Respect is always well deserved if you uphold your convictions and make a sacrifice in the service of your religion.
Former Colorado high school wrestler Brendan Johnston is well aware of it. According to reports, he apparently forfeited two state tournament matches against girls back in 2018.
By declining to accept the matches, he basically ended his high school career in the sport due to his personal and religious views.
Maybe more than ever these days, the idea of putting adult males and females in physical competition is being debated.
Of course, the majority of people think it’s unjust to pit men and women against one another. The two sexes differ greatly from one another, not the least of which is biological, thus the playing field isn’t even leveled at first.
Either way, the notion of facing Skyview High’s Jaslynn Gallegos in the opening round of a state tournament in 2018 infuriated 18-year-old Brendan Johnson. Brendan, a senior at Colorado Springs’ Classical Academy at the time, also chose not to compete against Valley High’s Angel Rios in his third-round consolation bout.
Christian Brendan stated, “It’s so physical, physically close,” in an interview with KDVR. That’s not really suitable, in my opinion, with a young lady. Additionally, it’s pretty aggressive, and I’m not really comfortable with that.
The speaker went on, “I truly do find the thought of battling with a girl troubling, and part of that does stem from my faith and my belief.
And that does stem in part from the way I was brought up to treat women as well as possibly from other events and things.
“I don’t believe I am viewing them as less equal. Because I do think that men and women are different and that we are designed differently, I am saying that they are women and that is distinct from them being guys.
However, I continue to think that men and women are equally valuable. I don’t believe that the concept of equality is opposed by the premise that men and women are different.
Brendan finished sixth since he didn’t wrestle the two girls, whereas Angel and Jaslynn finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
But Jaslynn was upset that Brendan decided not to play in a possible match. “This whole time that I’ve wrestled, it’s just me trying to prove a point that I am just a wrestler,” she stated at the time in an interview with the Washington Post.
It makes me a little uneasy because my gender is something that still holds me back, but I appreciate his choice. It’s alright.
“My entire point is that I’m just a wrestler; I’m not a girl wrestler. Thus, while it doesn’t exactly hurt my feelings, I do take it personally.
Read more about Brendan’s significant call here:
How do you feel about Brendan’s choice not to engage in a wrestling match with a female? Please tell us in the comments section. In the meanwhile, if you like reading this post, you should read the others below!
38-year-old woman wrote her own obituary, we aII need to read it
Sonia Todd of Moscow, Idaho, died of cancer at the young age of 38. But knowing the end was near, she decided to write her own obituary before passing away. As she explained, obituaries were usually written a couple of different ways that she simply didn’t care for. So, as one of her last acts on this earth, she put pen to paper and decided for herself how her obituary would read.
The result of Sonia confronting her own mortality as she penned her obituary was a piece full of humor as well as wisdom, appearing in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. The words were so honest and inspirational that long after her death, they will still ring true, giving others something to aspire to. Ironically, Sonia wrote, “I never really accomplished anything of note.” How wrong she was. The truth expressed in the obituary she wrote proved to be quite an accomplishment in and of itself.
“Other than giving birth to my two wonderful, lovable, witty and amazing sons (James and Jason), marrying my gracious, understanding and precious husband (Brian), and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior – I have done very little. None of which requires obit space that I have to shell out money for,” Sonia Todd began, explaining why she was writing her obituary and why it wouldn’t be like others.
Adding that she didn’t want a bunch of her loved ones sitting around to write a glowing report of her, which she says would be “filled with fish tales, half-truths, impossible scenarios, and out-right-honest-to-goodness-lies,” Sonia explained she simply didn’t like putting people in those kinds of situations. With the explanation out of the way, she got to her version of the truth about her own life.
“I just tried to do the best I could. Sometimes I succeeded, most of the time I failed, but I tried. For all of my crazy comments, jokes and complaints, I really did love people. The only thing that separates me from anyone else is the type of sin each of us participated in. I didn’t always do the right thing or say the right thing and when you come to the end of your life those are the things you really regret, the small simple things that hurt other people,” Sonia admitted.
Although she said that she mostly enjoyed life, she also said it wasn’t perfect and that she encountered many bumps in the road, especially in her teens and early 20s. Even though some parts of her life were harder than others, Sonia said, “I learned something from every bad situation and I couldn’t do any more than that.” She also claimed there were benefits to dying young. Jokingly, she wrote, “I still owe on my student loans and the jokes on them cuz I’m not paying them. Plus, I am no longer afraid of serial killers, telemarketers or the IRS.”Addressing the fact that some people have told her that writing her own obituary is morbid, Sonia Todd continued, “I think it is great because I get a chance to say thank you to all the people who helped me along the way. Those who loved me, assisted me, cared for me, laughed with me and taught me things so that I could have a wonderful, happy life. I was blessed beyond measure by knowing all of you. That is what made my life worthwhile.”
It was the conclusion of her obituary that was the most important, however. Sonia encouraged others to change their lives. “If you think of me, and would like to do something in honor of my memory do this: Volunteer at a school, church or library. Write a letter to someone and tell them how they have had a positive effect on your life. If you smoke – quit. If you drink and drive – stop,” she wrote.
Her advise continued, “Turn off the electronics and take a kid out for ice cream and talk to them about their hopes and dreams. Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it. Stop at all lemonade-stands run by kids and brag about their product. Make someone smile today if it is in your power to do so.”
Today seems like a good day to honor Sonia’s memory by completing some of these simple requests and reminding others to do the same. Luckily for us, we still have time for these things. And, thankfully, with her dying wish, Sonia Todd left us these words of wisdom that few realize until it’s too late
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