Apparently I'm not done talking about this issue--probably because people aren't done looking for ways to be offended. I'll keep this post much shorter.
Did you know that when someone compliments another person for doing something that you don't need to do, that doesn't mean they're insulting you? Really, it doesn't. Let's talk about Kate Middleton and her post-pregnancy belly. On second thought, I'll just let you read this post from the Huffington Post. Essentially, Kate Middleton still looks pregnant because, well, she just barely had a baby. But this post refutes any criticism of her appearance by praising her for focusing on her baby and not worrying so much about her looks. While most of the comments I read on this article praised Kate Middleton for this, one commenter accused the author of slighting those women who don't have to worry so much about the weight issue after pregnancy and are able to spend time on their appearance.
Really? She's marginalizing all of the skinny women by merely praising someone for not obsessing over being skinny? By that logic, the following statements are all slights to someone:
1. Money Can't Buy Happiness. - This insults people who have a lot of money.
2. The Celtics are a great team. They've won 17 NBA titles! - Are you saying the other 29 teams are not great because they haven't won 17 NBA titles?
3. Motherhood is very fulfilling. - I guess all childless people must feel empty.
4. I love Denmark! It's the happiest place on Earth! - So the U.S. is just a miserable place to live?
5. You look really nice today. - So you're saying I don't look nice any other day?
While I'm thinking about it, read this post from my friend if you haven't already. She talks about why she as a millennial is in fact staying with her faith instead of leaving it. The post has gone viral, but some people took it as a slight when she said that one aspect she likes about our faith is that it has unpaid clergy. For the record, such an element is merely one indicator of a clergy member's sincerity in his/her service. That doesn't mean other indicators of sincerity can't exist as well.
I also added that link because it's a brilliant post. Obviously it's on a different topic, but since I already posted the link to support my point, you might as well read it.
Anyway, I feel strongly about this, particularly because when you find offense in someone else's moment in the sun, you're making it all about you.
Very well said. My question is, why are people spending so much time being offended and less time enjoying life?
ReplyDeleteThanks, friend! These days it's so much easier to just call people out for wasting their lives away than to explain why they shouldn't take offense.
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