All My "Gay" Features

Being a boy who doesn't care about sports IMMEDIATELY ostracized me as a kid. I instead enjoyed things like art and music which most other guys simply didn't share interest to the same degree as myself. I tried to play sports in the traditional sense, and looking back now that I am older, I simply enjoy other sports like Snowboarding, Biking, Rock Climbing, etc. The problem growing up is that those aren't in the pandect of acceptable interests in school. I was labeled an outcast.

As part of that, when someone is cast out from the majority we adapt to survive. If you aren't accepted into the main group you assume to join a different one. For many people like myself it becomes a difficult transition, and there are always groups to reach out. Particularly because I enjoyed acting, art, movies, music, and other fine arts I was reached out to from the gay community while at the same time having the majority assimilate me into that group.

Here's the thing. Being homosexual means that you desire to have the body of a someone the same gender as you. People as a collective are still people and you can develop a relationship with whomever and whatever you like. I'm not starting a debate about choice or birth, I'm simply saying that homosexuality is desiring a person with the same anatomy as yourself. 

I found/find it extremely offensive that people thought I was gay because I enjoyed music and art. I'm not usually one to brag about artistic talent, but when I was a kid many people said I had a natural talent for it. I had two older brothers who routinely crushed me at every sport I tried, so I chose to stick with what I was good at. I liked music because it provided an escape from where I was and let my imagination take me to thoughts and places other than what I had known. I liked theater because it allowed me to be someone other than who I was, which in my case was a welcome relief. 

HERE'S THE POINT: Things that do NOT make you homosexual

1. The way you dress 
2. How well you do/do not understand fashion
3. The way that you talk
4. The way you move or gesture
5. Interest or disinterest in sports or "manly" things
6. Interest in theater and performing arts
7. Being well spoken and enunciating
8. Having more friends of the opposite gender than of your own
9. Being artistic or musically inclined
10. Having a close friend of the same gender that you confide in
11. Not having an interest in the opposite sex (some people aren't interested at all in anything)
12. Liking animals that are "cute" or small
13. ANY OTHER STEREOTYPE USED TO LABEL SOMEONE

For the record: when I was a little kid I tried to walk in my mom's heels (1), I have a decent understanding of fashion and actually would really enjoy designing clothes (2), I have a higher pitched voice for a guy(3), some people said when I was growing up that I didn't have a "manly" walk (4), I was never much interested in classic sports (5), I was really into theater as a teen and was cast in a college play (6), I HATE when people use poor language (7), I had more friends that were girls and not girlfriends growing up than guys who would spend time with me (8), I draw-paint-write poems-write music-play:guitar-piano-drums-most brass instruments-most wood instruments (9), In high school my friend Eli was probably a better friend than anyone I knew and he knows more about me than most people (10), As a teen I didn't see a purpose to dating if I wasn't planning to marry anyone (11), and lastly I have always liked smaller dogs simply because they are easier to care for (12). Not one of those things makes me gay because I DO NOT PREFER MEN. 

Stop casting people out because they aren't like you. Stop pushing people into certain groups just because they like certain things.This is NOT just written to people who are not gay, but it is written to gay people who do the SAME THING! I was equally offended by gay people thinking I was gay because of these things as I was by people who were straight thinking them. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. HATE IS HATE.

What Makes Me Pessimist

I am not a positive person. I typically look for flaws and imperfections. It is incredibly easy for me to see holes in something or someone before I see their virtuous qualities. I like to think that I am incredibly expedient in processing logical equations, but it's really a nice way of saying that I'm a pessimist. I enjoy a good debate, and often have the knack for turning it into a flat out argument. I am the last one to compliment others. I am overly critical of what everyone else does and I rarely step up to the plate myself to fix or help the very thing I criticize. 

My motivations for being who I am are very different than what comes off. I look for flaws and imperfections to help the people I care about avoid the aggravation and struggle of working through them. It is easy for me to see the holes in people and plans because I don't typically judge based on them. I generally am a pessimist because I want to avoid the pain that comes with let down. I argue and debate because I believe that intrinsically if people are shown truth and light that they WILL change. I do not compliment others because I often times feel like my compliments would not seem genuine. I criticize because I believe that people as a collective have the ability to be better than what I see. 

Motivations are lies. They are what my mind tells me to feel good about myself. They are the perspective of my prideful self looking into a situation and doing the most diligence for self preservation. They are the feelings that I have and the thoughts that I have, but really they are mostly generated out of fear. 

