Dear Millennials,

Don't you remember the humid summer days when we ran down the streets with our neighborhood friends with Popsicle juice dripping down our faces? Don't you remember waking up to snow on a school day, and playing outside until your toes felt like they had frostbite? Don't you remember AR points, book fairs, and recess? Don't you remember the mystery meat the cafeteria lunch provided and the great snacks during breaks between classes? What happened?

I'm not sure when it happened or why, but some time ago our generation started becoming defensive and offended. I think I began realizing it around the time police brutality between races became a controversial topic. An African-American teen had been shot by a white, male police officer, and the motivation for the teen's murder became his skin color and the prosecutor's offense. Those who tried to rise above the shouts and slander to defend the cop were labeled as white supremacists, and the African Americans who defended the white cop were shamed.

The number of shootings between whites and blacks has reached a horrendous number, yet it has grown into a movement. Look at Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland. What caused this to escalate? When did cops become enemies and the dead man on the street become a reason to riot? Sure, you'll say it was because he meant no harm, "He was innocent!" Maybe he was; maybe he had malicious intent. We might never know though because we're too busy caught up in ourselves and we forget to honor the dead and respect those who protect us. We ignore the evidence and the verdict so that we may go on and keep protesting. The cycle repeats -- another man shot, another cop prosecuted. Another mayor resigns because of social pressure and supposed social injustice.

Perhaps our generation's offended personality grew stronger as it linked arms with the LGBT community as state laws were passed to make homosexual marriage legal. LGBT communities praised their lawmakers, and traditional people and religious groups alike balked at the idea. We wrinkled our noses, and they called us ancient and unopened to the modern age. Having a different opinion from state legislators led them to believe we had the wrong opinion; an opinion that said we apparently hated our LGBT community. Why? Our nation has long disagreed over controversial topics without such protest and hatred for opposing opinionated people. Why now? I've been saved by grace, and I take classes and am friends with students in the LGBT community. I disagree with their choices but choose to treat them like humans because they are. I've learned over my two years in college and through the growth of my own ideas and beliefs that members of the LGBT community are genuinely good people in love with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Shocker. I have learned that they love their partner as much as I love my heterosexual boyfriend.

I can accept these people as human beings with feelings and choices, be friends with them, share my faith with them, and still hold true to my belief that God has created marriage to be between a man and a woman -- no exceptions. I won't march alongside them or fight for their right to marry the same sex. I can see where that sentence will make you mad. I believe they should be protected from harm and ridicule, from angry traditional folks who want to start a riot of their own. Members of the LGBT community are people in love -- shouldn't they marry who they want to without a legal battle? It's my belief in God's word that this is a fallen world groaning for its new birth (Romans 8:20-22), and so I won't abandon my faith and belief in what God has called me to hold true.

So, if you ask me to stand with the State and wave a rainbow flag, I won't. I'll stand unapologetically firm and explain why not. Typing these words scares me, but I've got to say it. Members of the LGBT community can pray and worship the same Jesus I do, and He will hear them. They can be saved, but they must give up their sinful ways just as I must give up mine. We must all die to ourselves. Why does this unwavering belief make me the antagonist? Why do some members of the LGBT community understand my stance and others spew words of hatred? Why does it make me a villain? When did we stop treating one another like we want to be treated, or did we ever treat one another the way we want to be treated?

While we're on the topic of religion let's talk more about it, Millennials. The great Syrian refugee crisis has been a constant subject of debate. Some of us hold our arms open wide and demand that refugees be let in from all sides, and some of us shake our fists and say, "Turn back." Some claim we have a constitutional duty to let them into our country, "Just look at Lady Liberty!" Some say that in the matter of national security we must regretfully turn the men, women and children away. So many Americans are fighting with one another over this topic that we've failed to realize Mr. Obama has already ensured their naturalization. In the past six months, we've let in thousands of men, women and children who have run from their war-torn homes to the "land of success and prosperity." I'm not here to change your stance, but Europe lets in refugees who were jihadists whose only intent was to kill masses. They succeeded infamously in Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium. We've faced September 11, 2001. We may face yet another tragedy among the waves of refugees.

I know there must be good people whose only intent is to find safety and live an honorable life in America, but I would be foolish to think that all refugees want to wear an "I Love New York" T-shirt. I'm not here to quell your opinion that they should come and make a home in America, but do not silence my opinion because it is different. Do not call me a bigot, an idiot, or anti-Muslim because I stand in opposition to jihadists. The modern Muslims claim to have a religion of peace -- one that appears appealing and welcoming. However, if you study traditional Islam religion, you will find that the prophet Muhammad wanted Islam to be spread even at the expense of human life. Defend your opinion; don't just yell in protest to drown out the truth.

I can go on. I can talk about the feminist community. I want equal pay to be brought to reality as much as anyone, but why does it have to be at the expense of disposing the traditional woman's role? Why can't we have both? Why are feminists so offended by women who want to have a successful career and be both a wife and mother, cooking and taking on the "housewife" role? I want a career, but I want to be a wife and mother more than anything. Does that mean I offend feminists? To some, not at all, I am applauded for this desire, but to other feminists who are so wrapped up in the idea that women are inferior, it is an abomination.

In my not so humble opinion, women who believe that they are inferior due to their sex are, in fact, inferior. Women have come a long way; we aren't inferior anymore. Yes, we must rise above and continue to seek rights equal to that of men, but today's CEO's, college grads, business owners, managers, and so on are women. Why are women so offended by other women? Probably because we are a delicate volcano of emotions. Oh, I'm sorry; was that sexist? The feminism movement has a huge following of celebrities, actresses and actors, authors, poets, and everyday citizens. Why does the feminist movement seem to cry to be superior, if what they're fighting for is equalization?I realize the feminist movement is also partly responsible for the legalization of abortions; an action I can never wrap my head around even in the most devastating and extreme cases. A baby is a baby, no matter the way it niched itself in the womb. Anyway, if feminists (men and women) are so bent on women's rights, shouldn't the right to uphold the traditional female role be kept intact as well? Shouldn't men have the right to be stay-at-home dads without condemnation from their community? God forbid we have to pay for products when our time of the month comes -- "We shouldn't have to pay for that!" you say. Well, if the government pays for it, I promise it won't be your favorite brand; it'll probably be something much less comfortable -- like cardboard. Why are feminists shouting about their right to not wear undergarments? Really, now. Come on, ladies. Not everything is to be taken so personally, so offensively. Not even my comments here.

Disclaimer: There are some truly wonderful feminists who have fought hard for the rights we have today, and I am thankful for their efforts.

So Millennials, my greatly offended generation: To those of us who are the 20-somethings of today -- why are we so offended? Did we just wake up for school, scratch our chins, and wonder why our classmate depleted the ozone with an entire can of hairspray in one morning? Was it then that we became offended? Did we hear someone debate between the nation's greatest presidents, and then decide we were offended because President X wasn't in the equation? Did we get our feelings hurt when someone raised a different opinion that was more accepted than our own? When did we start shouting, rioting, and hating strangers who were once our neighbors? Why did "All Lives Matter" have to become a slogan for people to accept, people? Why do we have to defend a mother against a gorilla? A great species, yes. A tragic, beautiful life was taken because of endangerment of a child in a zoo, but have we really decided to prosecute the mother and label her as a threat to her child? Why are we so offended, so shocked by every little thing? Wake up, Millennials, this land was made for you and me.