My Conservative Family--A Transcript

Sitting at dinner tonight, my younger brother is clearly upset about not being invited to a family adult dinner in the coming weeks. Out of his anger/jealousy he informs my mother that she does not need to go eat a bunch of food and gain any more weight. Note, my mother has lost a lot of weight and weighs less than I do. This leads to conversations about weight, especially that of women.

My younger brother continues to say “I don’t want a plus size mom,” and I counter act with “I don’t want an anorexic mom,” in a joking fashion. My mom, being the woman that she is, asks what is wrong with that and continues to prod and ask questions. It is revealed that it is ok for a man to be big or plus size but he should have a small wife; women shouldn’t be big.

I’ve held back as long as I could at this point so it’s my turn to question. I ask him where these ideas are coming from and why he thinks that way, truly curious as to what makes his little mind think so sexist. After numerous “I just do,” “I’m so smart,” and “I don’t knows,” I give up and clearly state that when he grows up I will question him again.

Somehow, I don’t quite follow the logic myself, but somehow my step father looks up at me and asks me “Do you believe in inter-racial couples?” Well, I thought my family was fairly aware of my liberal stances; however, it must clearly be my mother and sister. Obviously, I reply in the affirmative and state that I do believe in them and do not see a problem. After explaining to my siblings, more so my brother, what inter racial is, I stated again my approval; however, this time with the disclaimer that I, myself, I have never partaken in one. My step father re

plied “that’s sick” and removed himself from the table to retrieve something.

The logic to the next question was obvious and I was prepared for it. It was actually asked by my sister: “What about homosexuality?” Again, I stated that I thought everybody was aware of my stance there but “I am very pro gay rights.” I believe I said this a few times; even when my brother asked me about a man and a man. I support gay rights and have publically advocated for them.

And bless my little sister’s heart. In the midst of my family saying that it is wrong and un natural (where, I combated with the fact that is found in over four hundred species, thanks Baba) she asked why we had to discriminate. My mother, unaware of my passion, stated that discriminate implies that we are denying rights—where I interjected and stated that we are in fact denying the gay community rights.

Which, obviously led to the issue of the Bible. She stated that we denying the right to get married because the bible states that marriage is between a man and a woman. Of course, I quickly followed with “The bible is not the United States Constitution however.” I then had to explain to her that founding fathers did not write the Constitution on Christian beliefs and that the majority of them were deists.

After a quick lesson on all of this, my step father looks at my mother and says (and I quote) “Did you raise her?” Luckily, she responded in the affirmative and stated that I was entitled to my beliefs…..I claimed I went off to college and got brainwashed.

So, that’s my narrow minded conservative family, a transcript of dinner. Expect reflection and interpretation and more thoughts tomorrow…when I’ve had time to really let it fester.