Equality

Why can't we treat each other as the equals we are?  Black, white, gay, straight, christian, muslim - we ALL have struggles.  Don't give one person / group of people special treatment because they struggle.  I have not met one person in all my life who doesn't struggle.  Sometimes the struggle is easy to see, sometimes it is not.  Struggles we have all vary - abuse, depression, alcoholism, fear, anxiety, divorce, loneliness, infertility, sexual identity, health issues, mental issues, and more.  We all struggle.  I usually dislike any posts giving preference and attention to one group over another, but today I can't get those poor people who were at Pulse, and their families out of my mind.  All of those people who were in the gay night club were equals.  I'd go so far as to suggest the shooter, who is reported to be tied to ISIS, was an equal - however he was a very misguided person who needed to think for himself.  He also likely needed help for mental issues he was born with or given to via his upbringing.  Think for yourself.  The media is one-sided and will mis-guide you if you follow it.  Question things.  Get help if you are feeling depressed or alone.  Believe in what you believe based on your heart and mind - not based on what someone keeps telling you.  This should all be common sense, but every day I read judgemental comments about mothers being un-attentive (mother's the person has not even met before), people being unworthy of things because of something they did or said, people being "idiots" and "losers", people having different views and therefore undeserving of love and attention.  Until you live in their shoes, until you stop judging and try to understand them, you have no idea how they feel, why they feel what they do, or why they do what they do.  Build people up.  Don't tear people down.  Be positive.  Even if the person you are responding to is misguided and/or wrong, tearing them down will not help.  Calling them names will not help.  Un-friending them will not help.  Talking about them or making fun of them behind their back will not help.  Be loving with each other.  Be kind. Offer your friendship, try to understand them more, offer to help them if needed.  I am not saying this because I feel I do this better than anyone else but because I believe in it.  I wish everyone including myself could be like this.  All the time.