Acceptance

I’m not asking you to throw away your beliefs. I’m not asking you to be in support of things you don’t agree with. I’m not asking for you to be someone you aren’t.

I’m just asking for you to accept it.

Are you so hard-headed? Are you so unreceptive? Are you so foolish? Are you so cruel?

Can you not accept people as they are?

What if I told men they couldn’t marry a woman? What if I told women they couldn’t marry a man? You would be mad, wouldn’t you?

No, you would be furious.

So why are you telling a man he can’t marry a man?

Why are you telling a woman she can’t marry a woman?

Oh, want another one?

Remember all those people you interigated because they didn’t identify with your version of an acceptable gender? Remember all those people you attacked because they weren’t feminine or masculine enough? Remember all those people you chose to avoid because they weren’t in your spectrum of normal?

Don’t even get me started on racial discimination.

Hey, white people, would you like to be targeted simply because your skin is light? I thought not. Why are you attacking people of color? Don’t have an answer? I thought so.

Those who disciminate against age? Get over yourselves. Since when were you all-knowing?

Those who discriminate against religion? You don’t have the keys to heaven, so don’t tell someone else to go to hell.

I could go on. I probably should go on. If you haven’t gotten my point by now, than you won’t anytime soon. Unless you change your way of thinking. Unless you try to see reason. Unless you try to surpress your hatred.

Unless you learn to accept people, regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, upbringing and belief.

I’m not asking you to support it.

I’m not asking you to stand front and center at a Pride Parade. I’m not asking you to give speeches about the importance of every religion. I’m not asking you to kiss every human being on the cheek and express an all-encompassing love for them.

But I can expect you to accept it.

I can expect you to stand front and center to stand up for human rights. I can expect you to give speeches to promote equality. I can expect you to shake every human being’s hand and express your acceptance of them.

I’m not asking you to throw away your beliefs. I’m not asking you to be in support of things you don’t agree with. I’m not asking for you to be someone you aren’t.

I’m just asking for you to accept it.

Be soft-hearted. Be receptive. Be wise. Be kind.

Accept people as they are.