Homophobia in Morris Manitoba

You’ll never change the world preaching to the converted.  I guess that’s what really makes me different.  I like to disagree and I like to get into heated arguments.  I never take anything personal or get huffy about other people’s opinions. (well, I try to at least).

In a recent article in one of the local papers, a man in Morris Manitoba was asked for his opinion about a restaurant that was closing in his hometown.

He responded with some homophobic comments which were printed, along with his photograph.

So many people were quick to point their collective angry finger at this man, but I wonder if this is the right kind of attitude.

First off, I don’t agree with anything he said, even if I believe that he had a right to say it.

I don’t see what the point in putting his picture in the paper was, other than to give that collective finger an angry sign post that they could point at and use as a symbol to vent their collective rage.

I think this is the opposite of what people should be doing.

If anything, this is the audience that the messages of tolerance and understanding should be sent towards.  These are the people that need to be reached out to.

You’ll never change the world preaching to the converted.  

I think the wrong attitude to have is the ‘be tolerant or else’ attitude, I see so often.

As Gandhi used to say, “I want to change their minds, not kill them for weaknesses we all possess.”

We need to understand where all of this hatred and anger comes from, instead of being really quick to just pass judgment and go looking for the first stone.

I don’t think anyone can truly say that they are one hundred percent without prejudice.  We all have our little issues and hang ups.  No one is perfect.

Yes it sucks when there are injustices in the world.  The first reaction to this is often purely physics.  We have been hit and so we must hit back.

Don’t hit back.  Try to reach out.  We’re all in this, every last one of us.  I don’t think it’s right to force people to try to be more tolerant.  You can’t legislate bullying.  Someone is always going to get picked on.

By hitting back, you only make things worse.

As Gandhi used to say, "An eye for an eye, only makes the whole world blind."

peace to all,

rymr

for further reading check this out:

 http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/gay-owners-sick-of-insults-200996541.html