Ignorance

I recently was a part of the wedding of one of my dearest friends, who just so happens to be a part of the Church of Latter Day Saints. It was a great and beautiful experience. I was reminded however, while I was there, that Katie and I haven't gotten to talk much over the last few years (she moved to VA) and I need a refresher course on her faith. It is not that I forget what she told me before, its that I am not fully aware of the portions of her faith that apply more to her now than before, like marriage and endowment. I could just wikipedia it, which I did somewhat, but I feel that I am cheating myself, as well as Katie, by doing so. For something so intrinsic to her soul, I really need to learn how she believes and not what everyone else thinks she believes.
For some religions I may or may not feel okay just doing a little research online, but, as I have learned, Mormons are very often prejudiced against and therefore, whatever I find online may be skewed. Also, a lot of the prejudice against them is merely from ignorance. There have been multiple times that I have read something somewhere about the Church of Latter Day Saints that is clearly written as a reason you should stay away from Mormons and it has been completely false. This is one of the things I hate most about the world. People go through life ignorant, but act as though they know whats going on. I admit that I am ignorant of a lot of things...but that's it right there, I admit it. I do not like to give opinions on things I do not know anything about. I think its ridiculous. I also try not to judge people, especially not until I know the whole story behind why they are the way they are. I think the world would be a much better place if everyone did this.
For example, in one of my classes last semester, we read Norman Mailer's The Executioner's Song. The novel is a new journalistic approach to the story of Gary Gilmore, the first man to be put to death once capital punishment was reinstated. Anyway, my teacher led a discussion over whether Mailer completely degraded (though thats not the word I'm looking for) the Mormon victim's of Gilmore because she said they seemed cookie cutter and flat. This was based on the fact that their idea of fun was throwing cream pies at each other, that they went to Disneyland for their honeymoon, and other such things. I guess for people who do not know or understand Mormons, it may seem a little bit ridiculous that the reader is to believe that there are adults that are truly like this in life.
One girl in my class spoke up and said that if you knew any Mormons, which she did, that they were just happy people and that through their beliefs of purity and what not, this is truly how they are. No one seemed to listen to her. I still feel bad that I did not speak up. I completely agree. This is not meant to degrade anyone either. The Mormons I know are some of the best people I have ever met. Sure, they don't go out drinking, sleep around, watch R rated movies, or even drink coffee, like all of the "cool people," but I find that endearing. They know what they believe. They know how to live their lives the way they feel they should, and they do exactly that. If anything I am jealous of their abilities to live life like that. I do not choose to live my life entirely like they do, I do curse, watch R rated movies etc., but I am completely okay that they do. I respect them wholeheartedly.
Granted, some people might judge me because I do live my life rather reserved, as in I don't drink or party or any of that. Oh well. I think the biggest problem along with ignorance is that people assume that since someone does not do the same things they do, then they obviously must be judging them and assuming they are going to hell. The world is not black and white. The absence of love is not necessarily hate. There is a wide spectrum of feelings between the two extremes.
The point is, I know that it is probably impossible, but I just wish people would be a little bit more knowledgeable and respectful of everyone else. No one can go through this life alone. You need people if you want to survive. Its stupid to hate, you're only bringing yourself down. Trust and embrace the people you meet in life. Don't hate them because they are not just like you. Love them because they are different.

cheers

Happy New Year!

So,

I'm here watching my fiancé put together the bookcase my dad gave me for Christmas. In case you're wondering why I'm not helping, he won't let me. New Years Eve was fun, but rather dangerous. Thomas caught his hair on fire and got hit by a firework. I got temporarily deafened by an artillery shell that blew up on the ground rather than in the air like it is supposed to. Several other mishaps with explosives occurred, but I do not feel like listing them. I would have pictures, but alas, I only just found my camera battery charger. I therefore have no pictures of Christmas, the after Christmas visit to VA/D.C., or anything else. Oh well, besides the loss of memory inducing pictures for when I get old, it was probably good for me. I was forced to experience things directly rather than at one remove through the camera lense/as events than merely existed to be photographed. The only picture I have of the holidays actually, is one that I drew of Thomas/the fiancé. More to write later. I better go see if he'll let me help now.

Cheers!