{"id":4817,"date":"2015-06-04T08:29:25","date_gmt":"2015-06-04T12:29:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=4817"},"modified":"2015-06-04T08:43:41","modified_gmt":"2015-06-04T12:43:41","slug":"jenner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=4817","title":{"rendered":"jenner"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"a699942a\"<\/a>Before we attempt to tackle the topic the country\u2019s been seemingly most talking about, let me repeat five recent, Intramuralist observations and encouragements:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Love deeply. Offer grace generously. <\/em><\/li>\n
  2. Show respect \u2014 in what you say and how you think. <\/em><\/li>\n
  3. We are selective in whom we offer mercy and grace. <\/em><\/li>\n
  4. Some people are harming all of society by silencing important debates, denying people the right to draw their own conclusions. <\/em><\/li>\n
  5. If you attack the messenger instead of wrestle with the message, you will change no one\u2019s mind. <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I remember being a little kid years ago watching perhaps the first Olympics I\u2019d ever really remember. It helped me place Canada correctly on my mental map, and it made Nadia Com\u0103neci and Sugar Ray Leonard household names. \u2028\u2028It was also the first time I had a grasp of the decathlon. I learned the iconic names of Jim Thorpe and Rafer Johnson. And I cheered on Bruce Jenner as he scored a record total number of points and was crowned the “World’s Greatest Athlete.” If he ran again today, I would still cheer Jenner on.<\/p>\n

    Not that I need to update anyone\u2019s status, but this week \u201cVanity Fair\u201d released their cover story of the man previously known as \u201cBruce.\u201d As the magazine implores, now \u201ccall me Caitlyn.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Friends, hear my heart… While the Intramuralist shies from no subject, I was less than certain if I wanted to address this issue. I\u2019m not sure we can handle it well. It\u2019s not that I wish to avoid it, but I\u2019m not certain we\u2019re committed to talking about sexual orientation respectfully.<\/p>\n

    Too many are unwilling to entertain any kind of disagreement. Too many believe that if a person feels differently than they do, the other person is ignorant, stupid, or judgmental. I think too many people on all supposed sides of these issues handle themselves poorly. Sorry. I\u2019m not attempting to be harsh here; I\u2019m attempting to wrestle honestly with the issue.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m uncomfortable seeing people lambaste Jenner. I\u2019m uncomfortable seeing people lambaste those who lambaste Jenner. I\u2019m uncomfortable with all who immediately look down on others because of opposing opinion. Such puffs each of us up too much.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m uncomfortable with the reported amount\u00a0of self-harm activity or suicides of transgender youth. I\u2019m uncomfortable with the reported number of persons who still struggle after transgender transition.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m uncomfortable when we say we are tolerant of all things, but then we won\u2019t tolerate the person who disagrees with us; we then contradict ourselves.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m uncomfortable with the selective promotion of only one kind of life that matters. I\u2019m uncomfortable with those who feel they have to play the convictor of truth in another person\u2019s life. I’m uncomfortable with each of us creating our own truth. I\u2019m uncomfortable with being dismissive of the concept that God created us male and female. I\u2019m uncomfortable with being insensitive that many struggle with sexuality. I\u2019m uncomfortable that we each struggle with different things, and yet time and time again, we are pretty terrible at dealing with another person\u2019s struggle.<\/p>\n

    A few more…<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m uncomfortable with the idea that Jenner\u2019s a hero — save that for the one who lays down his life for another. I\u2019m uncomfortable with dismissing Jenner as being mentally ill. I\u2019m uncomfortable with the massive publicity the Kardashians etal. have long solicited and craved. I\u2019m uncomfortable with Jenner being considered a beacon of morality after \u201ckeeping up with the Kardashians\u201d for that long. I’m uncomfortable with the fleeting desire of finding worth in eternal youth or external beauty. I often wonder where our focus is…<\/p>\n

    Most of all, I suppose, I\u2019m uncomfortable with the fact that too many of these conversations seem too hard to have… because we forget the five observations and encouragements listed above.<\/p>\n

    Respectfully…<\/p>\n

    AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Before we attempt to tackle the topic the country\u2019s been seemingly most talking about, let me repeat five recent, Intramuralist observations and encouragements: Love deeply. Offer grace generously. Show respect \u2014 in what you say and how you think. We are selective in whom we offer mercy and grace. Some people are harming all of … <\/p>\n

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