Same-sex partners. EQUALITY.

I was on facebook earlier and saw yet another story of a same-sex couple that couldn't visit the other in a hospital.  Some of these couples have been together for 20-40 years that I have read in these articles.  I can't comprehend this.  If we replace in these articles "partner" for "friend" it would read "friend of 37 years."  Who would keep someone who has been a person's friend for 37 years from a friend in a hospital (especially a friend who could be dying)?  Talk about cruel and unusual punishment.  People should be ashamed, our government should be ashamed.  Marriage is about love and friendship.  A man and woman get married because they love each other and are best friends, same with a man who wants to marry a man and a woman who wants to marry a woman.  Equality.  That's what we need.  We should already have it, but we don't.  Why?  Why are people scared of equality?  It is a matter of power.  People have to stomp on others to continue believing they are superior to make themselves seemingly worth more.

Here is a call out: write to your government and make your voice heard: WE WANT EQUALITY FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!  It could be as simple as that.  If everyone sent that simple message to their government, they would have to take action. 

Respect and Social Media

Lately, I have been getting fairly upset about some comments I have been seeing on Facebook.  A simple picture with a math questions concerning order or operations can lead to people calling each other retards or morons.  Just because someone gets a question wrong, doesn't mean people should call them names.  We complain about bullying/cyberbullying with children in school, but we as adults teach them this.  We say it is okay because we do it to each other.  Be respectful.  Plain and simple. Another page I have been seeing a lot of comments is The Tattoo Page.  Yes, people have been submitting photographs of themselves barely clothed showing off tattoos and sometimes the tattoos can barely be seen (or not seen at all), but it doesn't mean one has to be mean about the person or their body.  They can comment, about how it is a tattoo page and they can't see the tattoos, but it is no reason to call them names or be disrespectful toward the person.  How imperfect their body is (weight, how small breasts are, etc.) not important.  Everyone is imperfect and we should be proud of that.  If you want to hate, join the Westboro Baptist Church.  All of their signs have the word "hate" in them.

BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE.  End of story.

Where Was Your D*ck? Seth MacFarlane Oscar Parody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9DMOE-K5ro&feature=youtu.be

This video has a point but not the whole point.  Women show so much on screen - this isn't a sign that they are good actresses.  Their actual acting tells us if they performed well, not how much they can show us.  However, guys are picked for a part in a movie if they have nice bodies too.  We usually don't see much of their penis, but we see a lot of shirtless men.  Men who look nice play in roles and are expected to show off at least their upper bodies as often as possible.  Same issue, it isn't just with women.  I do get tired of watching a movie and all of a sudden I am seeing a scene where a woman's breasts have to be focus even though that has nothing to do with the plot.  I think directors and other people behind-the-scenes choosing people for roles for specific reasons should be held accountable....they shouldn't insert a sex scene somewhere because they feel like it'll boost ratings.  They should challenge themselves with how successful they can be if they run a clean show instead.  They are probably too scared to do that though. 

Animal Cruelty - ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING

This is absolutely disgusting and completely unnecessary.  Animals and people are comprised of the same materials: bone, muscles, nerves, etc.  THEY FEEL PAIN, JUST LIKE PEOPLE.  This is absolutely ridiculous and sad.  I am upset with humans. If anyone buys real fur or allows this to happen (either by ignoring or participating) you aren't worth dirt - in fact, dirt is worth a lot more.  Normally, I do not like insulting anyone, but even these workers....one, there are a lot more of them than their bosses, so even if their bosses threaten to fire them, if every single worker had an ounce of compassion to say "NO" and fight against this animal cruelty, the people in charge would have to change their methods.  DO NOT BUY REAL FUR.  SEND LETTERS TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OR ANY GOVERNMENT THAT DOES THIS.  If you would not do this to a human being, then there is absolutely no reason to do this to an animal or any living organism.  Living organisms should NOT be treated this way.  Absolutely disgusting and the majority of the world hates you if you treat animals this way.  This should not be happening anywhere.  If they insist on using real fur instead of fake, then why can't they humanely euthanize them - still sad and unnecessary - but at least the animals don't have to be tortured first.  For the rich people who prefer real fur - you could be doing something to stop this, you have the money, you could be publicly advocating for humane conditions and deserve to die if you are not doing anything about it.  If you are rich and do not like genuine fur or it's not a necessity of your life, you can still be doing things about it because you have influence, however, I respect you more than the others.  For those who are doing things about it, thank you.  I wouldn't even mind it if our government bombed them and said this is the reason why.  I am so upset right now from viewing this video and seeing the animals thrown around in tiny cages not even big enough for them to move and seeing THE ANIMALS STILL BREATHING AND MOVING AFTER BEING SKINNED ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  UGH! 
Normally, I do not advocate for violence either, but I truly think that people who think this is okay and who are doing this should be skinned alive and the others need to watch as it happens.  Animals can't scream the same as humans can, maybe the ones watching will get the picture.  Then they can go through it and I hope they are still moving and breathing after their is off of them.  UGH!!!!!!  CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR ALLOWING THIS - YOU DISGUST ME!!!! STOP DOING THIS TO ANIMALS!  YOU SICK PEOPLE!  UGH!!!!!!  Wow.  I can't even go on right now.  This is not the end of this rant though.  When I calm down a little, I will post more and will be sending them my opinions.  Ugh.  Disgusting.  Torture is sick.