Like most people I have had a lot of moments in my life where I struggled and worked my way through imperfections. I am generally afraid of my imperfections because many times they seem insurmountable. Like everyone else I notice when people are empty and longing or have a missing piece, and I relate to them. I don't judge others based on their holes because reality is that I have my own gaping holes that without Christ I couldn't patch if I tried. I have a regular struggle with leaning on Him for this or that, and as a result I identify with other people's imperfections. I have had a LOT of let down in my life. Some of the biggest let downs I have ever had are ones where I felt abandon from my family and from my friends. Some things were as small as broken promises. Ultimately I don't linger on the surface of those let downs, but the ripples of repeated let downs have me pessimistic because I generally do not trust people to hold up their end. I could justify it by noting that people prove me right, but it's just me making another excuse for my own pride. I argue and want people to change because as ironic as it is I am tired of fighting. I am tired of trying to be perfect and trying to be everything that people expect of me. I think to myself, "If the rest of the world is a let down then why am I trying so hard?" but what it really comes down to is that I myself do not like change and I don't want to give up myself. Growing up I didn't receive many compliments. I wasn't the "well liked" kid and I haven't been cultivated to compliment others. It's not an excuse it's a matter of fact, and I don't compliment people often because I am someone who holds on to my past subconsciously rather than in my conscious mind. It's a passive retaliation to the hurt I felt growing up. I have had several people poke holes at me and I criticize others to do the same. Reality is that I don't have the stones to be doing what they are doing or I would simply do it. I criticize because I am too afraid to do something myself. 

In the end I operate mostly out of fear and hurt. I've never seen the line that divides "happy" people from "unhappy" people and I am happy with my life. While I know the Christian response will be to lean on Christ I still seek a more surface level answer. How do you change from operating out of fear to operating out of love? How can I trust people while witnessing let downs and disappointments? How do you let go?

I Aim To Offend

I have noticed recently that America is bent on self satisfaction and the opposition of offense. Everyone wants to hear, "It's okay if it's good for you." Reality check. It is not okay just because you feel it's good for you. This post is meant to offend and I'm sure it will. I'm not telling you to take it with a grain of salt or even apologizing. America needs to be offended. Here we go.

OFFENSIVE TOPICS

Intelligence: America is on a steady declining slope of intelligence as compared to the rest of the globe. We embrace cultures that substitute real words for slang SO much that slang like "funner" is ACTUALLY in the dictionary as of 2010! When I see things like this I reflect back to my childhood when people said to get smart and you can do anything. People want to know why our country is in so much turmoil? Here's the real issue. American's are too stupid to realize that politicians are smarter than them. Many of us are too ignorant to understand that we have the power to empower ANYONE we choose because of our constitution. America gets angry and blames politicians for everything but they cannot rise to power except on the backs of Americans. The key sign that Americans are uninformed and ignorant is the very fact that they re-elect officials and then denounce them once they gain office.

What's the point? America, do your research. You have zero right to complain about something if you haven't taken the time to truly understand the problem. I cannot complain about a government that doesn't serve my needs without knowing what is really wrong.

Obesity: America is fat. We are lazy and fat. If you are skinny and reading this, you are probably just skinny fat due to the fact that your metabolism runs faster (Google: Skinny Fat). Good for you, you're still killing yourself (http://justlikedrew.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-smoke-detector.html?spref=fb). The amount of information on what it takes to be healthy and prolong your life and avoid diseases and medical conditions is insanely abundant yet many people simply don't know what to do. Why? Because we are lazy. We are too lazy to stick to a simple gym routine. We are too lazy to cook dinner. We are too lazy to have a family sit down and take a night to spend together.

What's the point? America, stop being so lazy. The road to death and suffering is paved with good intentions. "I'm going to get my life right when I am ready" is a nice way to say, "I'm not getting my life right." 

Guns: Guns in our country have become a huge issue. If you are ignorant enough to not believe it, simply look at what other happenings have gone on recently. There was a stabbing where people were injured - no deaths. There was a bombing just yesterday in Boston - two deaths. The last public shooting rendered over 20 deaths of young children. I am tired of hearing people say the government is coming for your weapons. I am tired of people saying that criminals will just use something else. I am tired of people saying they need to protect their family.

