Yes, I Am Better Than You- And I Am NOT Sorry

"Do you think you are better than me?" A Christian asked me, though she knew the answer.

She should have known better than to ask me something like this.  I hate being asked questions that cause me to be brutal.  All atheists are not better than all Christians.  This is not about religion.

Make no mistake: If you hate someone because he or she is a different race, I am better than you.
If you think homosexuals are the same as pedophiles, I am better than you.
If you hear a  rapper's  message of love and kindness and it angers you, I am better than you.
If you aren't bothered that the richest 85 people have more money than half the humans on earth, I am better than you.
If you prefer to believe you are right instead of being open and growing as a result, I am better than you.
 
I know I sound arrogant, and I am not sorry.  Not even a little.  Chances are if you are one of these people you already think you are better than me so I am simply stating my case and leveling the playing field.

Being kind and helpful and loving is not just different than being homophobic, racist and hateful; its better.  I say I am better not because I want to be a jerk, I say I am better because I strive to be a better human being while the people I referenced above do not.  Every day I seek to learn and grow and better myself.  I am better because I make the decision to be better each and every day.

 In my career I have attended many funerals.  I have never been to one where the family admitted that their loved one was anything but perfect unless, of course, they were joking.  I can't imagine that no one dies before becoming a better person.  Everyone who dies is kind.  Everyone who dies was so generous and loving and tolerant.  Sometimes you look at their relatives and know that is crap.  You become like those around you.  Choose your influences carefully.  In my opinion the point of this life is to learn and grow.  You simply can't grow if you care more about being angry and right than  being accepting and loving.

There is a litmus test for self improvement.  If you find that you are becoming kinder than you are becoming better.  Perhaps if we were more honest about what we believe to be a good human being we would allow ourselves the opportunity to strive for greatness. So strive for better even if you strive alone.