3 years huh?

It's hard to imagine how much life has blown by in three years.

I have a daughter who is now three years old.  She is beautiful, and she is a handful, and there are days where the last thing I want to do is be an invested and intentional father.  But, I would not change having her in my life for anything in the world.

My wife started going back to school during these past three years.  To say that has been stressful would be an understatement.  But, to watch that look of fulfillment and joy on her face as she excitedly explains all she has been learning makes every tear, every drop of sweat or restrained comment from frustration worth it.

3 years feels like a long time, and yet, it is so short.

During this time we've watched the Black Lives Matter movement go from an almost unseen organization to a viral cry out for equality.  A movement that not only was a fight against police brutality and favoritism, but also a cry out for the continuation of what the Civil Rights movement was all about. 

I hate to call it "Civil Rights 2.0" because I know it is so much deeper than that, but the core of the message is still the same.

"Every human deserves to be treated with the same dignity and respect as a created being in this universe."

And we (the black community and those who stand with them) will not take the abuse any longer.

In these short years, we have had families fighting amongst themselves on whether kneeling during the national anthem is disrespectful "to the flag" (or rather what it represents) or not.  Even though, the heart of the protest was never about the flag.

And it even led to the dismissal of professional NFL players.

It has even led to the association that runs the NFL to attempt to silence their right to freedom of speech, because so many people get offended.  Because we keep trying to make it about the nation, those who served, and ignore what it is really about.

I realize I don't carry the popular opinion.  And, in a lot of ways this argument I'm making is the same that countless others have made before me.  But still I type these words because the issue is still very real, even if the media doesn't cover it as much.

Our president has seen to that.  And since I don't want to open that bag of worms I'll end this rambling here.

See you in another three years I suppose.

Grace and Peace

We still need Feminism

Here is an interesting topic for the weekend: Feminism.

For reference to what spurred the topic, check out the article I found –here.

Women have struggled for so many years now to get the equality they so justly deserve.  Unfortunately, while the movement has succeeded in many ways to further that equality there is still a long way to go before we are really on the equal ground we need to be.

Chauvinism is still very rampant in our society.  We just like to hide it under the phrase “just kidding” to help maintain a sense of political correctness.  How many times have I heard another male comment on how a woman belongs barefoot and in the kitchen?  Too many to keep track of.  And yes, sometimes the guys are legitimately just joking, but I feel that (at the risk of being too serious), these jokes should never be funny to anyone. 

To put it simply, chauvinistic jokes are not funny and you should find another genre to joke about if that’s all the material you have.

Women are so much more than just sex dolls that walk.  They have emotions, they can be absolutely brilliant (see our “First Women” in any category you think is a “man’s job”), they are capable and strong, and whether you want to admit it or not, they can kick every single man’s butt if they wanted to.  Women are just as powerful in their own way as men are.

Because that is the beauty of humanity.  We are all so different that we need each and every person to help make the world a better place to live in.  Not just for ourselves, but for those that follow as well.

I do want to point out that when I speak of feminism I am speaking from the definitive understanding as indicated within a dictionary.

The doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men.

This is not to be confused with what many might term the “Femi-Nazi”.  These women, while still upholding the core of the feminist movement, tend to act like they would rather men not exist at all.  I’ve known some to get upset at common courtesy (i.e. opening the door for them) and rant that all men are pigs and idiots.  Granted, based on their experiences with men I can understand why they may feel that way.

Still, the fact remains that if feminism’s success was so powerful that it swung the pendulum in the opposite direction we would be in the same boat we are now with the roles reversed.  Which, in my opinion, would be just as detrimental to our communities as the current standing is.  We do not need a patriarchal society, and we do not need a matriarchal society.

We need an equal society. An Omniarchal Society?

That is something I can get behind.

Because I think it is silly to differentiate in title between men and women in their jobs. Reese Witherspoon and Bruce Willis are both Actors; and whether a male or a female is seating me at a restaurant both are my Host.  Why do we need to separate gender like that in our language as well as our society?  Why not just say “she is my waiter?”  Or if you would rather go the other direction “He is my waitress”. 

The reason I say this is to point out that our language is just as important when it comes to reflecting the society we are and the society we want to be.  If we use gender neutral terms, we encourage a better understanding of equality (“Y’all” *shudder* vs. “You guys” for instance).

I also support an Omniarchal society because women are just as strong as men.  In some ways they can be even fiercer then men when it comes to protecting and fighting for what is right (see feminist movement, their ability to pick up the slack during WW1 and WW2, any mother when her child is in danger of anything).

But at the heart of it all, I want equality for women because I want equality for everyone.  Everyone has the right and deserves to be treated with respect.  It shouldn’t matter whether or not you are male or female.  If you can do something I cannot then I give you props.  Men are not superior, but neither are women.  We are all basically the same.

Let’s try to avoid damaging each other out of ignorance or just straight boorishness in the future, okay?

And you lady readers out there, while I’m directing most of my comments to men, the above statement is just as applicable to you.  Just because a man hurt you in the past does not mean all men are like that.  There are several (and I have very good male friends who fit in this category) who are proud to stand with women in their fight for equality and will do everything they can to treat women right.  So ease up on the man hating, okay?

Time to check out.

Grace and Peace