Wow! Must Read.... An Open Letter to My Son About Closed Minds

[sheshe2]

Dear Will,

Today you came home near tears because someone told you two gay people can't get married because it's wrong and gross. Your aunts are gay and your cousins -- whom you love with a wonderful ferocity -- are a product of their very much legal marriage (Massachusetts has had gay marriage since 2004). When someone insults your family, it hurts. You hurt right now, and I'm sorry for that.

I'm also sorry that it's not the first time, nor will it be the last.

I absolutely despise having to tell you about this ugliness at such a young age. Last year, when we stopped going to a certain area business because they were casually tossing around racial epithets, you had questions. And rightly so. That's how I ended up describing the evils of racism to a 5-year-old. And now you're faced with more ignorance and ugliness. And this time it's that much harder because it's from a friend.

I want you to know right up front, I'm proud of how you reacted. You told them (I'm using the incorrect pronoun to avoid repeatedly saying he/she and to avoid singling anyone out) gay people can get married in Massachusetts. You used your aunts as a valid example. And you told them the most important thing is that two people love each other when they get married.

Will, your friend is only 6. They might think marrying ANYONE is gross, or they might not have had anyone explain gay marriage, or -- and this is the scary part -- they might have parents who truly do believe it's gross when two people of the same sex pledge their lives to one another.

Keep Reading: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aaron-gouveia/an-open-letter-to-my-son-about-closed-minds_b_5585589.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular



Beautiful Dad and a truly remarkable son. Out of the mouths of babes, this is our future.

[CBGLuthier]

1. The haters always say they don't want to have to explain to their children

why two men or two women are holding hands or kissing. I would much rather explain to a young child about the nature of love than the ugly bitter truth about people who hate.

[sheshe2]

2. Thank you CBGLuthier for being the only response to this thread.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, I would rather explain love than hate. This is such a young child, yet he knows and feels more compassion than many adults.

[niyad]

3. k and r and thank you for posting this. what a shame that we have to teach our children

that there are so many ignorant, small-minde, hate-filled, joyless people in the world.

[sheshe2]

4. Thank you niyad, I agree it is sad.

However that child and his family give me hope for our future.

[niyad]

5. yes, that letter does show that there is some hope.

[smirkymonkey]

6. K&R!