Just re-read my first post/rant. Yikes! Sorry about the word vomit. I was so excited to start it came spewing out and it kinda just went everywhere. Okay, so I was thinking about current events and I felt like I had an epiphany. So many of us are aware of the political/sociological movement as of late. There are two I want to talk about.
The first is the transitioning of bathroom policy that allows transgenders or essentially anyone who "identifies" with any gender is allowed to use that designated bathroom. So let's look at this from a neutral perspective: On one hand, you have people who have made their choice in life and feel like they want to go into a bathroom with which they feel most comfortable. At least from what I know, being transgender or whatever else there is, they don't tend to be rapists (at least from what I know.) Then you have the other side who say this opens the door (pardon the pun) for rapists to have another targeting ground. It's fair to say when I go to the bathroom that I'm not checking out the next stall to see who is occupying it and what they are carrying *wink wink* and I would hope no one else is trying to see what I have either. However, the biggest upheaval I've seen so far about it is that people are up in arms that anyone would say transgenders are a bunch of perverts and rapists. There is a huge fallacy in this argument though! I don't think people are worried about transgendered people in bathrooms. I think that they are worried that rapists will just proclaim whatever gender identity necessary to target people. OK! I would hope we all agree (in all fairness) that one side is worried that rape will increase (however valid the argument) and the other is worried about personal rights and the freedom to do whatever the EF you want, right (however valid the argument)?
Okay, so the second is all the hoopla about Brigham Young University. So for those of you vague on the details, BYU has you sign an honor code before attending which includes not smoking, drinking, or the horizonal polka without a wedding license (a little more detailed that this but for simplicity lets just stick with this for now.) This is officially a legal and binding contract...let's keep this in mind for later. So what has happened is that when a person comes forward to informing a school about sexual assault, there is an investigation and if there is evidence that shows that the victim was involved in violations of said honor code than there a chance for disciplinary action. Now before you imagine shooting me or anyone else in the face for what I am about to say, please keep in mind neutrality and seeing things from BOTH SIDES! this does not meaning listening and waiting to just call someone an idiot at the end. This means for ten seconds just pretend you were the other side. Okay. When people hear "potential disciplinary action" they freak out because it is true that for most other campuses there is a clause that provides immunity for assault victims. So naturally when we hear a girl is suspended after coming to the school about being raped, it is an outrage! although we quickly gloss over the fact that she was on acid (I think that was the drug? Poop I haven't read the story in a week.) So let's think about the school's perspective. It is a religious school in which it prides itself on strict religious adherence. Whomever was assaulted when through a horribly traumatic experience that we would never wish on our worst enemy (hopefully.) This person did, however, sign a contract, which is a breach of contract and they have every legal right to protect their scholastic integrity. It is also important to mention that this school provides free therapy and also still has a lower rape level than most any other schools (which I believe directly correlates with religious values.) But let's be honest. It is pretty messed up to get sexually assaulted and then kicked out of school. But let's also be patient and understand that the school DOES NOT want to have their students suffer. It takes time for schools to change policy. Mormons are some of the nicest people I have ever met. They are trying. In my opinion, I do think that they think that students who are sexually assaulted should be immune from expulsion or suspension, because let's be honest: rape is about the worst thing that can happen to you and that is easily punishment enough (not that they deserved it!). I don't agree however that they should just walk away without any correction from the school because that's not fair to their rights. I think that victims of sexual assault who may have engaged in behavior deemed inappropriate should serve mandatory community service. There is a lot of research that suggests that doing service after traumatic events help sooth some of the awful side effects of rape. This way, the person is getting help to improve their well being and also they are sufficiently disciplined by the school. But I digress.
So looking at the big picture I would hope we all agree (in all fairness) that one side is worried that rape will increase (however valid the argument) and the other is worried about personal rights and the freedom to do whatever the EF you want, right (however valid the argument)?
