Saturday 29 June 2013

What Happened to Decency?

Where did all the decent people go? What has gone so wrong in society that common decency has gone out the window? Common sense, respect for others and their feelings seems to have disappeared right along with it.


Back in the not too distant past, people had respect for each other. People actually cared about their neighbors and co-workers, friends and family. Now it seems that political correctness has destroyed peoples values and standards.





We all share different opinion in life and people’s opinions should be respected. But there should be limits to what we tolerate or find acceptable. It seems as though we are supposed to condone other’s behaviour no matter how awful or inconsiderate it is.

When did it become acceptable to tolerate words and actions that are reprehensible? Especially some actions violate the rights of others and basic human rights or laws. Why is it okay to condone bad behaviour when the person is a member of a minority group? These same deeds would not be acceptable in a mainstream society. There should always be standards of conduct and dress that should not be tampered with.





Many people will say that it is not important how one dresses or speaks to others. Apparently it what is in your heart is the only thing that should matter. This might be true, but don’t get caught up believing that how a person appears on the outside is a direct expression of who they are. What about a person who goes to church dressed up in a skimpy crop top and shorty shorts? This shows disrespect to not only God, but the church and what it stands for and other patrons who worship in that church. Go back thirty years and you will remember that attending church meant dressing in your nicest dress or your best suit.

People walk around in public dressed in skimpy clothing that show off their tattoos, and it would seem that they dress this way in defiance of people who look at them. Or perhaps it is all about gaining attention because they look different to most average people. To dress like this in church is outrageous and completely unacceptable, yet we are supposed to put up and shut up so that individual people can freely express themselves.





Another group of minority people seems to have it backwards too. When gay members march for Pride or are apart of Gay Festivals, why is it that they have to dress so inappropriately. While it’s certainly a wonderful thing that gay people get to celebrate their rights in the community, do they really need to parade around the streets in thongs and other skimpy garments. How do you explain this to your children? Straight people certainly do not do this. While most of us are very accepting of gay rights and the like, the problem is having it rammed down our throats. We have come a long way in terms of people accepting that some people have different sexual preferences and this is a good thing. And when it comes to celebrating these victories, it would be nice to see these celebrations without all the half naked people and outrageous behaviour.



Gay and Lesbian Festival - Flickr.com


The older generations, and baby boomers in society would be mortified to be asked about their sex lives. It is nobody’s business what a couple do in the privacy of their own bedroom. It is also no-ones business what you do in your bedroom. Keeping that part of your life private seems decent to me. We have become to free and easy as a society and it’s ruining people.

Have we become that lazy in society that we don’t care about dressing decently, so as not to offend certain people? Do people not have a positive opinion of themselves and because of this they no longer care what other’s think of them? What people think of you is important, no matter what you’ve been told, however worrying about what people think can get out of control. Have we gotten to a point where we just don’t have opinions anymore? Perhaps because we have been brainwashed by society to not care what others think and to not be judgmental, because those things are bad.






Do we not see that society is falling apart? How can we teach our children right from wrong if they are subjected to behaviour that says otherwise? Our kids will grow up without any moral high ground, no standards to live up to or solid values to hold onto. The hope is that the parents of today are onto what society teaches our kids and that parents do their best to instill decency in their children. It is clear to many of us, that society is not going to go back to the good old days anytime soon.


Original Article on Triond



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To read more of Janelle Coulton's articles go to Community Pages at Suite 101 



Copyright © 2013 Janelle Coulton

Marriage Equality - It Is Time To Make It Legal


Recently news came from New Zealand that same sex marriage has been legalized. Many same sex marriage supporters feel it's high time Australia got on board with this too.







It is looking like marriage equality is on the table for discussion again. A few days ago in Australia, citizens saw a change of leadership come down and Ms Julia Gillard outed as the Prime Minister. It was an event that Australians knew was always going to take place at some stage, because in 2010; right before the election Ms Gillard did the same thing to Mr Rudd who was Prime Minister at the time. Politicians in this country have always played the back-stabbing game. 

The good thing to come out of this is the possibility that this arguing back and forth about same sex marriage and the legalization of it may come to an end. Many Australian are sick of it and the lesbian and gay communities are more than fed up. With the news coming from across the Tasman sea regarding New Zealand giving same sex couples the right to marry has been seen as hopeful for the many supporters of this legislation. 

