Intolerance is intolerable

Today, I received a forward about homosexuality and discrimination. It drove me crazy.

Last night, I had a conversation with my roommate about this topic. There is an individual here in town that gets discriminated against Every Single Day. I see it, I watch it. He gets banned from public businesses because the establishment doesn't want to present the image that they are "that kind of place." I mean, they think he is gay, and obviously if they let gay people in, the community will begin to think it is a homosexual establishment. Then, they will lose their loyal customers, right??? Sigh... I've watched waitresses offer him the worst service I've seen them give, and then get upset when he doesn't tip them. He never says a word. But his eyes show that he knows. The same thing happens when the customers yell things at him, talk about him with their friends, and literally treat him like a leper. It's not ok and it breaks my heart.

They treat this man this way because he is different from them. But he is not even gay, like they think! He wants to become a woman. Some day. He still dresses and acts male. However, usually once every few weeks on average, she will put on her make up, wear one of her many dresses, paint her nails, carry her purse, and just be happy. If other people could see the joy on her face when I see her like this. "How is my make up? Do you like this dress? Do you think it looks ok? I fit into a size 6 today!! " then I don't think they could be so cruel. But, then again, people amaze me.......

He comes in where I work and I'm the only reason he's allowed back in there. Our old manager and one of the new ones tried to ban him. When the last one did it, I told him I was going to quit if they didn't let him in because it was wrong. They continue to let him in because of that. We've also hired a new waitress and her actions are less than appropriate. She waited on him and didn't seem to have a problem. But when it came time for him to wait on Her, she looked at me and said "I served it yesterday and it was a man." I explained the situation as best as I could. I told her that right now, he is a man. He doesn't feel like he is, he doesn't want to be. He has been taking hormones and now has breasts and curves and all of that. Yesterday was the day he was supposed to go get his name legally changed from a male name to a female name. After telling the waitress this, she looked at me with disgust and seemed all but hesitant about serving the table anymore.

Are you kidding me??

Then, I received another forward on the subject of rape.

Rape is wrong. Everyone was finally in agreement on this one. However, the question came into play. Who's responsibility is it to Stop rape?

The Woman's?

Or the Man's?

The forward I received was pushing the idea that it was man's responsibility.
Now, I agree with this. But I do think that women can play at least some role in stopping it. Even if the role is only being aware. The forward stated that it is time to stop preaching to women how to prevent rape, because it still happens, and to start telling men to Not rape.

It comes down to this. Rape is stupid. And there is no reason to only educate women on being cautious to the possibility of rape. That risk shouldn't even be there. Can anyone tell me why it still is?

A friend once said to me that "A guy can ruin a girl's whole life in an instant. In one single second, he can take it all away..." She said this on the subject of rape. And it's true. It emotionally scars women. It can lead to physical complications and diseases. It can lead to pregnancy. Then think of their emotions. If they are religious, think of their finances. Everything changes for a woman. Her self-worth, her ideals, her trust. They can vanish in a second.

"Battered Woman"
© Artist Gina Jrel, 2005
www.gina-jrel-art.com

And the fact that rape most often occurs between two people that know each other. Why does that make sense? Why? And what kind of person can commit that offense? There's no nameless faceless disassociation the way there is with a lot of the cruel things people do. And it's doing something much worse.

I'm really frustrated with people today.
With world views and the such.
Sigh.

Who turns over a new leaf during Winter??

I've had blogger accounts, and I've forgotten them.
I've had really bad "blogs," "journals," and "diaries" on every crap site on the web. Each has served a different purpose.


I'm not really sure what I want to do with this one just yet. No silly surveys. No dumb quizzes.

I want a place to talk, and think out loud. I'm quite excited to have that option. It will be my own little forum.

With the death of my normal day to day, I think I plan on using this as my sounding board. I've always been able to think things out and come to conclusions as I talk. I've also accomplished this by writing those letters you never send during inopportune times to talk. This phase has just become a bit more permanent.... So, I will use this to think things out when needed, and for when I actually have something to say. Yes.