still i wonder...

i hate to be a whiner. but i am just so sick of judgemental people.
people who think it's fun and amusing to ridicule others for their life choices, opinions, beliefs, etc. last night i was berated about my choice of diet (vegetarian), and my faith and religious practices (christian, go to church). the comments made in regards to my vegetarianism were the most vulgar, not to mention immature and offensive, that i have heard in relation to being a vegetarian, and i do get quite a few comments now and then. i won't repeat what they were and the people saying them probably only meant them in fun but they actually made me quite upset, more so because of the ignorance behind them than anything else. but also because i was just so frustrated by the situation - that people who i really thought were my friends, who claim to be my friends, would say such insensitive, stupid things to me about my lifestyle, just because they could. do they not realise how offensive they were being? how judgemental and ignorant they made themselves sound? did they ever stop to consider how they would feel if i made similarly horrible comments about some of their lifestyle choices?

i think the answer to all of the above is probably no. either that, or they didn't care, which is rather sad if you ask me.

i believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, beliefs, et cetera. however. if this is a free world in which we are all entitled to live our lives the way we want to, believe what we choose to believe and all the rest, then does there not need to be a level of respect for the differences of others? and furthermore, if one does choose to dispute or question another's choices, is it not reasonable to ask that they at least back up their questions and/or disuputes with valid, justifiable reasons as to why? i mean, instead of just shutting people down because you don't agree with them. i would have thought, as university students and young adults with a decent level of intelligence, we would be able to maturely discuss things now, rather than pointlessly ridicule, reject and alienate those we call our friends.

well, i guess if that's the way some people choose to live their lives, i should accept that. however what i won't do is apologise for who i am, and i suppose the solution to this predicament is to make MY own choice to not spend time with those who can't accept who i choose to be. i think considering that i accept and respect the choices and beliefs of others, with the exception of when they decide to treat me with disrespect for no apparent reason, that this is not an unreasonable conclusion to reach.

if anyone wishes to dispute me, feel free. after all, it's your choice. no apologies.