I know I poke fun at religious fundamentalism every now and then, but I want to make sure that people don't think that I hate all religion. I don't. (BTW, I was raised Catholic, if that means anything to anyone) If you see God as a guiding force to make the best you can of your life, hey, good for you. More power to you. What bothers me is when people use religion as a reason to hate. When people are discriminatory because of religion. When people close their minds to anyting but that religion... that, to me, is when religion becomes a bad thing. That is what I can't stand. I mean, really... if God is so all-knowing and benevolent, then surely, he wouldn't want you hating some of his other creatures just because they look or act a little differently.
And this part is a little late (considering yesterday's holiday, Martin Luther King Day), but I wanted to talk about tolerance. I don't like that word very much. Well, when it comes to social/race relations anyway. I much prefer "understanding." Tolerance implies that you're just putting up with something... something you may or may not like. Understanding goes much further - you actually know why things are the way they are, and why people act the way they do. Understanding brings people together. Understanding requires an open mind. Understanding brings peace.
Anyway, that's my two cents on tolerance vs. understanding.
Last one... this one's mostly (well, totally) for my women readers. You see, I like to consider myself a feminist. Now, I know, a lot of women already have their arms up in the air, since men "can't" be feminists, but whatever. OK, say that I'm sensitive to women's issues. Say that I'm respectful of women. Or, at the very least, say that I'm not a male chauvinist (gah, I certainly hope that I'm not one).
Now, my question is this... can a guy, a man be a feminist (or however you'd like to word it) and still be a porn fan?
Because I like me some porn. Sure, there's a lot of porn that degrading to women. Sure, the industry itself can be seen as degrading to women. Obviously, being a porn fan goes completely against feminism, and that's why I'm having a hard time reconciling this. I mean, I don't want to be known as some misogynistic, chauvinist pig. You know, the "typical" porn fan. But really, if that's what I am... well, I'd like to know.
Seriously.
And hey, if you know any hardcore feminists... please, direct them here. I'd like to hear what they say. I'd like to hear their opinions. Surely, they won't be very favorable, but still, I'd like to know. You know; it's that "understanding" thing again.
So, please... sound off. I'd like to hear what you all have to say, good or bad.
Happy Tuesday!
Posted by mikey at 07:37 AM. Filed under: Hello, fodder •
