Dare to be DIFFERENT!

Published on December 6, 2004 By iamheather In Politics

*A special thanks to Little_whip's article How the left stole Christmas for the inspiration for this blog*

Our culture is rife with double messages.

We promote individuality, diversity, and "bucking the system". Rebels are held in the highest esteem as artists, philosophers, and leaders.

Yet, we have to be careful not to offend those that are diverse, individuals, and outside of the mainstream. We adjust the "system" and culture to cater to the feelings of those diverse peoples as if they are weak, ignorant, and fragile in their beliefs. Soon the very "norm" becomes what was different, diverse and unique.

Being unusual should be a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter to be worn in shame.

One of my friends on JU of a different belief has commented on another article with these reasonings and excuses:

"...public school. this means that everyone's children have to go to school, and it means that if you make kids feel bad about who they are, then you have a problem"

"...hearing song after song about a religious figure who in some ways represents a justification for many of abominations jews have lived through over the centuries."

This is truly sad. All children will be different in one way or another. Some wear glasses; others are of different religions. Some are poor. Children have different interests in music, clothing, and hobbies. This is a fact of life. Parents should encourage children to take pride in their differences. Being different is what makes life exciting and leads to self awareness. Character is built from being different. Creativity blossoms when people are allowed to freely take pride in who they are.

Why would our society try to make everyone look and act the same? Christians are blamed for trying to convert others. So be it. It is as their religion commands, but no one is forced to convert. In fact, Christianity will soon be the "different" and "individuality" of the future if things continue to swing in the current direction.

On a personal note, I grew up in a "cult." We were Christians, but did not acknowledge traditionally Christian holy days. In fact, for all intents and purposes of everyday life, I lived as a practicing Jew. We accepted Christ as the Messiah, but lived under Old Testament laws and traditions given to the Jews. No Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Sunday worship...Instead, I celebrated The Feast of Tabernacles, the Day of Atonement, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the traditional Jewish Sabbath, and laws of clean and unclean meat.

Let me tell you about "feeling different." The Christian children in my public school didn't understand me and the Jewish kids didn't accept me either. I had literally no onewith which to identify. I left the room when Christmas carols were sung, Easter pictures colored, or Valentine's exchanged. Several times a year, I missed school, sometimes for a week at a time, in order to observe my religious holy days. I often could not eat what was served in the school lunch line or as a treat in our classroom.

Did I cry? Did I whine? Did I turn into an ashamed shrinking violet?

Hardly. I took pride in my differences. I was special. When people asked me about my faith, I proclaimed it enthusiastically. Most children were fascinated and very interested. Oh, I guess a few might have looked at me crosswise, but I never really noticed. In fact, when I became an adolescent, most peer pressure did not affect me. I did not drink in high school when everyone else did. I did not engage in sex when everyone else did. I never did drugs when everyone else did. Yeah, I was considered different, and I liked that. I developed my own individuality, thinking, and character.

So, in the spirit of tolerance, allow diversity, both the minority and the majority. Encourage individualism. Cultivate differences.

Comments (Page 1)

island_gurl12

on Dec 06, 2004

I agree with you heather and i make some noise

I'm a mixture of cultures and races, and just my looks make me different

so i do DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

iamheather

on Dec 06, 2004

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

i make some noise

Good for you! That is what I am talking about.

dharmagrl

on Dec 06, 2004

On a personal note, I grew up in a "cult." We were Christians, but did not acknowledge traditionally Christian holy days.

I know exactly what youre talking about. My ex-husband's brother was in the same 'cult'.

I'm different, and I'm cool with that. I'm happy to be different. I am proud of my unusual-ness, and my kids are proud of their 'different' cultural background.

Now if they want to be 'normal', I'm cool with that too. I'm just trying to expose them to as much as I can and let them make their own decisions from there.....

Vive la difference!

ParaTed2k

on Dec 06, 2004

When I was younger we lived in Germany for awhile. We lived in a small German town where the roads that were not dirt roads were "paved" with cobble stones.

There were only two families on the street where we lived that weren't German.

This difference made for a lot of fun. We often had our neighbors over for meals, and we often ate at neighbors homes. The German families wanted to see how what we liked to do, what we liked to eat, and learn about Americans through us. By the same token, we wanted to know the same things about them.

Some of the things I remember are, Bugs Bunny sounds funny when he says "Wie Geht's Doc", Sgt Friday and Joe Gannon from "Dragnet" have much different voice when they speak German, and you just don't serve corn when hosting Germans for dinner.

Now I've lived in 11 states and 4 countries. In each of them I have taken the time to learn about the local communities. Not necessarily to "blend in" (I'm not even sure how to do that lol), but to learn about the people whose communities I've joined in on.

It doesn't make sense to move to somewhere, then spend all your time trying to recreate where you are into where you were. After all, I joined them, they didn't join me.

iamheather

on Dec 06, 2004

dharma

I know exactly what youre talking about. My ex-husband's brother was in the same 'cult'.

Was he in that "cult" while you were married? Is he still in that "cult"?

my kids are proud of their 'different' cultural background.

Do your children get offended when they witness Christian holidays, or Jewish holidays, at school or elsewhere?

Now if they want to be 'normal', I'm cool with that too. I'm just trying to expose them to as much as I can and let them make their own decisions from there.....

