It’s a rare occasion in which I’ll call someone out on his or her ignorance, yet I had no choice but to do so twice this week.
Scenario 1: Enlightening Mr. Newman to the fact that Shirley Jones is, in fact, David Cassidy’s stepmother, but portrayed his real mother on The Partridge Family. She is the actual mother of Shaun Cassidy, thus making David and Shaun half-brothers, not full-brothers. (Side note: The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries is streaming on Netflix. It’s bad seventies TV at it’s finest, so I naturally endorse it).
Scenario 2: Late Friday evening, I received a personal message on Facebook from someone I hardly know inquiring as to why I had not rainbow-alized my profile picture or, at the very least, remarked publicly about Friday’s ruling regarding gay marriage. At first I felt honored; not many people give two hoots and holler about my opinion on anything, so after the euphoria of that wore off, I simply said, “I didn’t think I needed to.” I went on to explain that my closest of gay friends (ie: people I know and love in the ‘real world’) had already received a congratulatory message from me via call, email, or text. “Plus,” I continued, “I look horrible in pastel colors and horizontal stripes.”
Thinking the matter concluded, surprise met me yesterday morning: another message from this person, informing me that she found my flippancy offensive.
I did not respond.
Until now.
Lady, you don’t know me, you’re not gay, and suddenly jumping on the Straighty Support Bandwagon does not make you any more special than anyone else. You’re part of the ‘look at me, not the cause’ syndrome that’s hurling our society even further down to hell in a hand basket. Real support means you’ve a long history in some fashion with any given cause, you’ve embraced it, you’ve actually cried with those affected by it, and you sincerely rejoice in its victories without drawing attention to yourself.
I could go into my own personal history regarding this cause, but I won’t. All I’ll say is that it’s one that’s near and dear to me: from standing up for the ‘sissy’’ on the school playground to kissing several young men right out of the closet during my college days to holding the hand of someone who lost his partner of 30 years to a horrible illness….what a long, glorious trip it’s been.
Don’t talk to me about the rainbow...I’ve been over it more than once. Oh, and by the way, my remark about pastels and horizontal stripes came from my dear friend, Gay Barry - not me.
Whew, now that that’s over, I’d like to address the so-called Christians in the room: judge not, lest ye be judged. Jesus taught tolerance, acceptance, and love. The hate-filled venom some of you are spewing opposes those ideals. Honestly, I’ve known atheists who are more Christ-like than you. Think about it.
No matter our faith, the best witness we can bear is through our deeds, not our words. We are on this particular plane to learn and to love, and as four incredibly wise men once put it: all you need is love.
Let’s get over ourselves, shall we? Let’s educate ourselves. Let’s live and let live. Let’s walk the walk rather than talk the talk. Let’s stop speaking in cliches or, worse, utilizing them as a literary device, Beth Newman
Do as you will, as long as it harms none.
Love is all you need.
