"It's 2016, everyone is offended by something." The amount of times I have seen this phrase on Facebook or Twitter, I can't count. The saddest part about this quote is the unspoken, or rather spoken, truth behind it. I would be fine with people constantly being offended at something, except once someone feels offended, the other person is automatically wrong. I'm sure I will offend many people with this article, but that's not my intention. My intention is to hopefully make all of us think next time we want to bash someone's views because they don't believe our own.
Race has always been a hot topic and personally, one I avoid. Up until a conversation in class, I never thought I had ever really been around race or dealt with it. The truth is, everyone does. My class was speaking on the topic of Black Lives Matter and the difference in living between Chicago and rural areas in Illinois. I am from a small, rural area, and never really put too much thought into the topic of racism. We learn about it and hear about it, but we never think we experience it. My view is, and I finally said something after a long time on this conversation, "Yes, they do. Last I checked, every life matters."
But, this wasn't the end of the issue. Soon, we got into social-economic classes of families in different areas. As I just stated, I am from a small, rural town. Growing up, we were all very equal. So, I had never thought about students in bigger cities not having the same educational opportunities as us. Personally, I feel citizens in bigger cities have more opportunities than small areas. As we discussed this topic, it was almost like an attack. The professor brought this up because she had in a different class earlier. I soon found myself feeling attacked in this class, also. If your views differ from this professor's, you're wrong.
Here's my major issue. I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinions. There is also a time and a place to discuss your matters. Why personally attack a person or a group because you believe differently? I believe race is an issue towards everyone. Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and even Caucasians. While we were on the Black Lives Matter topic, a girl made a comment about "typical white girls." Although most people don't make this an issue, it is. But I also believe everyone should be treated equally.
I don't care about the color of your skin. I judge you on your character. I don't believe the amount of money in someone's bank account speaks on their skills. I don't think we should have a National Women's History Month or a Black History Month. There's not a National Men's History Month or a White History Month. Pride is a good thing to help out a community, but we don't have a special thing for straight people.
Why do we fight so much for feminism? If you want the same pay, work your butt off and move up to where you get it. I feel the same way about men commenting on birth control. They don't take it, so it's next to irrelevant to them. I understand the world isn't cut and dry. But, people are right, it is 2016. Why can't we all work together to stand up for one another and stop separating ourselves from each other based on race, religious and political views, the amount of money in our bank accounts or the neighborhoods we live in?
"Be proud of who you are and where you come from, but don't break down someone else in the process."
