On the Corner of Taking a Stand
Moving into my current apartment apartment was an easy sell: it's across the street from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, down the street from a park, and a few blocks over from a strip of bars. Little did I know, we were moving into a hotbed of political debate.
Across the street, at the VMFA, apparently a long time ago they had a Confederate flag flying. Then they decided to take it down, you know, to stop offending people. Which is a good move (not that I'm biased here or anything). But not everyone thought it was a good idea.
These old white dudes now show up to protest the fact that the flag got taken down. It used to be just Saturday mornings, which irritated me based on principle, but didn't inconvenience me entirely. Then they started going every Thursday, and would be there after work. So not only are they flying a flag I don't particularly care to see, but now they're taking all the good parking spots at rush hour. Strike two.
But now, now they don't limit themselves to a routine. Sometimes they'll now show up on Tuesdays too. And sometimes Saturdays on the same week. I can't stand the fact that now they're waving a flag I don't like, taking my spots AND being unpredictable about it.
But wait, there's more.
You think one political debate raging in your front yard is enough? Nay.
Just across the street from the VMFA, so catty corner to my house, is another controversial site. I didn't know this until recently. Sure, I saw people out with signs outside of it, but I just assumed it was overflow of Confederate Flaggers. And sure, I saw people in neon vests, to which I just thought it was a group of runners collecting (that's a common thing in Richmond).
I recently found out it wasn't just overflow or runners collecting, but an abortion clinic. Those people in vests are allies to those who need an abortion. And the people with the signs are protesting abortions.
As I ran by one Saturday morning, passing both the flaggers and anti-abortionists, I just had to shake my head. These people care SO MUCH about what other people thing or do that they waste hours of their life every week spreading hate and controversy.
Where do I stand on this debate? Naturally, if I had to pick a team, I'd be with the guy who protests the flaggers (his name is Goad Gatsby and he's pretty much the wittiest protester ever). But if I really had to protest anywhere, I'd make my own little corner with a sign that says:
Mind your own damn business.
If people just stopped imposing their thoughts on other people, we'd all be SO MUCH HAPPIER! Do I support abortion? Yes, with the caveat that I would hope people try to not get pregnant other ways (birth control is free these days) and only save abortions for rape cases and other appropriate times. However, I don't think anyone can deem "appropriate" for anyone else as it's not a black-and-white issue, so I'm pro-choice. If a woman can look herself in the mirror at the end of the day, then that's what matters.
If we just stopped caring what other people people were doing with their own bodies and beliefs, life would be so much more pleasant. Flaggers, please go home and fly your Confederate flag in the comfort of your own home and stop imposing it on people who really don't care to see it. And anti-abortionists, go home. We're not asking you personally to abort anyone out of your own body. Please, everyone just go home. You're annoying me while in mine.