Controversy, Pt. 1

I was struck again today by how much my opinions about things, especially social issues, do not fit into the norm of my social (aka, Christian) sphere. Although my personal morals may be classified as “conservative” (like, I’m not having sex or doing drugs or stealing iPods), I have always had trouble pushing these morals on others, or holding them up to my standards of behavior. I cannot wholeheartedly support banning gay marriage. I cannot believe that some books should be censored. I cannot be upset at “provocative” art. I cannot understand why I am allowed to choose the leaders of my country, but not purchase a glass of wine. I want things as unregulated as possible (as far as it does not cross into the illegal, and, yes, I realize laws are innately restricting…I’m not denying a bit of hypocrisy in my stance, but there is hypocrisy in any side of this issue), especially in the realms of art and the choices that I am legally allowed to make. I cannot support the idea that my freedoms and options should be limited to protect (frankly) stupid people from themselves.
In the Christian culture of today, as I have found it, we are much too ready to label something as offensive, merely because it does not fall into our narrow view of what is acceptable. But, honestly, just because we do not agree with something does not inherently eliminate its right to exist. No one forces you to watch a sex scene in a movie, or smoke a cigar, or get a tattoo, or any of those things in the “grey” areas of Christian boundaries. Who are we to tell the world that, since we disagree with something, NO ONE else can do it, or see it, or use it, or whatever. And to quote the character of David in the movie Sabrina, what the hell makes us think we have the right?
Now, I am not asserting that this view is perfect. No view is. Feel free to disagree. Tell me why you do. But, honestly, this all comes down to choices. We all make them, everyday of our lives. I just don’t want some anonymous other making mine for me. They gave me legal adulthood. That doesn’t mean they get to treat me like a child.

Life's Only Constant Is Change

I would love to lie and say that I am totally fine with change. That I welcome it, in fact. Same-old-same-old has never been my thing.
Yeah, that's hilarious.
Because I'm not a liar, and because I would like to think that I possess a more than fair perception of myself, I know I am not always okay with change. Especially when I cannot find, try as I might, any redeeming value in the change. If I can recognize it as beneficial in some way, then, sure, I can be as accepting of it as the average person, perhaps even more so. But in some cases, when change, no matter which way it goes, brings nothing positive that I can identify, I am not so fine. I will cling to normality for as long as possible, hoping that by sheer will power alone I can make things stay my way. Obviously (can't life just see?), things are better the way they are.
Change hurts. Always. Sometimes the pain is good and results in glowing outcomes that we would miss if we denied the rotation. However, sometimes it is plainly not for the better, and that is when it is hardest to deal.
I am the type that deals with shit. I occasionally have this phase when I keep saying I cannot handle anymore, but everyone, including myself, knows that I will handle it, because I always handle it, because that is what I do. I suppose we just all have to figure out how to handle what we are supposed to handle. Isn't that just life?