I Don't Care! But I do respect...
Ok, so let's get this out in the open right from the get go, stay with me on this one. I do not care about which God you believe in or what religious beliefs you have, I do not care about your political preferences, or if you are of dark skin, light skin, or if you eat meat or don't eat meat. Hell, I don't care if you are a man or a woman, girl or a boy. Regardless of what you believe in or where you come from, I choose to respect every person and their beliefs based on them as an individual, how they act and how they treat others. So why the rant, well without going into the particulars at great length, recently I was asked a question which I found rather pathetic and ignorant.
Before I reveal the question here is the background for why it was asked. I have recently been receiving a fair bit of positive exposure locally, and have been approached by various organisations to teach Women's Self Protection and Violence Prevention seminars. In light of this I was asked the following by a person that will remain anonymous, " What would I do if the seminar was for a group of Muslim women or even a bunch of feminists", it was a slightly tongue in cheek comment but one in which I feel necessary to explore further.
Well firstly I thought it was laughable that someone would be surprised that a feminist group would want to learn how to protect themselves, after all Im sure they fit the requirement for a Women's only seminar quite nicely. And why the hell shouldn't they want to gain the necessary education, knowledge and physical skills to protect themselves and their loved ones, don't they have every right to.
So what about the group of Muslim women? Exactly, what about it! At no stage would it ever cross my mind that this could be a problem, why the friggin hell would it. People, wake the fark up, we live in the year 2011!!! Get this fact in your heads if it is a problem for you, WE LIVE IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY, embrace it and be glad for it.
My best friend is a Muslim, and at times I am asked if my views would be different on these such matters if this were not the case, and I always remind these ignorant people that it is I who choose to be friends with this person, because on the inside he is an honest, caring human being and a bloody awesome bloke. His colour and religious beliefs play no part in our relationship. So long as society continues to be fed these ridiculous statements things will not change, but the same people will on the other hand say they want their children to grow up in a safe, and happy world free of hate and violence. If we want to see these wishes come true, change needs to start with ourselves, be the change you want to see.
So once again I don't care for any of the above personal individual beliefs. A person's beliefs should be respected, just as you and I wish our beliefs to be respected. If this is a problem for you, then maybe it is time you looked at yourself, and challenge your own insecurities. So long as an individual wants to learn self protection for the right reasons, regardless of colour, race, religion etc, I will provide them with the same passion and determination I show any other person.
I am often asked why I enjoy teaching self protection so much, and I can give many reasons, but the most rewarding thing is I get to do what I love whilst making a difference to the lives of others for the better along the way, using self defence as the vehicle. Senshido affiliates all over the world are helping improve lives daily, SELF DEFENCE THROUGH SELF DEVELOPMENT.
DO SOME SHIT.....
Corey 'creamy pawes' Hawes
Advanced Self Defence Newcastle
Senshido Australia
