Dare to be DIFFERENT!
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
*A special thanks to Little_whip's article How the left stole Christmas for the inspiration for this blog*
Our culture is rife with double messages.
We promote individuality, diversity, and "bucking the system". Rebels are held in the highest esteem as artists, philosophers, and leaders.
Yet, we have to be careful not to offend those that are diverse, individuals, and outside of the mainstream. We adjust the "system" and culture to cater to the feelings of those diverse peoples as if they are weak, ignorant, and fragile in their beliefs. Soon the very "norm" becomes what was different, diverse and unique.
Being unusual should be a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter to be worn in shame.
One of my friends on JU of a different belief has commented on another article with these reasonings and excuses:
"...public school. this means that everyone's children have to go to school, and it means that if you make kids feel bad about who they are, then you have a problem"
"...hearing song after song about a religious figure who in some ways represents a justification for many of abominations jews have lived through over the centuries."
This is truly sad. All children will be different in one way or another. Some wear glasses; others are of different religions. Some are poor. Children have different interests in music, clothing, and hobbies. This is a fact of life. Parents should encourage children to take pride in their differences. Being different is what makes life exciting and leads to self awareness. Character is built from being different. Creativity blossoms when people are allowed to freely take pride in who they are.
Why would our society try to make everyone look and act the same? Christians are blamed for trying to convert others. So be it. It is as their religion commands, but no one is forced to convert. In fact, Christianity will soon be the "different" and "individuality" of the future if things continue to swing in the current direction.
On a personal note, I grew up in a "cult." We were Christians, but did not acknowledge traditionally Christian holy days. In fact, for all intents and purposes of everyday life, I lived as a practicing Jew. We accepted Christ as the Messiah, but lived under Old Testament laws and traditions given to the Jews. No Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Sunday worship...Instead, I celebrated The Feast of Tabernacles, the Day of Atonement, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the traditional Jewish Sabbath, and laws of clean and unclean meat.
Let me tell you about "feeling different." The Christian children in my public school didn't understand me and the Jewish kids didn't accept me either. I had literally no onewith which to identify. I left the room when Christmas carols were sung, Easter pictures colored, or Valentine's exchanged. Several times a year, I missed school, sometimes for a week at a time, in order to observe my religious holy days. I often could not eat what was served in the school lunch line or as a treat in our classroom.
Did I cry? Did I whine? Did I turn into an ashamed shrinking violet?
Hardly. I took pride in my differences. I was special. When people asked me about my faith, I proclaimed it enthusiastically. Most children were fascinated and very interested. Oh, I guess a few might have looked at me crosswise, but I never really noticed. In fact, when I became an adolescent, most peer pressure did not affect me. I did not drink in high school when everyone else did. I did not engage in sex when everyone else did. I never did drugs when everyone else did. Yeah, I was considered different, and I liked that. I developed my own individuality, thinking, and character.
So, in the spirit of tolerance, allow diversity, both the minority and the majority. Encourage individualism. Cultivate differences.
Our culture is rife with double messages.
We promote individuality, diversity, and "bucking the system". Rebels are held in the highest esteem as artists, philosophers, and leaders.
Yet, we have to be careful not to offend those that are diverse, individuals, and outside of the mainstream. We adjust the "system" and culture to cater to the feelings of those diverse peoples as if they are weak, ignorant, and fragile in their beliefs. Soon the very "norm" becomes what was different, diverse and unique.
Being unusual should be a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter to be worn in shame.
One of my friends on JU of a different belief has commented on another article with these reasonings and excuses:
"...public school. this means that everyone's children have to go to school, and it means that if you make kids feel bad about who they are, then you have a problem"
"...hearing song after song about a religious figure who in some ways represents a justification for many of abominations jews have lived through over the centuries."
This is truly sad. All children will be different in one way or another. Some wear glasses; others are of different religions. Some are poor. Children have different interests in music, clothing, and hobbies. This is a fact of life. Parents should encourage children to take pride in their differences. Being different is what makes life exciting and leads to self awareness. Character is built from being different. Creativity blossoms when people are allowed to freely take pride in who they are.
Why would our society try to make everyone look and act the same? Christians are blamed for trying to convert others. So be it. It is as their religion commands, but no one is forced to convert. In fact, Christianity will soon be the "different" and "individuality" of the future if things continue to swing in the current direction.
On a personal note, I grew up in a "cult." We were Christians, but did not acknowledge traditionally Christian holy days. In fact, for all intents and purposes of everyday life, I lived as a practicing Jew. We accepted Christ as the Messiah, but lived under Old Testament laws and traditions given to the Jews. No Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Sunday worship...Instead, I celebrated The Feast of Tabernacles, the Day of Atonement, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the traditional Jewish Sabbath, and laws of clean and unclean meat.
Let me tell you about "feeling different." The Christian children in my public school didn't understand me and the Jewish kids didn't accept me either. I had literally no onewith which to identify. I left the room when Christmas carols were sung, Easter pictures colored, or Valentine's exchanged. Several times a year, I missed school, sometimes for a week at a time, in order to observe my religious holy days. I often could not eat what was served in the school lunch line or as a treat in our classroom.
Did I cry? Did I whine? Did I turn into an ashamed shrinking violet?
Hardly. I took pride in my differences. I was special. When people asked me about my faith, I proclaimed it enthusiastically. Most children were fascinated and very interested. Oh, I guess a few might have looked at me crosswise, but I never really noticed. In fact, when I became an adolescent, most peer pressure did not affect me. I did not drink in high school when everyone else did. I did not engage in sex when everyone else did. I never did drugs when everyone else did. Yeah, I was considered different, and I liked that. I developed my own individuality, thinking, and character.
So, in the spirit of tolerance, allow diversity, both the minority and the majority. Encourage individualism. Cultivate differences.
so i do DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
PolMach Forums