Mr Rudds sudden revelation that he wants to discuss same sex marriage rights could very well be a political stunt and a way to bribe voter in September to vote labour. Ms Gillard refused to consider legalisation of same sex marriage, which surprised many, as her partner's daughter Staci supports gay marriage. With Ms Gillard out of the top job, Mr Rudd has the chance to make many same sex couples in Australia very happy. The general consensus is that Mr Rudd needs to make a decision and get his people on board with this. What the public are annoyed with is constantly arguing and debating this is a total waste time. It is clear to everyone in this country that change will come. Several states in the US have legalised same sex marriage and others are planning to follow suit. New Zealand, who are one of our closest neighbors have passed this legislation. Why are the government stalling on an issue that is going to happen one day anyway?

If the opposition leader; Tony Abbott wins the election, he will not support the marriage equality bill. Voters have been aware of this for a while. Tony Abbott's two grown daughters are strongly supportive of marriage equality, however their father will not budge on the issue. Tony Abbott is not a stupid man, he's actually very smart and he must know that the legalization of same sex marriage is going to happen one day. He only has to pay attention to what other Governments all over the world are doing. Tony Abbott also does not need to consider the legislation at this time. In many political journalists' opinions' Australian citizens are far more concerned with the economy than same sex marriage. 

Voters know that Tony Abbott's main concern is getting Australia out of debt, which is what most Australians want. Ms Gillard and Mr Rudd have put Australia into billions of dollars worth of debt because this is what the Labour party do. Tony Abbot and the Liberal/National party will get Australia back in the black. This is what has always happened and this is probably why Tony Abbott will be Prime Minister in September. If Kevin Rudd could get off his backside and show that he is supporting same sex marriage rights and really fight for this legislation to go through, then he may have a chance of winning the election. 

Supporters of marriage equality are sick and tired of all the back and forth, especially when it's clear to everyone that passing this legislation is inevitable. It will happen one day. No one can say when or give a definitive time frame, but it will happen. Washington State recently legalised same sex marriage, so didi Canada and recently New Zealand jumped on the band wagon. Why delay this any longer? Australia should just make it happen.





Most voters cannot stand stand political stunts, however the lesbian and gay communities are kind of hoping that this one works. As much as they may not want another three years of a Labour Government, they want marriage equality even more and voting for Tony Abbott essentially means this arguing and debating will go on and on. This is about human rights and same sex couples should get the same rights as heterosexual couples. Love is love in whatever form it comes. 

The other hypocritical decision our wonderful Government made years ago was; if a same sex couple live together in a common law relationship, in the eyes of Centrelink, (which what Australia's Department of Social Security call themselves) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO); they are treated like a couple. So if one or both partners are receiving Centrelink benefits, those benefits are adjusted and paid to the couple, not the two individuals living in under the same roof.  When a same sex couple lodge their tax return, they are treated as a married couple for taxation purposes. When a same sex relationship ends, providing the couple have lived together for over two years; if a property settlement is necessary or their are children and custody issue, the couple are allowed to file in the Family Court in the same way a heterosexual couple would. It would seem the next step would be to let these couples legally marry, but no; that is not allowed. Seems very hypocritical to have these laws and not give same sex couple the right to marry.




City Hall somewhere in California, the day same sex marriage was legalised


So it would seem as though supporters of marriage equality have a long wait, especially if Tony Abbott wins the election. Perhaps his daughters and his gay sister can convince him to re-think his stance on this issue. 


Update: On the 29 June 2013; Kevin Rudd has announced that the topic of same sex marriage go to a referendum. Whether this will happen or not remains to be seen, but if Mr Rudd were to push harder to get the Same Sex Marriage Equality bill through Parliament, this may help the Prime Minister win the upcoming election in September.

Update: August 11th, 2013The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott face off in their first debate, Kevin Rudd pushes hard on the issue of same sex marriage legislation and announced his support for marriage equality. Will this seemingly, strong commitment win Kevin Rudd the election?


Now it's your turn, tell me what you think is going to happen and whether you agree with my little rave above: Express yourself by hitting the comments or catch up with me on Facebook or Twitter.


Sources:

Article in The Australian - Kevin Rudd Debates Gay Marriage

Article in The Guardian - New Zealand Same Sex Marriage Legalised

Article about Gay Marriage Rights in Washington State in the US
Same Sex Marriage Legal in Washington State US

Article in The Age
Kevin Rudd Talks About A Referendum


Recently I posted a rant on Bubblews about Same Sex Marriage and how I believe it is inevitable that it will be legal someday regardless of all of the arguing back and forth.



Further Reading: 

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Copyright © 2013 Janelle Coulton