Vive la Difference? Not a Chance...

For the last thirty days, the "liberal" side of American media have been preaching the "Caitlyn Jenner" gospel--that all good folks of progressive and/or liberal persuasion embrace and admire Jenner for her very public transition. That Jenner identified as female and finally took steps to transition to that reality was to be looked upon as normal, even brave, and not to be criticized in any way. I personally was nearly kicked out of the club because I dared articulate my dislike for the name Jenner chose.

Now, we are all being admonished to vilify Rachel Dolezal. How dare she identify as something other than how she was born, and take steps to live in that reality? What right did she have to actually become a political activist among the people with whom she chose to identify? What kind of flaming nutcase would disrespect the uncrossable lines we've drawn  in our society and think she could actually get away with "passing" for something she wasn't? Seriously...a white woman passing for black? She must be crazy, evil, or at the very least, calculating and opportunistic.

The polar opposite presentations of the two stories--Jenner's and Dolezal's--are a perfect demonstration of how far, indeed, we have NOT progressed as a species. We have a long, long way to go when it comes to breaking down barriers erected by a society with an irresistible tendency toward creating and maintaining divisions between people based upon gender, race, economic status, religion, ethnicity, and any other trait that might make us different from one another. 

Progressive?  Not so much...