Nothing, that’s what. If you truly cared about freedom, you’d be in favor of gay marriage. If you’re opposed to gay marriage, you’re a bigot and a fool. End of story. There is no explanation that you can give that explains your position, because your position is indefensible. As for Virginia’s new governor, maybe some folks who voted for him didn’t really understand his positions on the issues. Well, here’s one little tidbit: he doesn’t think women should work outside the home. Yeah, you heard me. The wimmenz should be taking care of the kiddies and darning socks and cooking dinner for the menfolk. No, I’m not kidding. This guy truly thinks this way. And a majority of Virginia voters elected him.

This is part of why I’m here. Our world doesn’t work the way it should. Sometimes I get sad and have nothing else I can do except express my anger, my disappointment, and my confusion. I truly don’t understand why some people have so much fear of others. Why? Maybe someday I’ll get an answer that makes sense, but I doubt it. The answer is ignorance, wrapped up in religious dogma. And that makes me want to cry. But instead of crying, I’m going to just say it: opposing gay marriage is ignorant hatred. Voting for conservatives is ignorant hatred. And I’m so, so tired of all the ignorant hatred. It’s never going to go away, and that makes me feel hopeless.

The first part of that equation doesn’t trouble me; if your faith helps you, have at it. It’s great that you’ve got a system that makes you feel better. It’s the second part that I find troubling. I saw this sentiment expressed a lot: “God only gives me what I can handle.” Or this one: “This illness is part of God’s plan for me.” That sentiment just doesn’t work for me. I find it creepy and troubling to think that there’s an omnipotent being out there who gave me this illness. Why would he do that? It’s rather assholish of him, isn’t it? I’m not willing to accept that this is the plan, sent down from on high with holy fingerprints all over it. It seems much more likely to me that genetics and bad luck are to blame for my chronic condition.

So that’s why I’m here. I’d like to talk about chronic illness with other people who won’t invoke the Celestial Overlord when discussing MS or other conditions. Pain has made me less patient than I used to be, and I just can’t handle any more talk about how Jesus will save me. Let’s talk about science, and treatments, and disability, and medications. These things are real, they are important, and they affect our well-being. Let’s talk reality.