This is going to be a journal about politics, internet, and -gasp- 'religion.'

Preface here: It's the internet. Frankly, your thoughts and opinions don't really mean dick, however, your influence on other individuals does. Don't let your bigoted views sway those who hang on your words because they feel you have a tendency to be correct, well-informed, intelligent, whatever. That's basically what it all boils down to. Do some fucking legwork and actually read into what you're talking about. One article doesn't cut it. Headlines don't cut it. Read from varied sources, one of which is NOT A PURELY ONLINE RESOURCE.

I won't talk as much about politics but it seems to be THE most prominent example of misinformation, confusion, lies, and just generally rage inducing bullshit. If you were alive and conscious during the last few months, you probably know very well exactly what I'm talking about. The kind of things that were spread around Twitter and the internet became viral, and because the basis on which Presidential candidates were judged as if the country ran on some muckraking currency. To be honest I dare say I'd be willing to bet a majority of the Republican vote had little to no idea what the candidate even supported or how his decisions would affect (and ultimately further ruin) their lives, just because he "fit the bill." He probably could have said if he were President he'd require everyone's first born child to be sacrificed in a land war in Asia, and they still would have voted. A number of things were said in a thin veil which bore equally gruesome implications, both mortally and financially. I digress.

The main reason I wanted to write this is because I'm continually seeing a number of Atheist / Agnostic / Christian related posts, tweets, what have you. It really makes me sad to see that a number of people in the Agnostic and Atheist community are being just as brutish and spiteful as whatever the hell it is they're claiming they think is wrong with Religions, especially when it works its way into the political side of the issue. Ultimately what needs to be realized is separation of Church and State and leave it at that. No one is in dire NEED to change their views. Let bygones be bygones. You can't FORCE people to do things they hold against their beliefs. A lot of people believe murder is wrong, but it doesn't need to be said you should force someone to just because it's law even though it's against their beliefs. Marriage is both a legal and religious institution. If you want to get a marriage, you can go to your church. If they don't want to marry you, FOR FUCK'S SAKE, THE COURT CAN MARRY YOU. People miss this crucial point and instead just say "OH WELL THE CHURCHES SHOULD GET OVER IT BECAUSE IT'S LEGAL," or "WELL THEY SHOULD DO THIS OR DO THAT."

No.

No one's fucking forcing you to do anything by legal precedent because of what you believe. Separation. Of Church. And state. (Yes, I'm aware there's far too much overlap for the liking of many, despite that principal.) If anything you should be more learned in how to be patient and understanding of others, and by doing so overcoming them by letting their faults show their deeds. Instead, you're just making an ass out of yourself. End of story.

I have a lot of friends with many different beliefs from many walks of life, and I will NEVER tell them they should do something simply because I believe differently, unless I have reason to suspect it will harm themselves or someone else. Granted, that case would be really, really, really, really rare. I honestly can't even see myself being faced with that realistically.