Protecting our children

 

This post is really not about Delta the guinea pig. This is merely a photo that will show up on the FB link because it always takes the top picture. Plus, who doesn't love a cute little guinea pig? I put this photo here because while I'm going to write about the next photo, I don't want it showing up where it can be seen far and wide. You'll understand why in a minute... or you'll understand immediately. It all depends on a variety of factors. 

So let's talk about this for a moment, shall we?

I've now seen this in several places today. The first time I kind of scrolled on by, but as I paid more attention, I became more upset by it, and here we are.

I'll begin with a connected comment. I understand the desire behind this (sort of). Parents want to protect their children believing that there are things children should not have to deal with until they are older. I understand the concept in the abstract; in the personal, I find it much more difficult maintain a cool and collected outlook.

And I, too, believe that there are things that children shouldn't have to deal with at a young age. Children shouldn't have to practice active shooter drills because there is the possibility that someone could enter their school or grocery store or place of worship and try to kill them with an automatic weapon. Children should not have to have derogatory racial epithets explained to them because the neighbor child used one. Children should not have to evacuate their homes because their country has been attacked. Children should not be separated from parents and care givers at the border because someone has deemed them illegal. These are all really atrocious things that I wish a child never had to deal with or even have to know about in their young life. The fact is that gay and transgender people exist and have value is not one of these things. It doesn't even come close. 

As a parent of children who are transgender and/or gay, let me tell you how this little meme of yours makes me feel. Like shit. I actually can't describe it in nicer terms precisely because it is not nice. Even if you share this saying that you still love everyone, I don't believe you because actually, you don't. Here is what I hear. Your precious children need to be protected from my precious children. That somehow my precious children are some sort of danger to yours. It almost feels as though you think that my children could infect your children with some sort of heinous disease. And I certainly hear an absolutely heaping load of shame and guilt being sent my way as a parent because surely if I had protected my children appropriately, then we wouldn't be in this (assumed) mess. Admit it, you deep down think that parents of gay children were somehow remiss in their parenting duties in order for this to happen. Believe me, I've heard sometimes outright but more often around the edges that having gay children is some sort of punishment for not doing... something. I'm still not quite sure what. But I hear the accusations underneath the sideways comments. 

I love that someone made this.

This is far closer to the truth. The world is not a nice or safe place if you do not fit in. The world often screams that there is something wrong with you. Because of this, I actually feel the need to protect my precious children from anyone who thinks it is okay to share that first meme. While your children merely run the risk of having their viewpoints broadened, my children are actually physically at risk from people such as those arrested heading to the Pride Festival in Idaho. These levels of risk hardly compare. 

I'm just going to leave it at that tonight, otherwise I may start swearing again. There's a whole lot of theology and science I could share, but I'm not. Because if someone can't even understand that sharing the first meme is horribly hurtful, then they are not going to listen to scientific facts. 

And even having written all of this out, I'm still outrageously angry about the whole thing.