You Are Just a Speck in a Universe of Turds

So, I got to thinking today while I was at work. Normally, I'm just thinking about how I want to blow my fucking brains out because I have to keep coming back to this horrible job, but today I thought about something else for about fifteen seconds.

I started thinking about how much of a jerk I can be and how I can really, really rub some people the wrong way. Then I started asking why that is. Might it be because I don't give a shit what anyone thinks of me? Could it possibly that I feel that if you can't take me as I am, then you aren't someone I would care to deal with? Or, maybe it's because my views on life, the universe and everything are set in stone and some people are uncomfortable with that?

For example, I'm an atheist on my better days and an agnostic on not so better days. That pretty much means that when I doubt my beliefs, then at most, I don't deny the existence of god, I merely say that I don't know one way or the other. That's something that seems to put some people off.

The Catcher in the Rye makes a good point about Catholics. Holden is talking about meeting a Catholic boy at some school he used to go to. They were talking and the kid asked Holden if he knew where the closest Catholic church was. That was the kids way of asking if Holden was Catholic or not. Anyway, Holden goes onto say that's what he hates about Catholics. They always want to know if you're Catholic because they would like you more. It's not that they'd like you less if you're not Catholic, but they would like you more if you were. Call me a moron, but it seems to be true... for the most part.

Now, are all Catholics like that? Of course not. But, it brings me to my point. People are always more comfortable talking to people who think just like they do. We all fall prey to it. From the music we like all the way to how we feel about global warming. If you're a liberal, then you like liberals more. Even if you're only talking about football, you'd enjoy talking to a liberal more than you would a conservative. Why is that?

Since I grow up in a pretty conservative area, I'm usually the person that people are uncomfortable with. I'm a bleeding heart liberal. It's simple. If there's a liberal stereotype, chances are I fit into it. But, I have found that people can tolerate that I'm for universal health care, for strict gun laws, for the seperation of church and state, for the right to choose, for higher taxes, for more social programs, etc... But, since I'm an atheist, I run into problems.

First of all, it's almost like being gay except I actually have a choice in the matter. But, like homosexuality, atheism is something that you have to keep in the closet or else you might be ostracized. It's kind of ridiculous, but it's how people are.

And that finally brings me to my final point. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of people actually caring about your beliefs. Does it really matter if you're pro-choice or pro-life? Does it really matter if you're liberal or conservative? Does it really matter if you're a devout Catholic or an atheist? Does it really matter if you like Pepsi or Coke?

Well, it does matter because Coke is shit. The rest don't matter though. What matters, other than liking Pepsi over Coke, is that your actions and not your beliefs dictate whether you are a good person or not. It's how you treat everyone around you that determines if you deserve to be treated well.

If a pro-life Catholic beats his wife, is he still a good person just because you're a pro-life Catholic? Is he better than a pro-choice atheist who volunteers at a homeless shelter? Of course not, but some pro-lifers wouldn't even listen to the pro-choice guy for the simple reason that the's pro-choice. It's retarded.

I'm a very opinionated person, but I can still get down with people who are diametrically opposed to everything I believe in, just as long as they know that our beliefs are just beliefs. Sure, there will be many disagreements about many issues, but people have to remember to seperate the issue from the individual. Luckily, I'm slowly learning that one myself. Sadly, it seems like I'm the only one. It's rather disconcerting. But, as 30footFALL once said in lyricform:

As long as you and me are here
we can change a little part of our world.
If we can't make it better
then at least we won't make it worse.

I think that's a nice little mantra to have. You are more than welcome to yours, but leave mine to me. If people could just agree to disagree, things would be much better. But, seriously, who would want that?