Man, what a time to get back into blogging.
How much has happened in the last few months of absence? Reflecting upon it, the world just seems so different now. What was forgotten over these last few months? We had a few mass shootings in places that we previously thought we were always safe in. More spotlight on the dozens of cases of warfare between law enforcement and citizens that have always existed. Racial tension arguably has risen to near levels that haven't been seen since the 1960's. Add in a sprinkle of controversy in our government decisions in which divides the people politically, religiously, and morally, and you've got yourself one heaping United States sandwich! God bless America, everyone. Truly the land of equal opportunity. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mean to antagonize this country, or really the majority of the people in it. Instead, I do want to talk about what is born from either extreme of the equation:
The vocal minority.
It's a great way to get an entire demographic of people and ideas blanketed by an ugly, tattered, disgusting quilt that we call assumption. One person's actions or opinions portrays a very visual and prevalent image of an entire group. Should it be that way? Favorably no, but we all know we do it anyways. It is simply in our nature that if we disagree with someone or something important to our morals, we tend to be less fond or it. Disagreement, however, is not necessarily a negative thing in all cases. A disagreement can lead to thoughtful discussion and argumentation, sometimes birthing a new outlook and state of mind over a topic. This is incredibly important in the progression of new ideas and concepts.
What I've come to talk about is the opposite.
I always hate this kind of discord in the country. Let's think of all the buzzwords, the hot topics that are testing the political activism of social media users everywhere. Gay marriage is legal now. Racial tension has led to discussion about imagery in the Confederate Flag (or, to be PC, the Battle Flag of the Army of North Virginia) and its representation. Gun control increase has been a consideration as well as a fear for owners and non-owners alike due to increased violence involving guns. And that's just what I scrolled through on Facebook now. Opinions are wonderful, but the negative repercussions are in that vocal minority mentioned that simply spew their beliefs all over like a wet tissue for no other reason than the sake of argument, or the sake of validity. I just got done reading an article over drugs where the comments were divided heavily over statements made. Some of the language being thrown around their to opposing sides, to people who differed in opinion, was just...revolting, to say the least. Many of these comments were being made by a more adult audience, nonetheless. These ideas being spread on both ends of the spectrum, each extreme, both reaching a wide audience.
So how much longer is that hate going to last?
The idea that we need to not like, not talk to, or be aggressive towards those with a dissenting opinion...will the future generations of these people who slander these awful fundamentals act just the same? Have our parents and elders fed us the toxin of hatred simply because of what a person believes is right or wrong? A lot of questions flying around here. Arguably, you can say this principle has taken place since the dawn of time. Religious tension has been responsible for violence and war far before our time. To see this principle in action over the course of thousands of years only strengthens the idea that disagreement is just in our bones. To fight for what is right. Which, of course, is good for your morals and what you believe in. But I feel something is different about this generation you and I live in. My generation. You may be familiar with Generation X -- your parents, probably. If you were born between 1960 and 1980, you're a member of GenX. Congratulations! Definitely quite an eventful time to be growing up around, for sure. Currently our world is run under most of GenX, with a good handful from the previous generation as well. But my question for our generation -- Generation Y -- lies within itself.
Why?
What is so different, so special about our generation that grants us the very high possibility to eliminate the hatred of one's personhood simply for who they are? Well, that question is a lot easier to answer than the question of when the hatred will stop. It probably never will completely stop. Such is the nature of humanity. But Generation Y seems to be indoctrinated with a belief that seems different from most generations. Tolerance. I look around the people my age, their beliefs and values and morals and how they just generally feel towards other human beings. As the last of our generation fizzles into adulthood (everyone in Gen Y will be 18 in just under 3 and a half years), we seem to embrace the more nourishing and accepting type of personalities. Inclusion. Learning to accept people not for the things they believe in, but for the quality of their character. That just doesn't seem to resonate too heavily with adults nowadays. But this generation...such an innocent twinkle in the eyes of those who simply wanted better for their future generations. A generation that now has the maturity and self-independence to finally be asking themselves the question: why should I spread hate because I disagree with them?
Right now I think we could all ask ourselves that.
