I’m Starting a Movement Called, “That’s Cool”

I was reading a writing piece just a bit ago that was submitted to Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Blogs. It was written by one of my favorite BBB staff writers and Medium friends, Sam.

She was talking about the topic of coming to the realization that she is asexual. And how it was difficult for some people to seemingly accept. But Sam is a strong person and knows who she is and what’s right for her. I have a hell of a lot of respect for people who know this about themselves.

Check out her wonderful article here, if you have a few minutes. It’s a great read and I’d love for you all to support Sam:

https://medium.com/bouncin-and-behavin-blogs/pulling-the-ace-card-out-of-the-deck-a163fc3a990d

I can relate to this on a personal level. I have a daughter who is asexual. It would never occur to me to try to talk her out of that or pretend to think I knew what is right for her. It’s HER life and she’s the one living it. I support her, Sam, and everyone else 100%.

It seems like when it comes to people’s personal choices these days, we either tend to agree with them wholeheartedly or we take it as a personal attack if their views and beliefs conflict with ours. This is really ignorant and wrong.

I’m tired of it. I’m fed up with the nonsense, the drama, and the fighting. Most of which seem to occur online rather than face-to-face. I’m not getting into it with people anymore and wasting my time arguing.

I’m going to start saying this simple phrase about most things:

“That’s cool.”

I’m already what most people would consider to be a very accepting person. I don’t have the restraints and bondage of organized religion shackling me down and making me a judgmental, unaccepting person. I am happy to know and befriend all people regardless of their religion or personal beliefs.

Even if you’re atheist, agnostic, or a devil worshipper, I don’t give a fuck. I probably lean closer to atheist or agnostic beliefs than anything else. I also admire my Bride’s Buddhist beliefs. I like the idea of having multiple lives if I’m being honest.

Politics is another area of life in which most people have difficulty being accepting of others. When your political beliefs are the polar opposite of each other, it can be difficult to get along.

This is especially true when one party’s beliefs tend to take away rights from women, LGBTQ citizens, and persecute people of foreign origin or non-believers in Christianity. This leads me to my next point.

I am very much fine with saying, “That’s cool” about your differing beliefs and practices. Unless they are straight-up racist and bigoted, and negatively affect the people I love and care about.

Then it’s NOT cool.

And you’ll hear me say that. I will always stand up for equality for all. I’m not going to say “That’s cool” when your racist or bigoted beliefs take rights away from others. When you attempt to force your religious or political beliefs on others, that’s when it’s NOT cool.

I will fight you until the end if you try to infringe on others. So don’t.

If you want people to be accepting of your beliefs and leave you the hell alone, then you have to give that in return. You cannot expect everyone in your family, your state, and your nation to allow you to be a racist or bigoted asshole and expect respect back from those people.

It will never happen. We are not going to allow your religious or political beliefs to force us into being second-class citizens. You do not get to elevate yourselves above others because you think that your god wills it or your 2000-year-old holy book tells you so. So just stop.

We will be accepting of your beliefs and give you the respect you desire if you do the same for others. The second you become hypocritical in your beliefs, we will push back. The “That’s cool” movement will cease to exist for you if you cannot give the same respect you seem to demand.

So let’s work on this together. Think it over and remember how you would feel if we pushed our liberal, caring beliefs onto you. We cannot force you to care about others.

Honestly, I wouldn’t want to force anything on anyone. If it’s not within your human nature to be a good neighbor to all, I sure as shit don’t want to be the person who has to force you to do so.

I have too many things going on in my life to have to be your educator and babysitter. I’m trying to enjoy life with my Bride and kids, my extended family and friends, all while trying to build a writing career and navigate my Writer’s Journey during this thing called life.

I’m 48 years old and I’m not going to waste the time I have left arguing online about this, that, and the other thing. I want to spend my time loving my family, friends, and others who stand for good things.

I want to make progress daily on my Writer’s Journey. I want people to know that whatever they’re into, whoever they identify as, and whatever idea they have or god they worship, it’s cool by me.

As long as it makes you happy and you are a better person because of it, that’s cool. I support whatever and whoever you want to be. You’ve got a friend in me.

Now go do the same for somebody else. The world is a tough goddamn place to live in. Let’s make it easier for others by having good manners, respect, and love for all of the people who really deserve it. &:^)