of money and items. A person should be allowed to have as many (and as few) children as they want. THe majority of people shouldn't be living in slums. Children shouldn't be sold off, women shouldn't be used in the sex trade, people should very well be allowed to sleep with whomever they wish to. It's not women's rights, gay rights, Asian rights, Black rights, or anything; it's human rights. It's something basic that shouldn't be questioned. And that's my opinion of the whole matter. The meme had its heart in the right place, but the wording was seriously pretentious.

[minni.livejournal.com]

I'm a person who prioritizes. Start out small to succeed big, or do big things so that the little things naturally fall into place. It all depends on what is going to be most successful, and quite frankly when all the focus falls on things that are, to me, a minor issue (although I'll grant it's a very important, all-encommpassing issues to others) then the time and energy that could be spent on something with a higher priority (IE: Maslow's Heirarchy) is not there. I'm not into the whole self-fulfillment thing when I'm more concerned about people who need to be fed/sheltered.