speak up.

Sorry if the picture deceived you. This post has nothing to do with these delicious homemade bagels, except that I think everyone should eat more bagels, and everyone should speak up more. So… here I am. Eating bagels and speaking up.

I grew up in a Christian home, I have always been thankful for that - protected from a lot of scary places and ideals in the world at a young age. It was a really comfortable bubble. Making decisions was easy, I was taught hard lines between what is right and what was wrong and that was just how it needed to be, no questions asked. 

As I got older that became extremely confusing especially around politics and world views. I was only taught one way, supposedly the only “right” way. So why was that not the only thing that made sense? 

For example, I was taught that no sin is greater than another. Sin is sin is sin. It’s all bad. It all needs forgiveness... 

So I was beyond confused at the amount of people from that “bubble” willing to support someone as president who had a clear track record filled with “sins,” who actively treated poorly - in public! “But he doesn’t believe in abortion,” was a very standard answer I heard from many, and at the time I didn’t know how to respond.... 

If no sin is greater than the other, why is this one “sin” (which btw could be avoided with proper health care, supporting women or those in low income, maybe ACTUALLY talking about sex or contraceptives - something everyone besides republicans are willing to work on) what we have to fight for when there is a multitude of wrong happening in our country and world (for example: systemic racism, climate change, wealth disparity, women’s rights). It’s as if none of that matters, as long as we stop women from having abortions. Why? Because abortion is the worst sin? Worse than keeping immigrants at the border in cages without rights, worse than hating our LGBTQ+ neighbors, worse than standing up for injustices due to systemic racism?

I get it. There aren’t a whole lot of options to choose from. A lot of politicians are corrupt. But if every sin is equal, could we try to vote for people with a plan to do the most good in every way? Someone who will fight to unite, to love the orphans and widows, to give back to the needy and broken, to repair generations of sexism and racism, who will act with kindness and mercy? And if you believe that is DJT then I can respect that.... I just have yet to see so myself.