I’m just going to come out and say it: I’m a mommy blogger. And if that makes my opinion any less valid to you, that’s okay with me. But, in this case, the research I do on parenting gives me an edge. Part of “knowing my audience” is getting to know other moms and dads from all walks of life. And what better place to do that than the Internet?
The mommy boards are a place where I do the majority of my research (and, okay, you caught me: sometimes I enjoy my time there). More often than not, the moms of the Internet are helpful, friendly, and genuine. However, thanks to the anonymity of the Internet, there are many, many women who say things online they would never say in person. And it’s these things that bother me. It’s these things that keep me up at night. It’s these things that make me wonder how my son will ever make sense of the world. These things are horrendous. And, whether the mom behind the screen would say these things in real life or not, these feelings are real.
Aside from the fact that this poster has difficulty typing “in english”, it is clear that this mother has some pretty strong views about the Spanish speaking people who inhabit the United States of America. Is it fair to say this lady also thinks all Spanish speaking people are Mexican? Yes, ignorant, uneducated opinions about U.S. immigrants still exist, and these ideas will continue to perpetuate. Because there are adults who share these ideas with even the youngest of family members.
Apparently, lots of moms agree with the Phil Robertson view of the world. Not only is it incredibly uncool to be a hater, it’s also excessively rude. Yes, the “bible” was written *thousands of years ago, and, since then, we’ve discovered that the world is not flat, women are not property, and a whole host of other things. Also: science. Yes, people are born gay. And, no, I won’t tolerate people who think this is a matter of opinion. Or religion. It’s not. It’s a matter of fact.
I don’t want my son to grow up in a world where these things are issues. I want my son to grow up in a world of problem solvers. A world where people work together. A world where science is respected. A world where education is valued. A world without hate. And I understand that’s a fantasy; there’s no escaping ignorance. But, maybe (just maybe) I can keep his world honest before letting him out into the scary, rude reality that adults can never escape.
“Imagine all the people living life in peace.” — John Lennon
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