by Anita Benedict
I keep hearing the idiom, "I feel like they are ramming it down my throat,"; or “why do
they need to ram it down our throats.” The origins, according to the Merriam-Webster
dictionary says it means "to force someone to accept or like (something, such as one's
ideas or beliefs).”
I usually hear it in regards to whatever one gets tired of hearing about, a marginalized group when they are fighting for their rights or simply to be recognized. It may seem like that it is being pushed on you but there is this to consider.
Votes for women. I bet it felt like women were ramming that request "down their throats."
We have all seen the film board clips of women fighting to vote, to run in politics, to
become a doctor. We could not have a credit card, could not get a loan, still can’t
access some medical procedures of our own reproductive organs without the
permission of our spouse.
Women marched for equal rights, any rights if you come down to it.
We had no control over finances once married, what was hers became his to use,
squander or build up their own wealth. We promised to love, honour and obey.
Consider all we as humans have had to fight for, education for example, which we take
for granted, proper working conditions, workers rights in general. Where would some
people be without unions. That was not an easy battle, but working conditions have
improved for all because someone decided to fight, to “ram” their ideas of proper
conditions, of better pay, down someone’s throat.
I for one am glad those women were listened to, we may still not have equal rights, but
we have more than we did 100 years ago. As for unions, you may not always agree, but
they have done good work.
There are instances where people do try to force unhealthy thoughts on you. Unhealthy
in that they cause hate for a group, race, gender, or even a person. Often there is a
puppeteer playing with strings to further their own agenda, and people become puppets without realizing it. Hitler as an example. Absolutely dangerously, brilliant. He convinced a proud nation struggling to regain that pride, that it was the fault of others that they were struggling.
The next time you hear it ask yourself, is it being rammed down my throat or is it
something I am uncomfortable with, something I don’t understand? Why does this
person, group, feel the need to fight for what they believe in? Maybe it is because they
have tried explaining it calmly, maybe they just want to be recognized for who they are.
This world is made of unique places, experiences and people.
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