However different the specifics are: THIS IS THE SAME ARGUMENT! and yet on one side conservatives are saying BYU does whatever they want and transgenders can't use bathrooms and with liberals it vice-versa! How ironic, right? BOOM! you had to read a small novel to get there, but doesn't that just seem ass-backwards to you?!? On both sides. I think it's time as human beings learn that while it is important to be passionate, we should never become so passionate that we can't be compassionate. *drops mic*
The first is the transitioning of bathroom policy that allows transgenders or essentially anyone who "identifies" with any gender is allowed to use that designated bathroom. So let's look at this from a neutral perspective: On one hand, you have people who have made their choice in life and feel like they want to go into a bathroom with which they feel most comfortable. At least from what I know, being transgender or whatever else there is, they don't tend to be rapists (at least from what I know.) Then you have the other side who say this opens the door (pardon the pun) for rapists to have another targeting ground. It's fair to say when I go to the bathroom that I'm not checking out the next stall to see who is occupying it and what they are carrying *wink wink* and I would hope no one else is trying to see what I have either. However, the biggest upheaval I've seen so far about it is that people are up in arms that anyone would say transgenders are a bunch of perverts and rapists. There is a huge fallacy in this argument though! I don't think people are worried about transgendered people in bathrooms. I think that they are worried that rapists will just proclaim whatever gender identity necessary to target people. OK! I would hope we all agree (in all fairness) that one side is worried that rape will increase (however valid the argument) and the other is worried about personal rights and the freedom to do whatever the EF you want, right (however valid the argument)?
Okay, so the second is all the hoopla about Brigham Young University. So for those of you vague on the details, BYU has you sign an honor code before attending which includes not smoking, drinking, or the horizonal polka without a wedding license (a little more detailed that this but for simplicity lets just stick with this for now.) This is officially a legal and binding contract...let's keep this in mind for later. So what has happened is that when a person comes forward to informing a school about sexual assault, there is an investigation and if there is evidence that shows that the victim was involved in violations of said honor code than there a chance for disciplinary action. Now before you imagine shooting me or anyone else in the face for what I am about to say, please keep in mind neutrality and seeing things from BOTH SIDES! this does not meaning listening and waiting to just call someone an idiot at the end. This means for ten seconds just pretend you were the other side. Okay. When people hear "potential disciplinary action" they freak out because it is true that for most other campuses there is a clause that provides immunity for assault victims. So naturally when we hear a girl is suspended after coming to the school about being raped, it is an outrage! although we quickly gloss over the fact that she was on acid (I think that was the drug? Poop I haven't read the story in a week.) So let's think about the school's perspective. It is a religious school in which it prides itself on strict religious adherence. Whomever was assaulted when through a horribly traumatic experience that we would never wish on our worst enemy (hopefully.) This person did, however, sign a contract, which is a breach of contract and they have every legal right to protect their scholastic integrity. It is also important to mention that this school provides free therapy and also still has a lower rape level than most any other schools (which I believe directly correlates with religious values.) But let's be honest. It is pretty messed up to get sexually assaulted and then kicked out of school. But let's also be patient and understand that the school DOES NOT want to have their students suffer. It takes time for schools to change policy. Mormons are some of the nicest people I have ever met. They are trying. In my opinion, I do think that they think that students who are sexually assaulted should be immune from expulsion or suspension, because let's be honest: rape is about the worst thing that can happen to you and that is easily punishment enough (not that they deserved it!). I don't agree however that they should just walk away without any correction from the school because that's not fair to their rights. I think that victims of sexual assault who may have engaged in behavior deemed inappropriate should serve mandatory community service. There is a lot of research that suggests that doing service after traumatic events help sooth some of the awful side effects of rape. This way, the person is getting help to improve their well being and also they are sufficiently disciplined by the school. But I digress.
So looking at the big picture I would hope we all agree (in all fairness) that one side is worried that rape will increase (however valid the argument) and the other is worried about personal rights and the freedom to do whatever the EF you want, right (however valid the argument)?
However different the specifics are: THIS IS THE SAME ARGUMENT! and yet on one side conservatives are saying BYU does whatever they want and transgenders can't use bathrooms and with liberals it vice-versa! How ironic, right? BOOM! you had to read a small novel to get there, but doesn't that just seem ass-backwards to you?!? On both sides. I think it's time as human beings learn that while it is important to be passionate, we should never become so passionate that we can't be compassionate. *drops mic*