Dear 21st Century American,

I am sorry that it seems another one of my beliefs/statements has offended you. I apologize now for the amount of times I will use the word 'offended' in this letter, but I do have to say that I wonder why you take everything I say so personally. It's not like every comment I make is directed towards you. I am sorry that you feel this way, but I do have to say that you have offended me too!

You offend me every time you freak out about every little thing-- you make it seem like the world is directly focused on you. It comes off as though my opinion doesn't matter because to you it is wrong or doesn’t make sense. We are human and no one will agree with any of us 100 percent but why do you make such a big deal over every little thing? I know that my views might be, let’s say 'different', from yours but I never intended on making you feel attacked.

I believe in God and yet my beliefs are pushed down by people on a day-to-day basis. Scientist question my intelligence saying I must be stupid if I believe in God, my peers question my beliefs and how I am against certain things and make me out to be a person who believes that I am perfect (let me tell you I'm not nor do I act that way), and my government says that when it comes to school I can't pray and talk with teachers about God in the classroom or they lose their job. I believe that every person has the right to speak their mind, except people say now that you must be careful with what you say because you don't want to offend anyone. The interesting thing is that this statement is directed towards those people who are against the new age changes that our culture now tells us is normal and natural. We can't talk about the bad things because that will begin arguments so we only focus our time on the good. How will that solve anything? Just because you ignore the bad doesn't mean it goes away.

You tell me that you feel like I am pushing my beliefs down your throat. Well I can agree with you in saying I feel the same, it is as if what I think is not important if it does not match your beliefs. I am told not to share my faith because I will offend someone. I am told that I cannot talk about God in the public school systems, and I am told that I need to be more modernized and enter the 21st century American belief system. So forgive me if I offend you, but just remember that I am offended too. This world has turned into a place where it is all about the individual and each person feels entitled.

I am offended that people think they can sit on the couch and make a living. I am offended that the people who really need help aren't getting the help they need because the people on the couch are taking the resources from the hardworking individuals. I am offended that because I am white and come from a "middle class family" I never receive scholarship money to pay for my education. I am offended because my life has turned out pretty normal that when I apply for scholarships I do not receive them because it seems like I can afford college, when in reality I cannot. I am offended that people assume I am up to no good just because I am younger. I am offended that there are people out there starving because they worked hard and nothing came of it and others are putting gold on everything in their houses.

I am offended that, because I am a female, people say I am not going to do great things in my life and that I am only here to look good for the boys. I am offended that society tells us that a women's beauty is measured in the size of her waist and whether or not her thighs touch. I am offended that people say men can't be stay-at-home dads. I am offended that people look at me and say "oh, she's in her 20's, she has no idea what she is doing." I am offended that people say I am a millennial in a negative light, as if I am selfish and entitled like people in my generation. However, you fail to see that it is within yourself—and even those much older—that if you helped raise this generation it is on you because you raised us to be this way. I am offended that people stereotype one another and take it all literally. I am offended that everyone is offended over every little thing.

So I leave you with this. People will offend you, it is going to happen so accept that now, it’s how you respond to that comment or belief that makes a difference. Remember that other people have feelings too and maybe they are offended just as much as you are. Offended is just a word that only means something if you let it control how you live! I'm sorry if you are offended, but there's nothing I can do about it because I will not change my beliefs just to make you happy.

Best Wishes,

One of you