An attractive man walks across the room and two women standing nearby take notice. One stares longer than socially acceptable and the other exclaims, “Vive la différence!” Neither woman is French, and the man is about as southern as a pair of dusty overalls. But the phrase means what it means. Long live the difference. It’s an example of the women understanding there is a whole list of differences between men and women, even way beyond just the physical.
Long live the difference. Here in the U.S., there’s a lot of chatter in the news and throughout social media that people are all the same, a man can be a woman, a woman can be a man, a person can be both, or neither. It’s gotten a little absurd and by “a little absurd,” I mean way, way, way past absurdity. It’s become such a ridiculous thing that even something like the possibility of alien life takes a backseat.
A comparison. I reckon, at least for me, this view that anyone can be any gender is right up there with someone who says (in regards to their views on race), “I’m colorblind.” I mean, I understand what they mean — we’re all equal and worthy of respect, value, etc. But it’s a fact that we are different colors and I think that’s really cool! Celebrate the beauty. Cultures are different, skin color is different, my life experience is different than yours. And all of those differences are, dare I say it, OK!
Final thoughts. Men are not women. Women are not men. My sister and I recently drove through the campus of a big university. Along one of the streets was sorority row. A few twists and turns later, we were on a street where the fraternities were housed. Maybe you’d totally understand how different the residences were but she and I both laughed at the stark contrast of the well-kept, pretty buildings and landscaping of the sororities compared to the trashy, dirty, neglected buildings of the frats. Guys are gross. 😉
But seriously, though, vive la différence!
-Out of the Wilderness