I recently saw a Facebook post that was quite controversial. It had a picture of a soldier with two prosthetic legs and the caption was "I have a hard time finding Bruce Jenner brave and courageous. Idk maybe it's just me."
First, let me start by saying I respect our military and everything that they work for. Our soldiers are heroes -- courageous, selfless, upon many other things. But that is not the point of this article.
The point of this article is to say that Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner is brave. Bruce knew his whole life that he was actually Caitlyn. In a world full of hatred for transgenders, it puzzles me how someone could accuse Caitlyn of not being brave. Bruce gave up his life. He gave up what people knew him as, so he could become her. Bravery isn't defined as someone who puts his life on the line in the battlefield. Although, I believe this qualifies as bravery, I do not feel as though this is the only representation of bravery. Do you remember the first time you jumped into a pool, and your parents hugged you, saying "that was so brave!" Looking at it now, it seems ridiculous but back then, diving into pools was like jumping to your death.
As stated on http://www.yspp.org/about_suicide/statistics.htm, "More than 50% of Transgender youth will have had at least one suicide attempt by their 20th birthday." Caitlyn stands for trangenders everywhere. She stands to say that you are not alone. She proves, against all odds, that you can be who you believe you were intended to be, and she looks damn good doing it. Bruce was living the American dream -- Olympic gold medalist, fame, fortune, and a beautiful family. This goes to show, if at the end of the day you aren't being who you want to be, no matter how much fortune you have, it will never be enough.
Looking at it at a religious standpoint, it doesn't matter if you do or don't agree. I believe in any form of religious text, we can find at least one reference that states that we are supposed to love one another.
John 13: 34-35
34: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The Holy Quran Chapter 49:12
Sahih International: O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
The Vedas
"Love one another in the same way in which a cow loves its newly born calf."
This article may be appalling to some, and that's okay. This article does not particularly pertain to them. To the transgenders, gays, lesbians, or anyone else who feels they cannot be whom they want to be, this article is for you. If Caitlyn can take on the hatred from people all over the world, you can take on the few close-minded people who probably shouldn't be in your life, anyway. If they love you enough, they should love you just as much, if not more, when you're finally happy. You can be brave. You can be who you want.
