Excuse Me While I Offend You

For some reason, it seems en vogue to be offended these days. Practically everyone on my Facebook feed seems to be mad about something. Most recently, it was the banning of the Confederate flag that had everyone in an uproar. The strange thing is many people seem to love getting mad about stuff like this.

Don't get me wrong -- or do, I really don't care -- I'm not a southern sympathizer. But, I don't understand the craziness over the Confederate flag. It's just a square cloth proudly displayed on the back of pickup trucks that will pull out in front of you on North Avenue in Grand Junction. Last time I checked, slavery was still not legal anymore, that is, if you don't include cellular phone contracts, in that world, slavery is alive and well, but that's another issue.

I get that people were horrified by the dude that I'm not gonna name who killed all the people in that church. He liked the confederate flag. I also hear he liked macaroni and cheese so let's ban that too. It's a tragic situation, but the guy was evil. Taking the Dukes of Hazzard off TV Land isn't going to stop another loser from going postal.

The bigger issue to me is why so many people seem to enjoy being offended. I don't know about you, but my Facebook feed reads like a who's who of the latest group that wants something banned or removed. To quote Sargeant Hulka from the movie Stripes, "Lighten up Francis."

I do my best to not offend people on purpose. Unless, of course, you watch "The Bachelorette". In that case, I'm coming after you. Kidding, more or less. I accept the fact that some people like me and others don't.

Why is it that some people seem to love to be offended? Does it make them feel self-righteous to complain about something that they view as wrong? To me, it's simple. If you don't like a lifestyle, don't live it and don't make life difficult for people that do. On the other hand, I don't think it's fair for society/government to make people endorse lifestyles they don't believe in like the bakers that were fined $135,000.

How about this? If you see something you don't like, look the other way. If you hear something you don't like on the radio, turn it off or switch stations. If someone on your Facebook feed is offending you, unfriend them or use the highly effective "Unfollow" or "Hide All" option.

And, please, everyone lighten up.