Equal Rights

So what makes it "equal  rights" if you can say there is no god, or if you can pray to a different god, but other's can't talk about their faith in God?

What makes it "equal rights" if you can tell your beliefs on sexuality and others can't, if their beliefs differ from yours? 

What makes it "equal rights" if you can wear a tee shirt to honor something you believe in and others can't, unless they agree with you? 

What makes it "equal rights" for you to put a prayer rug in a public place and pray but a Christian can not pray publicly?

What makes it "equal rights" if you choose not to pray and others not have that choice?

If we are "only" allowed freedom to "not pray", but not "to pray", it is no freedom at all. 

Our soldiers are not only defending your right of freedom they are also defending their own rights, and ours. 

You say you are fighting for freedom of speech, but instead you are fighting to silence any opposing speech to your cause. 

You say you are fighting for equal rights, but in fact you are fighting to make your ideas and ideals supreme. 

We can disagree but still be friends

 I believe that everyone should be a Christian and I would love to point the way to you. If I could convince you of God's love for you, even while you oppose Him, you would follow Him. 

As much as I would like to lead you to Jesus, if you don't want to know Him, that is your right. As much as I would like to convince you that receiving Christ's love, His forgiveness and His Spirit into your heart is the better way, I won't demonstrate or I won't take you to court, if you don't. That is your choice, and is between you and God alone. That is what makes "equal rights". 

"Equal rights" says you can wear a tee shirt to honor what you believe in. "Equal rights" says I can do the same. Our views may be opposing but our honor and respect of each other can remain solid. 

"Freedom of speech" says you can tell me what you believe, and "freedom of speech" says I can tell you what I believe and why I oppose your beliefs. But that doesn't make us enemies. 

"Equal rights" says you can lay your prayer rug in a public place. "Equal rights" says you don't have to pray if you don't want to. And "equal rights" says I can kneel, lift my hands or bow my head to talk to God. 

When we were children I remember having friends who wanted me to choose my friend. They would say, "Are you going to be her friend or mine?" I didn't  have to make a choice. I was a friend of both. 

So often today people want us to make a choice, "If you say "so and so" you can be my friend." "If you do "so and so" you can join my club. If you believe "so and so" then you can have  freedom of speech. If you do "so and so" you can have equal rights. That is not freedom of speech or equal rights. It is manipulation to impose their beliefs or lack of beliefs on others and to push their own agendas. 

You and I can discuss our beliefs, if you hear why I believe what I do, and I hear your views we may walk away with neither changing our beliefs. But we can walk away with love and respect in our hearts for the other. 

Giving hate speeches or bad mouthing each other settles nothing. It doesn't cause me to believe like you nor you to believe like me. Instead the bad-mouthing each other, the name calling, the anger and hatred solve nothing. Love and respect are the only doors to working through our differences. 

I may not respect your ideas but I can respect you and your right to those ideas. I hope you do the same for me.