No doubt, as you have noticed by my constant whining, I don't get to socialize much these days. When I do actually get to go out, the last thing I want is to be chastised by strangers because I don't conform to their archaic idea of what a "lady" should be.
This incident took place a while ago, but it was after reading a facebook post by LiLu, I was reminded of it...
I was sitting at a bar, waiting for my friend, who is an Always-An-Hour-Late-Friend, to show up. I had ordered a beer, but they didn't have my preferred brand on tap, only in a bottle. Never a high maintenance customer, I said that was fine, and drank the beer from the bottle, thinking nothing of it. I checked my watch and tapped my foot idly to the beat of "Don't Stop Believin'" which bars seem to be required to play at least once a night. A woman in her early 40s approached me, tapped me lightly on the shoulder and asked me if I knew the name of the song. I told her. She thanked me, and then turned. Then, she turned back, so fast I wasn't sure that it was really happening. She whispered "And remember, ladies don't drink beer out of a bottle, only a glass." I gaped after her, shocked. Maybe it is classless to drink beer from a bottle, maybe not, but it is my decision which way I want to drink my beer.
I spent the rest of the evening wondering what would possess this woman to speak to me like that. Why do people always want to force their views and opinions on others? I'm a pretty structured person, I like things to be done a certain way, but I don't go around to random strangers and try to make them conform.
This is a much, much, much smaller scale version of the Eastern Belief that Western People are evil because we don't conform to their ideals. This is why Shirley Phelps-Roper and her church are protesting military funerals. So many people believe there's only ONE right way, it's THEIR way. I disagree. I believe there are many right ways.
Perhaps I should have told Random-Overly-Opinionated-Lady-At-The-Bar that I don't come into her home and tell her where to put her spoons, or how to wash her hair, I don't tell you how to raise your kids, I don't tell you which church to go to. In short, I let you live your life your way. Let me live mine... Starting with this tasty beer.