Recently I watched a debate on the topic of open relationships vs closed relationships. I can see, understand, and respect the feelings and opinions on both sides of this debate. I take no issues with opened or closed relationships personally. A few things about this discussion really got me thinking, one thing I noticed was, both sides of a debate claiming to be open minded while closing their minds to the other side of the debate. To me that shows how much we still have to learn. As a society we frown upon things that are different then the cultural norm. Gay marriages are wrong, women having sex with multiple men are sluts, men having sex with multiple women are awesome, a woman in open relationship is promiscuous, not to long ago interracial relationships could be included in this list, not to long ago women working instead of staying home to be good little house wives could be included in this list, not to long ago.. a lot of things could be included in this list. Humans are still a young species, we're still growing, we're still evolving.
However, in order to continue to evolve, continue to grow, we need to step away from the things we are programmed to think are acceptable, step away from the "values" we are taught, away from the religiously charged superior "morals" that are instilled upon us from a young age and take a good hard look around us. We are taught as young children that our parents have so much love to go around, it can reach out and hug us, as well as any siblings we may have, any cousins we have, our grandparents, our aunts/uncles etc etc. Then as we grow older we are taught that that is one kind of love, that the other love, the love we offer to our boyfriend/girlfriend/alien lover/whatever is only big enough for one person. We are taught an idea that goes against basic logic, that goes against what we are born feeling. We are taught that love, amazing, infinite in possibilities, the most abundant resource we have at our fingertips, is finite. That it has a limit, that it can only go so far and can only do so much. We are taught to think the opposite, not only of the truth, but opposite of what is born into us. We are born with the potential to love all and taught that is wrong. We are taught that the love that is given to us by a person is measured in whether or not it is only given to use. We are taught that the only possible way someone could love us is if they love no one else. We are taught that love belongs only to one man and one woman. We have (mostly) evolved at least to accept that love doesn't see skin color or nationality, but can't accept that it doesn't see gender? We are taught that there is a right kind of love and a wrong kind, we are taught what I like to call selfish love.
We are taught to put ourselves and our desires before that of anyone else. The idea of "out of sight, out of mind" is so drilled into us that it becomes second nature. Women are persecuted and STONED to death for an affair, we barely blink. Women are treated as property of their husbands, we don't blink. Natural disasters devastate the world (and even in our "own" country) and we don't blink. It isn't happening to us, it isn't in our backyard, it isn't in front of our face or in our line of sight, so it doesn't exist. Until it is in our backyard, until it is happening to us, until it is in our face. It's time that people open their eyes and look around, it's time that we see that the things that happen other places can (and in some cases do) happen here. We aren't Americans, we aren't French, we aren't Russian, Chinese, or Mexican, we aren't the lines that have been drawn on the globe separating us into different countries. We are humans, one people, filled with one love. Everyone has the basic human RIGHT to be loved, to be accepted, to be allowed to live a life filled with their happiness and able to love who they want, how they want. Every person, that is human right, that is the only thing that truly matters in this life. The love we have and the love we give freely. To be a truly open minded, evolved people, we'll have to realize that our way is not the only way.
Love, compassion, understanding, and respect - these things make the world go round, now if only we could all accept that.
"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace"
Imagine - John Lennon
"
All of your cars and all your money and every victory you claim-
You can’t take them with you when you go.
So call me a saint. call me a sinner, but I will stand and be delivered
To the one thing- the only thing I know that I know for sure and it’s love
...
It’s about hope and faith in compassion and dignity.
It’s about one man to another, like all men are brothers and this whole world- it is our home.
And if we’re stuck here together, maybe we can make it better- if we don’t try, we’ll never know."
Love - Third Wheel Tuesday
Most excellent!
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