I have to warn anyone who watches this video: It is a very upsetting video.  I cried and was immediately extremely angry.
Source:  https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3957

Ranting

Rantings:

http://jezebel.com/5934975/paul-ryan-sponsored-a-bill-that-would-allow-rapists-to-stop-their-victims-from-aborting

Really Paul Ryan?  You need to go dig a hole, climb in it and never come back out.

Ugh.  Paul Ryan decided to sponsor a bill that would allow rapists to sue their victims if the victim decided to get an abortion.  Moron.  If anyone supports this, they deserve a swift kick in the head.  First they rape the person then they can sue them?! Really Paul Ryan?!  And we wonder why rapes are under reported.  UGH.  Of course, only if the rape is legitimate should this matter anyway, right?  UGH.  These ignorant republicans make me angry.  Ignorant people make me angry and disappointed in my country.

In Walmart the other day and we walked by the weights.  It irritates me every time I walk by something like this.  The one, two, and three pound weights, of course, have to be brightly colored.  One pound HAS to be either pink or purple, otherwise, women probably wouldn't be able to lift it.  One it would probably be too heavy and, two, it just isn't stylish enough to pick up.  I do not like the color pink, however, I fully believe colors are for EVERYONE.  Anyone can like any color that they want.  Girls aren't limited to pink and purple and guys are limited to blue and black.  The "heavy" weights are usually always black.  Make them all bright colors or make them all black, don't turn this into gender specific.  Ugh.

Another pet peeve: Children toys.  We walk down what we call the "pink aisle" when we go into stores.  This is my nephew, we told him to pick something he wanted out.  He picked up a doll.  OMG!!!! We can't have that!!!! A doll is for girls and pink or purple?! OMG he must be homosexual!  Ugh.  Ignorant people irritate me (yes, again).  The dolls only came in pink and purple, designating them for girls in this society.  Well, not any more.  My nieces and nephew are learning they don't have to live in ignorance like our society allows.  Make dolls of every color, place them in the toy aisles without a "pink aisle."  Boys can wear pink, girls can wear blue.  End of story.  Stop teaching them that they have to fit within specific gender roles.  What if they don't fit within those gender roles?  What then?  Then we have taught them that they are wrong, even though they can't help it.  We have alienated them to believe the person who they are is wrong.  I will NOT support this, and you shouldn't either.

*Kristen

SIGN THIS PETITION!!!

Click on this link and sign the petition.  
https://www.change.org/petitions/mobile-county-alabama-prosecutor-bring-travis-hawkins-jr-to-justice

Here's the information from the petition site:

Mallory was an invited guest Thanksgiving Day to her gf fam dinner & brother, Travis Hawkins Jr, has been arrested, charged, and released on bail for ONLY 2nd degree assault! Mallory had experienced a brain bleed, reconstructive facial surgeries, (metal plates due to crushed cheek bones), and skull fractures! This at best was an attempted murder! Mallory deserves justice for the horrific attack & by the Grace of God her long road to recover! It is reported that the accused attackers family stood by, did not intervene, and have threatened the victim family!

Article:
http://www.queerty.com/alabama-woman-savagely-beaten-by-girlfriends-brother-over-thanksgiving-20121126/
Queerty is also where this image comes from:

How can someone do this to someone else?  Her life is completely changed now because Travis Hawkins Jr. decided he was better than her.  This is a hate crime and the family allowed it to happen.  Everyone present who did nothing to help her need to be charged.  By doing nothing, people allow this behavior to continue.  DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.  Sign the petition, write to the government, stand up for someone else, etc.  He needs to be charged with attempted murder.

People who think this is okay because she is a lesbian: DECENT human beings would NEVER believe this type of behavior is okay, this hate is not okay.  Also, if you say you are religious and think this is okay because she is a lesbian: you need to re-evaluate yourself and your morals because this is most definitely not even close to a religious act because this is hate.  Our justice system needs to prove that it can find justice system for people.  Letting him go will say our government and the people are willing to allow people to judge others and to physically attack and assault others.  She is equal to everyone else, regardless of sexual orientation.  Equality.

EVERYONE IS EQUAL, so why can he beat her and almost kill her and not be charged with attempted murder?

Misleading maps?

http://www.upworthy.com/we-have-been-mislead-by-an-erroneous-map-of-the-world-for-500-years?c=bl3

Interesting video and point.  We do tend to equate size with equality and things really aren't portrayed accurately according to size via the Mercator map we use today.  Possibly the Peters map could be of use?  Also, the end made me laugh, turn someone's world upside down when you turn a map upside down, even though a sphere doesn't really have a top and bottom.... :)

Back to equality: we associate northern and southern hemispheres and West and East with Good or bad or superior and inferior.  It shouldn't be that way, but people do it. If everyone works to set it straight that we are all humans living on the same earth, all equal we can work to change that mentality.  Again, I leave with this quote: "There is only one race: the human race."

*Kristen

PS. Hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving or for those who don't celebrate it, hope you had a happy weekend.