I find it odd how conservative religious Americans (and, really, all people everywhere) stigmatize certain states, conditions, and identities. Frequently, these conditions are things over which that the people who possess them have no control, yet they are judged and valued based on them. An African-American woman does not choose to be black or a female, nor does a gay man choose to be attracted to men. A man of Middle Eastern descent does not choose to be labeled as an "Arab" or even mistakenly a "terrorist." A person with a sexually transmitted infection did not choose to be infected or infect others. A physically handicapped person did not choose their disability. Why should people be ostracized for things beyond their control?
Even conditions that are acquired by choice are frequently ones based around a single event or period in life, and may in no way reflect the person as they are today. A woman who became pregnant as a teen and had an abortion may now be a happy, loving mother of four; she is certainly not a viscous murderer. Someone who was jailed for drugs early in life may now be the sweetest, kindest, and most generous person you know, just trying to make a living in this world. An ex-warrior may now live a quiet life with his or her family. A high school drop out may be intelligent and may be trained on the job for a high-salary employment, all because someone gave him or her a chance. People are no more the result of a single, albeit life-altering, decision any more than a person can be defined based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, health status, or disability status.
Come judgement day, it may be found that an atheist was the most moral, and a Christian was the most cruel. What I fail to understand is why we all, regardless of our accidents of birth and choices in life, cannot simply accept and respect one another.
It's easy to condemn people whose state is due to their choices. But, trust me, it's different when it's you.
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