Christmas

Ok, this week's Blog Gang is supposed to be about Christmas. I personally do not consider what I celebrate as "Christmas". I'm more of the old school type of person. Way old school. I'm celebrating the winter solstice. The time of year when the days finally start getting longer. When the earth prepares to start to reawaken in a few months. The rebirth of the sun.

Yes, I know, I've probably just made some of you gasp in horror. You've just discovered you've been reading a non-Christian blog. Trust me, you won't be struck down for it. I promise.

If it makes y'all feel better, this believer of the old ways reads your Christian blogs, and quite enjoys them, thank you very much! :)

My children do believe in God, Jesus, and the Virgin Mother. I encourage it. Every single living being has the right to choose their religion.

We do put up a tree, we exchange gifts, Santa still comes and visits our home. I enjoy Christmas carols, the beautiful decorations on all the homes (ours included!)

Our family has a traditional meal, where we gather those we love and break bread together. Some of them share my beliefs, some of them share yours, hell, some of them may worship Barney the purple dinosaur.

You see, to me it doesn't matter what religion you may follow. Whether you celebrate the rebirth of the sun, or the birth of the Son, it makes no difference to me.

Good people are good people. Bad people are bad people. There are both in every religion. I make an effort to surround myself with those that are basically good. Who believe in giving more than receiving. Those who put out more good in the world. Those who expect nothing in return. People who can look beyond themselves, and see people for what they really are, no matter what they believe.

Now, I've got to get back to my baking and cooking, in preparation for our family gathering tomorrow. (see, we really aren't that different!)

Happy Holidays to all! Whether you celebrate Christmas, the solstice, Hannakuh, etc - just remember this: celebrate and find joy in all that you do. Find joy in the smallest things. Hug your loved ones a little tighter. Remember to give all that you can!

Marriage

When I originally started writing this blog gang post, I was going to talk about my experiences with marriage, and how finally on my 3rd marriage I managed to get it right.

Then it happened.

I had a friend told by her manager that she could no longer refer to her wife as her wife. The reason she was given was that it "might offend" some of the customers that came in the store. The next excuse was that it was for her own "protection".

I was instantly pissed, in fact I still am.

Who has the right to tell another human being that they are no longer allowed to admit who they love? In my opinion, no one has that right. No one has the right to tell someone it may "offend" someone else, while the whole time they are offending the person standing in front of them.

Who are you, I, or anyone else to tell someone they can't love who they love? You can't control that, it happens to you.

A marriage is a vow between two people to love, cherish, and stand by each other through good times and bad. It's not about one of you must have a vagina and the other a penis. It's no one's business what a married couple does behind a closed bedroom door, as long as it's consensual.

What are people so scared of that they can't "legalize" same sex marriage? Don't give me the argument it will ruin heterosexual marriages. Unless one of the people is gay or a lesbian, it will not effect their marriage at all. (And just a guess, if one of them are homosexual and the other heterosexual, there are already issues in that marriage.)

Here's a novel idea: instead of worrying about letting gays and lesbians marry, start looking at the divorce rate between heterosexuals. Look at the murder rates, the sexual assaults, child abuse, etc. Let's start worrying about something that is a hell of a lot more likely to happen to all of us, instead of worrying that homosexuals are going to try and secretly convert everyone.

I want everyone to stop and think for a minute. Would you look at your accountant different if they're a lesbian? Your doctor different if he's gay? No? Then why not give them the right to devote and share their lives with the person they love.

Because that's what marriage should be about: Love. Respect. Caring. Trust. Devotion.