Gotta Give People a Break

Equality is a joke.
And a bad one at that. Mainly because I don't think people even remember what the definition of that word is anymore.

Equality; the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability.

Heres the thing.
The reason I even bring this up is because of a post I saw on Facebook earlier today that made me laugh. Now, incase this is the first of my blogs you've read, then I'll warn you that my sense of humor is that of the average american male in his mid 20's. Crude. So, the post, was a picture of a "younger" girl (probably late teens early twenties) holding a sign that read, "I need feminism because "Who hired the stripper" should not be the first thing I hear at work for a WELDING JOB."

I laughed. And I laughed even harder after reading the comments. The divide between men and women is never more true and apparent then when it comes time to throw in your witty comments/2 cents about something like this on social media. Now, you may be thinking that I'm some sexist pig that believes woman belong at home with the kids and in the kitchen the rest of the time. For the record, my fiancée cooks, and cooks AMAZING, and does so by choice. She practically chases me OUT of the kitchen. As far as kids, she wants 1 maybe 2 and hopes one day she can spend a lot of time with them. Anyway, I laughed because this post was one of SEVERAL classic cases where the millions are marching demanding equality and yet cry that chivalry is dead and romance is all but lost. You want equality yet still expect doors to be opened for you and to get the last bite of dinner. It's not equality you're looking for, its a double standard. You're wanting to change the rules and way of life for your own benefit. You want to be the exception.

...Really?
A lot of the comments, from BOTH men and women were honest realizations that she is willingly subjecting herself to a mans work environment. Doesn't take more than the common sense level of the average Walmart shopper to figure that one out and thats a pretty low level of common sense. One man even said that if he were to go work at a hair salon, he would fully expect there to be banter and jokes made at his expense. Its how America works. One word: Steryotypes. Two more words: Thicker Skin

I'm not sure why it took the "Date Grape" drink name issue for me to finally speak up about it because
i've been witnessing it for a few years now, probably more, but we as Americans need to do 2 things.
1. Grow some thicker skin
2. Give PEOPLE, a break

As a person who is open about his religion and beliefs and happy to be straight, I can't think of a time in my life that I was actually MORE scared to tell people either of those things than now. I'm not ashamed of what believe or being straight, but if I was to so much as say, "I believe in God" (Which I do) I would probably get called a bigot. And for what? Because you hear the word Christian or God and everyone automatically thinks you're a bigot. Thats not how this thing works. Just because someone believes or thinks something different from yours and it may revolve around religion, peoples go to is to label them as a bigot. Its stupid really. And intolerant if you think about it. But thats another word that people seem to have lost the real meaning to somewhere along the way. Because bigot does NOT mean "religious backwoods redneck", or "Bible thumper", Bigot, by definition means; a person who is intolerant of any ideas other than his or her own. Hmm, happen to look at a mirror just now? Thought so. Now, it gives religion as an example, but nowhere in that definition does it directly relate. People just need to cut each other some slack. We're going differ about things, a LOT of things, its what makes us human.

Now, stereotypes are a terrible and funny thing but they didn't happen over night. Is it a stereotype to associate bigotry with religious beliefs? Yes. Especially in todays world with the way the media, and hollywood portrays those of religious beliefs. Am I upset about it? A little, but I also know that I don't fall into that steryotype. How? Because I don't let myself. I have a few gay friends and even one transgender friend now and we all get along fine. We may not agree on everything but thats to be expected. We also don't have to tip toe around each other when it comes to poking fun or making jokes about each others life styles. Is it a stereotype to assume that a woman in a "mans" workplace isn't there for "work". You bet. Is it also a stereotype to assume that the one guy working at a hair salon is gay? I think you're getting it now. They exist and this isn't news.

So here you are wanting equality yet you aren't willing to show your argument counterparts that same equality and you probably don't even realize it. But you're doing it. If you with death upon the person who is saying that you aren't entitled to the same rights as they are, then you're no better than them. If you're upset about being poked fun at for stepping into an environment where you know YOU are not the "norm" and DEMAND change, you're no better than they are. If you found yourself being stereotyped and then placed the person or persons doing it into a stereotype, then you are no better than they are. If you HATE someone just because they have a difference of opinion and claims to HATE you, then you are no better then they are. The whole world needs some thicker skin because stereotypes aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

The FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT was elected into office just over 6 years ago and somehow everyone thought the world was going to change over night. Sure he promised change, but it wasn't exactly what a lot of todays' issues are about. Do I like him? No. Do I think he's had more than enough time to change the things he promised to change? Hell Yes. But the point I'm getting at is that after 43 before him, almost 300 years since the first one elected, we elected, as a country, our first BLACK president. Clearly your issues about being treated equal in the work place or whether or not you can marry someone of the same sex is still a few down the line as far as things we need to "get over" or accept as people. The NFL actually has a rule that requires at least ONE black candidate to be interviewed for a head coaching vacancy before that organization can make its choice of who to hire. Its 2014, first black president in office and we STILL have rules like this. "Equality", right. If it were me, I would interview whoever the hell I thought would be a good fit. its its an african american, great, but you better believe its because I think he's best for the job and not because I'm forced to. I'm surprised the gay community is even as upset as it is these days because a similar situation applies to them. Job security. With how much heat is being brought on this whole equality, everyone gets a chance, subject, if an employer were to hire someone who is gay, and they happen to be terrible at their job, do you really honestly think that they could fire them without facing a HUGE lawsuit? Because you know that someone would twist it into the fact that they were fired for being gay. I might be completely off base with that line of thinking but not without cause first.

For as long as I can remember and for how far back the history books go, Americans, hell, HUMAN BEINGS, fear two things. Change and what they don't understand. Combine those two and you have one epic cluster fuck of a knee jerk reaction to someone or something and you're witnessing it every day. People need to be cut some slack because, well, we're people. "I'm only human". Go ahead, say it, I know you have at least a dozens times in your life.
We screw up, we get scared, we judge, we stereotype, we panic, we accept, we adapt, we CHANGE. But it is not over night and it is NOT easy. So instead of picketing your new job because the 99% of men working there are making cat calls at you and instead of wasting effort, energy, and time screaming at someone for being a racist bigot because they don't agree with what it is that you're trying to do, maybe, just maybe, you should cut them some slack. The majority is no longer that much of a majority when you consider the fact that anyone who voices an opinion different to that of the hot topic of the week is met with hostility and intolerance. When all they had was an opinion and a right to that opinion. Because this is America. Where you can live here as a citizen and talk openly about how much you may HATE this country yet we allow you to live here because you have the right to your opinion. Because when you're here, you are THAT free. Lets not forget it.