Silverthorne

So, the federal government is going to be running, essentially, 'marriage is good!' adds, since the ratio of single folks to married is way way up (and of course, they're targeting the 20-30 age group. Why no love for the older folks, huh?).

I felt weirded out about that, though wasn't sure why for a little bit, and beyond the 'dear government, please to be staying out of my private life, 'kay? Thanks' thing.

Then I realized what the problem was.

Which is 'oh, so more promotion for monogamous, same sex marriage, with an undercurrent of religious obligation. GREAT!!!.

Not. But that's essentially what it'll be, I bet. :P

Also, the new company that's finally buying our hospital is apparently 'Christian run'. :/

I'll be fine with new restrictions (might lose the internet surfing and radio and have to wear, you know, an 'official' CS 'uniform (hopefully that means just specific color scrubs and not some ployester monstrocity that'll have me seating buckets on a 109 degree dock in summer), the intermittent drug tests, and maybe even not being allowed to eat lunch at my desk, but I'm just hoping they keep the religious stuff to themselves. Please. Normal 'professional operation rules' I can deal with. The religious morality rules, I can't.

And to qualify: I have no problem with the religion. What bothers me is when 'business rules' are used to enforce the religious beliefs. And many religiously run business do just that. If they avoid that, I'm cool. If not, it'll make me want to smack some people around with a large metal pole.

I'd have a LOT less problem with this. Because it would be social norm, and for good reason.

These days? There's no need for it. And no, I don't buy the 'right to follow your religion' as an excuse.

Anyway, I'm ashamed of the state I live in. But, by the same token, it was our own fault for having such a huge fucking loophole in the law.

It does make me want to go to the people who made the decision, shake them, and then go, "So it's okay if we send your 12 year old female family members there, too? Because, really, if there's nothing wrong with what's going on, you shouldn't have a problem with that. Even if they wind up pregnant and married."

( Way to go, Texas... )

Personally, I don't mind. I'll listen for a few moments, and I'll be polite and even smile. I might even engage you a little on the concepts and beliefs of your religion. It's no big deal; I'm secure in my own belief systems and path--I may doubt what will actually happen after I die will be postive, but I'm also quite fine with the concept of having to pay the price, if any, if I happen to be wrong. Again, no big deal.

So, yeah, I at least will be a patient audience.

Most people, though, will not be, for whatever reason. Even less so when the discussion stems from something else entirely. A few personal answers (no, I'm not married. I've been at this job for seven years) are not an open invite to discuss religion. Definitely not an invitation for you to hand me a pamplet out of your pocket that you keep for 'occasions such as this'.

Again, I'm tolerant of it. I know that you firmly believe you are doing the right thing, and as long as it's not done with pitchforks and a threat to my health or my life, I can handle letting you ramble on and giving me a piece of paper that will have little meaning for me.

You mean well. I get that.

Not everyone will. And that is one of the biggest reasons your religion (any religion that does this) gets detractors (and often violent, rude, cruel ones). People will follow their hearts. And they will do what it takes to make sure they have that choice for themselves.

Learn to wait and be open. It works better.

This public rambling brought on by getting sermonized to by a driver this morning. Even after I told him I'd been raised catholic.)

Thinking of re-drawing my totem cards today and see what's in them. who's walking with me now.