Will You Validate My Life?

That’s basically what groups in society are saying when they’re pressing the rest of society to accept them the way they are through bullying tactics, name calling, demonstrations, protests and the media.

They want to be accepted and feel they won’t be accepted until procedures, laws and society’s perception has changed to their liking. The sad part is NO ONE can give them that. No law will change it. No speech. No educational informative talk. It’s an elusive battle because even if laws are changed it doesn’t mean the whole of society’s heart and soul will change with it.

It’s a losing battle because acceptance comes from within not from the outside. Those who accept themselves exhibit a quiet confidence, knowingness, security and ultimately self-love for who they are.

It’s not important what others think of them only what they think of themselves. They don’t have to make noise by pushing their agenda onto anyone else because they know that no matter what they’re okay with themselves just the way they are.  

They don’t need anyone else’s permission to be who you are. They validate it on their own.

Evolution or Forced Change

That’s the underlying message I feel some groups impose on society. It could be the EPA, animal rights gay marriage, education, or even food choices. Recently I heard the vegan community lamenting beef because of some allergic reaction the beef had thus promoting that vegan is better.

Everyone has the right to have their own opinion and you’re free to partake in your beliefs, however, what is the underlying desire of some to force others to abide by their viewpoint, to change laws, procedures or requirements to fit their view? The only thing I can think of is insecurity and power.

If you’re secure in your beliefs you certainly don’t need to have them validated by anyone else.  Perhaps you feel alone therefore by forcing others to your viewpoint will make you feel better, not an outcast.

Power, perhaps the thrill of controlling others does something for you and the only way to do that is to shame or force someone to abide by your beliefs.

The problem with forcing, controlling or restricting others is that unless they follow your way it doesn’t last. It’s on a façade. Persuasion is a much better tool to use. When people are controlled by restricting their way of being they will eventually rebel. It’s like how the saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” It also applies here.

Whether it’s food choices, education or gay marriage it doesn’t matter how many laws are passed it won’t change the core belief each and every one of us has. Take for example abortion, even though it became law there is still a huge resistance for its acceptance.

In order for changes to really take hold, it has to follow a natural evolutionary process one in which there is no resistance, the greater the push the greater the resistance.  In many of the areas I mentioned there has been much resistance and yet it still continues to be pushed by a few. If it has to be pushed than it’s not evolving naturally.

Curious, what changes do you think will have staying power?

Bring Back the UNITED in United States

Which would you rather be united or separate? There’s a reason the United States are called the United States. Separate territories united under a common philosophy of how they wanted their new country governed.

Image if that had not happened. What if the original 13 colonies had become individual countries each with its own government and infrastructure? What would the continent look like then? What if the U.S. never purchased the Louisiana Territory? The U.S. would be more like Canada but with a much larger portion of its citizens speaking French. I could go on about the Indians and Mexican territories but I think you get the picture. Our whole country would be different. The U. S. would instead be more like Europe with whole countries the size of one of our states possibly speaking another language.

Instead our forefathers had the foresight to realize the beauty and power of having all the territories come together as a whole. They knew this country would be stronger if it were united instead of separate, which brings me to my next point. There seems to be a tearing apart, to make separate, or highlight differences more in the media and from people of influence than there is to bring people together. This, in my opinion, is a disservice to the country.

What brings people together is their commonalities like the philosophy set forth in the Declaration of Independence or the safety of our children. There will always be differences between people, to be sure, but they can be overcome when people find common ground. It’s the core fabric of our nation. When the World Trade Center towers were destroyed many people came together to support and help out however they could. Everyone now has a common experience to share with others that will bring them together. Just like people remember where they were and what they were doing when Kennedy was shot, people will remember 911 the same. “Where were you when the towers went down”?

Early immigrants came here for various reasons; freedom of religion, the opportunity to own land and thus create a better life, to escape tyranny, to keep the money they earned.  They left their family and friends and risked everything for a chance at a better life. They knew it wasn’t going to be easy but knew it was going to be worth it. They came from many different parts of the world, each with their own cultures and language. But you know what? They all adapted to their new surroundings. Over the years they eventually learned to get along and speak the same language, they had to if they wanted to succeed.

It’s the commonalities that unite us. It doesn’t matter if your black, Asian, Spanish, gay, Republican, Democrat, Tea Party, Pro-life,  Abortion Supporter, women’s rights or environmentalist, in order to be a strong nation we have to stay united. We MUST! Our forefathers understood that. Let’s not blow it.