Inherited Attitudes

My daughter came home from school today and mentioned that she was surprised how many of the other students hate Gay people.

This got me thinking about our society. We learn from out parents and adopt their ideals and beliefs many times.  My generation was anti-establishment and was set to change the world. There were many social wrongs that were being changed. The issue of discrimination and freedom for all races was a major issue. The establishment dictated the accecptable "normal" standards.

Many people fear Gay people like being Gay is catching. It is not a disease but a lifestyle. Many believe that they are born Gay. The relgious influence makes people abhor it as the worst sin to do and an unimaginable sin.

 Many people have the same anger and abhorrant attitute towards people who have commited suicide or survived commiting suicide. It is like a personal affront to them that you tried to take your own life.  Again one of the worst sins to do and an unimaginable sin. There is little understanding in the process that would drive a person to this desparate act.

Many people become addicted to alcohol and drugs. They are prisoners of their addiction and do terrible things, but as much as they can create victims of their behavior they are slaves to their addiction. Their lives get ruined and they are seen as dispicable low lifes who are rejected and belittled. They like the obese are seen as weak willed people who are greedy and unintelligent blights on medical care and society with no thought to addiction. Even smokers are being thrust into this category. Addiction is not understood. When your parents die from cancer and you can't stop smoking after what you went through watching them suffer and die and you can't quit smoking it is not stupdity, it is the awful power of addiction.

 Why are these behaviors and sins held in such contempt? People may lie and many times the lies are called white lies and it is no big dea. People steal and laugh about how they got away with it. Many take office supplies and think nothing of it, like it is a bonus for them from the company. We all pay extra in our costs because of theft and fraud.

It occurs to me that we have such a lack of compassion for some behaviors and sins and not for others because of fear. It is our of fear that long ago people passed these attitudes down to their children hoping to prevent them from going down these paths. While this may be meant to be a good thing, for those who wind up on any of these paths it is not a good thing at all.

Gay people feel gay all their life. Some people feel like they were born in the wrong body and get gender reassignment surgery and that is no picnic to get the surgeries. People who try or commit suicide are extremely unhappy and would rather leave this world than face the pain of their life. People who are addicted to drugs also can't facte the pain of their life and use to escape.

Although the attitudes of disgust and revolusion to these people come out of what was an avoidance tactic from generations to generations, these people need our love and acceptance and understanding.

Love the sinner, hate the sin.