Today
I'm going to address the misconceptions that I battle just about
every day of my life. I'm an odd duck, I admit it. I cover my head.
I juggle numerous physical and mental health issues. I'm wired
differently and have some places in my brain that just don't “click”
like everyone else's. That combination of stuff leads to a lot of
misconceptions.
Here
are just a few of the misconceptions people have had about me. Yes,
people are really this ridiculous:
Myth:
I struggle with depression, anxiety, and PTSD because G-d wanted to
punish me
Fact: I struggle with all of the above because genetics and environment can suck, and because people have the unfortunate capacity to make choices that screw up other people for life
Myth: Since I cover my head, I must be rigid about gender roles
Fact: yeah, no. Not really. Quite the opposite, actually. (There are so many misconceptions about head covering. I really need to do a separate post about this.)
Myth: Since I am white and have a middle class background, I don't have any problems.
Fact: Ha. Yeah. Right.
Fact: I struggle with all of the above because genetics and environment can suck, and because people have the unfortunate capacity to make choices that screw up other people for life
Myth: Since I cover my head, I must be rigid about gender roles
Fact: yeah, no. Not really. Quite the opposite, actually. (There are so many misconceptions about head covering. I really need to do a separate post about this.)
Myth: Since I am white and have a middle class background, I don't have any problems.
Fact: Ha. Yeah. Right.
Myth:
People with learning disabilities just don't think.
Fact:
Have you ever been inside my head? I can't shut the darn thing off!
Please let me know if you find the off switch so I can catch a
break!
Myth:
Since I'm a Christian, I'm “anti-gay.”
Fact:
Based on my intepretation of Scripture, I cannot accept same-sex
attraction as “natural” and therefore do not identify as a “GLBT
ally”. However, if your definition of “anti-gay” is turning
all Westboro Baptist Church on people who are GLBT, I am not
anti-gay, and I most certainly do not condone hate crimes of any
kind. I have lost a lot of Christian friends and received some
horribly vicious emails due to this radical notion that we are all
human beings, and that none of us are a be-all, end-all authority on
something as complicated as sexuality.
Myth:
Since I'm a Christian, I want all my beliefs to be enforced by the
state and national government.
Fact:
I've never thought that, and I think it even less so after watching
“Persepolis.”
What
about you? What are some misconceptions you battle with?
