It's all so black and white.

We judge one another as though we have the right to. But we have no rights. We segregate, we prejudice, as if there's no harm. We stand forth blinded in our stubborn ways, never truly accepting things we don’t understand or ‘agree’ with. We laugh and we joke, but it’s not funny. We go about our lives as if we have these rights to put others down. It’s unnatural you say. It’s not normal you claim. But whatever your thoughts, do these people truly deserve to be punished for nature’s paths? You disown those that do not match your ‘normal’ criteria. You push away people with your remarks. You push people to the edge just because they do not meet your criteria. Just because a person may be different to you, it doesn’t make them less of a person. They still have feelings and thoughts, like you and I. And those feelings deserve to be respected, not crushed.

I’m not a saint but I am a firm believer in equality. I believe that people should treat others with the greatest of respect, male or female, black or white, homosexual or heterosexual, atheist or theist, the list is endless. Just because another person doesn’t fit your criteria doesn’t mean they deserve to be bullied or segregated, doesn’t mean they deserve punishment. I’m a white, heterosexual, female. Throughout my 20 years on this earth, I am fortunate enough to say that I haven’t been bullied. Name-calling may have occurred along the way, but what human makes it through their school years without one unkind comment or name. However I’m sure if I belonged to a minority group then my path wouldn’t have been so simple. People get interrogated because of their sexuality, because it’s not classed as ‘normal’ or because ‘we were made to reproduce and it goes against the laws of nature’. People get called names because of their skin colour. People get stared at in this street because they’re transgender. People treat others differently because of their mental health. Who stops to think about these people? No one. No one thinks about the endless sleepless nights they put themselves through because at school they were told they weren’t ‘normal’. No one thinks about the marks on their wrists because they’re slowly starting to hate every inch of themselves. They’re desperately trying to be ‘normal’. But every day they try, every day they pretend they’re something they’re not, they’re a step closer to breaking. All it takes is an understanding, sympathetic individual to save a life. We don’t need to segregate ourselves. We gain nothing from being unkind, but gain everything from being kind. At first you may find it difficult, and that’s okay. But remember why you’re doing it. No person deserves to feel pain for something out of his or her control. No tears should be cried. No bodies should be harmed. Mentally or physically. We all deserve an equal place on this earth and that means an equal journey. Life can be difficult at the best of times; so don’t make it anymore difficult then it has to be. Respect and love. Give and appreciate. And always remember that you’re no less or no more than the next person.