Fuck the Haters: Multiculturalism is a Great Thing

What gives anyone the right to hate anyone else for simply being who they are? Whether we're black or white, woman or man, from the south or the north, who are you to judge?
I'm not going to be anything but what I am. I refuse to be anyone but who I am.

I will not lose weight because you're uncomfortable with my size.
I will not be more masculine so I fit the queer female stereotype.
I will not be more feminine to fit the girly stereotype.
I will not shut up to make anyone happy.

What caused me to write this post is all the hate I've gotten on a blog I posted about identifying with southern culture. Apparently some southern women (or men?) are feeling insecure and angry because I'm getting in touch with my southern heritage and am enamoured of aspects of a culture I experienced when I visited the south last year.

I didn't realize appreciating a culture would incite such rage! It's ridiculous.

The hilarious part, though, is that the messsages were all anonymous. These people don't even have the guts to put a face to their hateful words. That says a lot about them.

The lesson, here, is:

1 Keep being you. Revel in your fabulousness.

2 Fuck the haters. Let them stew in their putrid negativity. Don't give them the time of day.

3 Exploring your heritage and/or other cultures is a good thing. If anyone wants to keep you from that, it just means there's something wrong with them, not you. As long as you're respectful and genuine, you're doing nothing wrong. You're doing something wonderful.

Image: Rosario Dawson

On Religion

 I've already talked about growing up in a multicultural family, but I haven't much touched on religion-- part because it can be a very heavy, controversial topic, but mainly because, until recently, I haven't had much to say about it.

As a child, I was mostly exposed to Judaism. Both of my parents were Jewish, and my father's side of the family (I didn't yet know my mom's) was, too. We had Passover seders, celebrated Rosh Hashanah, and I went to Hebrew school on Sunday mornings.

Around my twelfth birthday, I developed great interest in religious traditions and values. I started having Shabbat dinners at my Bubby's house, demanded that we celebrate Purim (the holiday from which my name, Esther, comes), and begged my parents to let me have a Bat Mitzvah.

My Bat Mitzvah was one of the best days of my life.

Around my fifteenth birthday, I experienced two huge changes: my parents separated and I developed a chronic illness.

I sought solace in (among other things) spirituality. I discovered Paganism (Wicca, in particular), and dove in, reading everything I could get my hands on, saying spells, invoking the Goddess Bastet and learning about sabbats, runes and deities.

Since then, my religious views have become even more ecelectic; in addition to Judaism and Paganism, I have been reading about Native religions and Christianity. I'm happy to be multidenominational.

In short, I believe no one religion is right, necessarily, and there's no need to subscribe to just one. If many aspects from many religions resonate with you, that's wonderful. Believe! Celebrate! Observe! 

To me, religion is something to strengthen and celebrate who you are and what you believe in. What ever that is, embrace it.

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