Common Gun Excuses / Easy Solutions:
1. Government is coming for my guns / You can't stop a bomb and they can steal them when you're gone
2. Criminals will find other weapons / The stabbings and bombings have PROVEN less effective at killing
3. Family Protection / Get a Security System, Get shatter proof windows and dead bolt locks, get a guard dog, use an AirSoft gun, etc. If none of that was able to stop a guy from breaking in, then you probably WILL need lethal force. If you haven't done ANY of that, you have ZERO right to lethal force. If you have done everything to protect your family and your gun is the last resort, more power to you.

What's the point? America has a "Call Of Duty" complex where we want to feel all macho and tough. We say, "I'd like to see them come in and try to hurt my family." Reality? How many people are breaking in your place regularly? Of those people how many do you think have the express purpose to hurt your family instead of steal from you? If these criminals happen to break in the room where your guns are, what do you do now? I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE SCARED PERSON THAN SOMEONE WHO HIDES BEHIND A GUN, and they are the most dangerous because they rarely store the weapons properly, leaving them open access to people who ARE crazy or dangerous. You have the right to bear arms, NOT to use them as a first resort.

Apathy: We are a pathetic lot when we are raising a generation with complete apathy. Terms like "YOLO" abound because people simply don't care anymore. America has spurned our opportunity SO much that the next generation is in a state of hopelessness. People are accepting of mothers raising children alone. People are accepting of parents working all week long and spending no time with their children. People are accepting of television programming and music that teaches our kids and teaches us that being smart and diligent isn't "cool." You know what? If we took all the people dying to be "cool" and simply pushed them into the ocean the rest of society can rise above stupid stuff like that. There is no such thing as cool. I am tired of seeing people who have a goal to be famous or infamous at any cost. I am tired of seeing train wreck people living train wreck lives on television. The only thing worse is the people who actually watch that stuff so they can feel like their own lives are better. You aren't any better. You are just as bad.

What's the point? When I was growing up "Toleration" was pushed on my generation. Tolerate people who have different views. Tolerate homosexuality. Tolerate your circumstances. Tolerate friends. The new generation has "acceptance" pushed all over it. Accept homosexuality. Accept your circumstances. Accept Friends. Accept mediocrity. Accept inferiority. Accept abuse. Accept neglect. Accept that you won't have a father. Both of these are right in some respects and wrong in others. Tolerate opposing views, but you don't have to accept them. Tolerate your circumstances but strive to persevere. Accept your friends, but be willing to hold them accountable. Never accept or tolerate mediocrity, inferiority, abuse, neglect, fatherlessness, carelessness, or anything else that causes you to be less than you were meant to.

Morality: There is an absolute truth and there is such thing as right and wrong. There is no such thing as, "It's okay for you, but not for me." That's just clever wording for, "I'm better than you." There is no such thing as relative truth. Truth by definition NEEDS to be absolute or it cannot exist. If truth changes, then truth doesn't exist because it can always change to whatever, so then truth is simply opinion. If truth does not exist at all, then the statement that truth does not exist is a paradox. TRUTH MUST BE ABSOLUTE. MORALITY MUST BE ABSOLUTE. If it's not okay for me, then it's not okay for ANYONE. If someone said to you, "Smoking is bad for you, but it's okay for me," would you accept that? Of course not. It causes cancer and several other problems. 

What's the point? You shouldn't be living for what feels good. I'm sure a murder feels good in the moment someone gets revenge. I'm sure a rape feels good to the offender. I'm sure robbery feels good when you have more for yourself. What you FEEL is not an indicator of what is right. If you FEEL like your love is equal to everyone else's, compare it. Does your love last as long as the strongest love? Is your love as patient and kind as some people's? There is a truth. It hurts your pride but it sets you free. The reason truth sets you free is because you are no longer bound to your opinion or to your own mind, but to an absolute. It's a constantly never changing entity and you are no longer burdened with trying to defend yourself. Truth will defend you. 

SUMMARY
Intelligence: America needs to smarten up. Do your research. Be intelligent.

Obesity: America needs to stop being lazy. Get your life right. Live healthy.

Guns: America needs to humble themselves. Admit you have weakness. Think first.

Apathy: America needs to hope again. Strive to be better. Expect more.

Morality: America needs to abandon pride. Search for the answers. Know truth.

If you are offended by this - good. You should be. It's offensive. Nobody ever changed who wasn't upset by what they were currently doing. Nobody every becomes better unless they realize that there is something that NEEDS to get better in the first place. You don't go to the doctor if everything is okay. You go when something is hurt. I am no doctor, but the reality is that America is sick.