Is the ability to love taught to us as children or are we born with the ability to love?

We are born with the sense of what is right and what is wrong. If love is in our nature, why do we limit this natural feeling? If love is taught to us as children, why is it limited in society?

The idea of love is imprinted upon our brains, but it is not accepted to be illustrated or demonstrated toward the public, our world, or society.

I grew up with a gay uncle whom I love with my whole heart to this day.

My brother and I never found it odd or weird, but when I began to bring him up at school through simple kindergarten stories, kids would bully and taunt me.

I brought these words home to my mom, and you could only imagine how difficult it was for her to teach a 7 year old that two men loving each other is not exactly “traditional.”

But my mother, amazing as she is, worded it so well for me.

“Some people are going to judge you for liking other things that people think are different. Just like when you eat chippies (chips) with mustard. Not everyone likes to eat that, but you still eat them. Just like Uncle Mikey, he loves who he loves even though other people seem to find it different,” my mom said. “Love is love, and don’t ever let someone tell you who you can and cannot love. If they tell you that you can’t love something that is different to everyone else, screw them and love it even more.”

Of course, you cannot compare same-sex relationships to “chippies,” but I understood.

Not everyone is going to be in favor of your decisions, but they are your decisions, not theirs, and you should always stand by them.

I love my uncle, and if he wants to marry a man someday, I stand by that.

I am for same-sex marriage, and no, that does not make me gay.

What I do not stand by is society telling me to “be yourself,” but then turning around and saying “no, not like that,” quick to judge anything unpopular.

If I like to eat chips with mustard, I am simply going to do it; I could care less if the kid sitting next to me at lunch finds me “different.”

If students tell me not to eat them because they say so, I am going to make them watch me eat them.

I am still going to love chips with mustard, no matter what others think.

I do not see the logic behind telling someone that they can or cannot love another person depending on societal judgments.

I simply do not see why same-sex marriage is such a big deal. It does not take away from the “traditional” marriage. If someone is happy, then let them be.

I understand that some people have their own reasons and beliefs for why they do not support same-sex marriage.

There are concerns on how to treat a same-sex couple (do not worry, they are humans too). Many people also wonder if they should call them both husbands or husband and wife or both wives.

Mostly, I have heard that two people of the same-sex are “unfit” parents.

I once heard some classmates of mine say something along the lines of, “I don’t know what I’d do if my kids turned out gay.”

Well, it’s kind of simple. You just love them. You accept them. Most of all, tell them that you stand by them. As long as they are happy, you should be happy, right?

Worrying about how to raise a gay child should not be a reason why people are so afraid to approve of same-sex marriages.

In August 2010, a national CNN poll became the first to show that a majority of people supported same-sex marriage.

Since 2010, polls have consistently stayed above 50 percent in favor of same-sex marriage.

In 2011, from February to March, a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press showed that about as many adults (45 percent) favored as opposed (46 percent) allowing same-sex couples to marry. This is in direct contrast with a 2009 poll conducted by Pew Research that found 37 percent supported same-sex marriage while 54 percent did not.

Within about two years, the support of same-sex marriage increased by 8 percent.

Studies have revealed that the majority of people who are in favor of same-sex marriage are younger than the age of 50, highly educated, and reside in the Northeast, West Coast, and some parts of the Midwest.

As the years go by, the newest generations are found to be more open to same-sex marriage than previous generations.

From February to March of 2014, a Washington Post/ABC News poll found a record 59 percent of Americans approved same-sex marriage, leaving 34 percent opposed and 7 percent with no opinion.

When those surveyed were asked if they agreed with this statement, “The United States Constitution guarantees the freedom to marry the person of one’s choice, regardless of that person’s sex or sexual orientation, ” the poll revealed that 50 percent did agree.

41 percent disagreed, while 9 percent had no opinion.

The numbers in support of same-sex marriage are not the only thing that is changing.

In the United States, same-sex marriage has been legalized in 37 states and is recognized by the federal government.

Michigan had a brief period of legalized gay marriage in 2014, in which over 300 gay couples were married. The state still recognized these marriages after the legalization of gay marriage was reversed later that same year.

Most of these marriages were blessed in churches. Some wrestle with how to reconcile this with their Christian faith.

The Bible consistently expresses themes of love, compassion, and the fact that we are all children of God.

I am definitely not questioning anyone’s faith, but it is something to think about.

Growing up, I believed that love was the strongest force of all. There have been times when I doubted it, like when I learned to let go of my favorite stuffed animal, shoes, phones, and people in high school.

Even after all of what has hurt my heart in the past, however, I still believe that love is the strongest force on Earth.

My science textbooks could never compare gravity to love, but this battle with same-sex marriage will only end one way.

Despite the beliefs and traditions, love is, in fact, the strongest force on Earth and no one is ever going to get in the way of that, not even the law.

The law should not determine the way our love is perceived or demonstrated.

The law only extends to a certain limit before it can actually reach the mind of a person.

It is understandable to feel cautious about this social institution.

Let me remind you that 50 years ago the Civil Rights Bill was introduced into Congress and racism still exists to this day.

It will take decades to demolish that way of thinking.

We choose to accept what we grow up around.

Not every house is the same and neither are the practices within those homes.

If we are born with the sense of what is wrong and what is right, does it seem wrong to keep two people from loving each other?

We may be born with the ability to love, or we may find love through teachings.

But as my mom said, “Love is love, and don’t ever let someone tell you who you can and cannot love.”

Just like the law of gravity does not know of love, the law does not stop it.

The law can only stretch so far.

This is my opinion, not a column to persuade. But I hope it enlightens some ignorance.

More and more people are supporting same-sex marriage, but only time and the understanding of people will truly make all marriage better.

After all, love is love.