I guess what I was trying to convey in the article was the silliness of "removing Christmas" from schools, while retaining and teaching "other religions." Eventually, Christianity will become the "different." Christmas will become the minority culture that we have to teach about. We must find a balance. Anyway, I agree completely with you.

ParaTed2k

Some of the things I remember are, Bugs Bunny sounds funny when he says "Wie Geht's Doc", Sgt Friday and Joe Gannon from "Dragnet" have much different voice when they speak German, and you just don't serve corn when hosting Germans for dinner.

I bet that was different. I remember having a difficult time at sleepovers with friends. I couldn't eat bacon or sausage or eggs with cheese, or hamburgers with cheese.....It was definitely different, but I wasn't offended to be offered those things. I just politely declined. It was no big deal. I didn't think my friends were trying to corrupt or convert me by eating those things in my presence.

dharmagrl

on Dec 06, 2004

Was he in that "cult" while you were married? Is he still in that "cult"?

Not as far as I know, no.....and I have no idea. We haven't spoken in 8 years.

Do your children get offended when they witness Christian holidays, or Jewish holidays, at school or elsewhere?

Hell no, they're fascinated! They want to know all about different people's faiths and beliefs and practices. Sometimes they don't get why people do the things they do, other times they understand the symbolism or reasoning behind it. I'm not offended either, I like learning about things.

I have, in my family, 2 buddhists, 1 christian, 1 agnostic and one "not sure". We celebrate Christmas and Easter, we have crosses and Buddhas (and we're getting a shiva and a ganesh), we meditate, we do yoga and we pray. We manage to have a religious and spiritual conglomeration that works quite well.

iamheather

on Dec 06, 2004

Dharma, ever thought about teaching school? We need people like you in our public school system.

Hamster 311

on Dec 06, 2004

Not interesting, eh?

Not true at all. It is interesting and there's an important message here as well.

Differences are simply a fact of life in our society, cultural, ethnic, religious, whatever. I agree:

Parents should encourage children to take pride in their differences. Being different is what makes life exciting and leads to self awareness.

Even though the road to self awareness can be a long and bumpy one.

I took pride in my differences. I was special. When people asked me about my faith, I proclaimed it enthusiastically.

It is to your (and your parents?) credit, that you had such a healthy attitude. I don't think it's that easy for some kids, though. Sometimes being different is the worst thing in the world - but then that's exactly why we have to teach kids otherwise. Because to strive to NOT be different is simply impossible.

Now, celebrating diversity is a good thing. Demanding that all society celebrates diversity in the same way is...well that's ironic...and not a good thing.

iamheather

on Dec 06, 2004

Even though the road to self awareness can be a long and bumpy one.

This is true, but how much less if parents begin at the youngest age possible. One of my children is incredibly different in so many ways, but we refer to his differences (both physically and mentally) as being gifted with something special. He has been our special boy since his birth.

Now, celebrating diversity is a good thing. Demanding that all society celebrates diversity in the same way is...well that's ironic...and not a good thing.

Is representing Christian holy days as well as other religious holy days demanding that all society celebrate diversity in the same way? I am not sure I understood your comment.

island_gurl12

on Dec 06, 2004

Sorry heather, me again, can you go to dharma's thread 'texas wahine where are you?'

dharmagrl

on Dec 06, 2004

Dharma, ever thought about teaching school? We need people like you in our public school system.

No, I've never really considered it....I dunno that I have the patience.

I do enjoy going and spending time in my kid's classroms though. I don't do enough of that....

Moderateman

on Dec 06, 2004

As a Jew even I find the the attacks on Christanity offensive.............. I dont dare to be different i AM DIFFERENT...... one of a kind... there is only one me as there is only one you. Its the differences that make life interesting.

Hamster 311

on Dec 06, 2004

Is representing Christian holy days as well as other religious holy days demanding that all society celebrate diversity in the same way? I am not sure I understood your comment.

No, no, no, please don't misunderstand me that way. I want ALL religions to rejoice, not be forced to hide from each other.

It was more of a jab at political correctness. I've solemnly sworn,to myself,to try to be more tolerant of the whole pc thing, which is why the comment was was so vague, I guess. Wanting to be 'bad' but trying to be good. I'm only confusing.

iamheather

on Dec 06, 2004

dharma

I do enjoy going and spending time in my kid's classroms though

Me, too.

Moderateman

there is only one me as there is only one you. Its the differences that make life interesting.

Exactly. Over Thanksgiving, I was having a discussion with my parents in which my mother proclaimed that she would love to live in an entirely Christian nation. I told her that I think it would be horrible and boring. Besides, as Christians we are told to proclaim our faith. Who would she proclaim that too?

got her thinking...

Hamster

I want ALL religions to rejoice, not be forced to hide from each other.

Wouldn't that be wonderful!

I've solemnly sworn,to myself,to try to be more tolerant of the whole pc thing, which is why the comment was was so vague, I guess. Wanting to be 'bad' but trying to be good. I'm only confusing.

That explains so much. I do remember reading that article. Now I understand. Thanks for reminding me. Good for you....

iamheather

on Dec 07, 2004

oh my goodness, now THERE's a breath of fresh air, a conservative jew!

Yes, LW. Some restoration in my faith in common sense and humanity.

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