My Sunday Thought for 102917: On Transgender Acceptance

Navy seaman charged with capital murder in death of transgender woman:  Navy seaman, "Dwanya Hickerson, 20, of New Orleans, was arrested Monday, July 25, 2016, on a charge of capital murder in the killing of Dee Whigham of Shubuta." -- Sun Herald article

(Note to the reader:  Please visit the Sun Herald news link, above, as it gives some context for this post.  It deals with human shortcomings, like judgement, honesty, fear, understanding, and acceptance.  I think you will find that these are traits which both the victim and the accused struggled with, each in their own way.) 


I don't see racism as a serious issue in this country nowadays.  Does it exist?  Yes, and I think that's primarily due to certain perpetually offended minorities refusing to let go of their own hatred and educating themselves as to the real reasons for their plight.  It is also fueled by clueless, ignorant white trash, like CNBC financial contributor, Marc Faber, who recently penned that the "U.S. is great primarily because it is ruled by white people."  It's a good thing he's a Swiss investor based in Thailand; let the Thai government deal with his bigotry.  Needless to say he is resigning from his position as director on several company boards and being dropped by everyone else as a contributor or guest.  Mr. Faber is becoming rapidly familiar with my favorite saying, "You just can't cure stupid," and we can all see that being 71years of age doesn't necessarily endow you with intelligence or good sense. 

Racism would seem to be a two-way street, and one is left to wonder if reverse racism isn't the more insidious of the two.  What we are left with, in the aftermath of these destructive attitudes is just simple acceptance.  But, it is hard to be accepted when all you want to do is whine, complain, and be perpetually offended.  So, what happens when someone wanting acceptance isn't open and honest, with those around them, about their little secrets?  For instance, what if they're transgender?

“To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.”

-- Elizabeth Gilbert

Homosexuals stayed in the closet as a way of hiding who and what they were.  Homosexuality is finally finding voice and a place in our society, after years of non-acceptance and ridicule, and they still have a good distance to travel.  So, who's in the closet now?  It would seem transgender is the new taboo for "normal" society, and acceptance might be a harder battle to win than that of simply being gay.  This would seem fairly easy to understand when you consider someone hiding their transgender from a prospective lover or mate.  When it comes to love, acceptance is always easier when one is upfront and honest.  The relationship may go south because of the revelation, but at least there might be respect, and perhaps even acceptance, simply due to the honesty.

The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.

-- Nathaniel Branden

There can be no acceptance if there is no understanding, and there can be no understanding without open, honest, discussion. However, one would hope for better transgender role models than, and I'm being kind in my description, publicity "seekers" like Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner and Chelsea Manning. I suppose I'm just old school. I try not to judge, but as a human and a patriotic American it becomes difficult not to judge when important news of the day consists of the hyped drama surrounding family Kardashian, and transgender traitors to our country leaking classified information, mistakenly thinking they do it for the greater good while breaking their oath of loyalty and putting people in harm's way by their actions. Being transgender has little to do with the fact the Kardashians are boring and Manning is a traitor.  The family Kardashian need to get over themselves, if that's even possible, and traitors to our country need to be prosecuted and given the harshest sentence possible for their crimes, transgender or not.

It is much easier to accept someone if they aren't a publicity whore.  There, I said it.  Personally, I don't care if someone is gay or transgender, black or Islamic, a refugee or an immigrant. I do care if you can't shut up about yourself, break our laws, don't work hard to support this country, disrespect the flag and the Constitution, and/or are perpetually offended about every little fricking thing.  The perpetually offended offend me to no end, primarily because they just won't shut up about it.  They tend to wear their cause célèbres as an obvious chip on their shoulder, just daring the unwary to knock it off and ignite the pent up firestorm of derision against the hapless sap.

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

-- Lao Tzu

Do you want to be accepted in this country?  Don't be a divisive asshole.  If you wish to be accepted, be acceptant, or at least be tolerant.  Be a person of ethical good character, be honest, work hard and, above all, try to get along with everyone.  Just because Congress can't seem to do any of it, is no excuse for the rest of us to follow suit; can't we be better than this?  Maybe, if we started be more acceptant of each other's diversity, our leaders might get the message and remember they work for all of us, not just the squeaky wheels.  Hell, they might even remember they were voted in to actually accomplish something. 

Some people confuse acceptance with apathy, but there's all the difference in the world. Apathy fails to distinguish between what can and what cannot be helped; acceptance makes that distinction. Apathy paralyzes the will-to-action; acceptance frees it by relieving it of impossible burdens.

-- Arthur Gordon

Who and what you are is of so much less importance, especially in today's troubled world, than good ethical character and how you treat your fellow human beings.  As Christians, and other people of "good" faith, we should try practicing what we preach, especially when it comes to judgement of our fellows.  Simply because of the color of my skin, I am a target for perpetually offended minorities who don't even know me.  Their excuse would be that now I know how it feels.  My question to them is, "Why punish people for something they never did?"  Punishment without reason, without cause, is a breeding ground for apathy of opinion; the wrongly punished become numb to the plight of the offended.  It is easy to join the ranks of the League of the Perpetually Offended; it is a much tougher test, of one's good ethical character, to not belong.

We all need to practice acceptance and, failing that, tolerance.  Tolerance at least opens the door for communication and, through open and honest communication, the possibility for understanding.

“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.”

-- Lao Tzu

Editor's Note 

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.