Some people say that we don’t need social movements in this day and age; we don’t need feminism, we don’t need more civil rights movements.
But that’s the furthest from the truth. People said the same thing in the 1800s, the 1900s, and now. There’s always going to be someone who thinks the status quo is fine. But it won’t be fine until things get better. And the only way for things to get better is for people to speak up. We need to yell, to rock the boat, to draw attention. Because no one else will do it for us.
There have been many things happening lately. More shootings. More violent attacks. More racially-charged hate crimes on University campuses. More victim blaming. Etc. It doesn’t end.
I know that some people don’t ever have issues with dealing with some of the things that people in society deal with, so they don’t think it’s a big deal and that many of us are “overreacting” or “making everything so politically correct.”
Why is it that I still have to deal with sexism in 2015. I still have to worry that I’m going to be sexually assaulted when I leave my house. I have to worry that someone will assault my daughter someday. I have to worry that someone will assault and bully my son being special needs. I have to worry about the treatment my family could face if someone finds out that we are non-religious (and what if we were Muslim? That would be even worse, since people get violent over that). I have to worry about my childrens’ futures because, heaven forbid, one of them is LGBTQ. I SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FUCKING WORRY ABOUT THAT. People should feel safe to just live their fucking lives.
So that’s why I seem like an intense person. That’s why, when you say something sexist or offensive, I’m going to call you out. I’m not doing it to be mean. I’m doing it because it’s damn IMPORTANT.
You can say that we all have the right to free speech and our opinions. Yes, of course we do, and it’s a great thing. But that doesn’t mean that you have the right to be bigoted asshole without being called out on it.
I advise everyone to find an issue that resonates with them. Research it, look at joining organizations, or just be an online activist. Being an activist can be pretty simple in this day and age. You don’t have to make signs and picket somewhere. That’s the beauty of social media! Hell, I don’t have the time to do that either with a family of my own.
I used to be someone who didn’t care about politics, and ignored issues, and just thought many of these things were outdated. But they aren’t. They apply to me. They apply to you. This is our lives! I learned, and you can too!
I just think this stuff is important.
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