this is where i feel i might be able to bring out the focus of my essay, to me it seems the family struggle of handling the religion is where I can elaborate more. I think I can bring in my personal view and those i've interviewed and tie them together well. 

I would like to know if there is anything else here I should write more about and what I should either erase or write less about. I do still f

When I was young, my family didn’t celebrate the holidays. As I got older my mother softened up to the idea of the holidays after frequent talks with her about how my sister and I understood, but we knew our faith wouldn’t be changed by engaging in the holidays. My father isn’t a Jehovah’s Witness and was a Marine for twenty-two years, and for my mother to be married to a  man that isn’t in the same religion and serve the military are frowned upon in our religion. My father always tried to celebrate the holidays and my mother wouldn’t allow it. The constant struggle between my parents about the rules of being a Jehovah’s Witness is what made me talk to my mother about celebrating holidays. Seeing them argue and discuss the confusion with our religion made me curious about challenging the rules and trying to understand why they were in place. 

My father always wanted a tree in the house with lights and decorations. My mother always refused. After my sister and I convinced our mother that we should celebrate Christmas my father smiled in relief that he could take us to buy a tree and wrap presents. We’ve always received presents from our parents on Christmas day but they were never wrapped. This new experience shared with my entire family was wonderful. Putting up the tree and decorating it with ornaments was sublime. My mother graciously joined in with decorating and I saw, for the first time, how the holidays bring the family together. Laughing at funny jokes and stories while looking at the tree was beautiful. My faith wasn’t deterred by Christmas, it became stronger. As I grew older and began to learn other rules of a Jehovahs Witness is when my challenging of my own faith began.

A Jehovahs Witness is not to accept military service, no Jehovahs Witness can work for any industries associated with the military,  Jehovahs Witnesses believe they transcend national boundaries and ethnic loyalties. A problem I have with today. My father served this country proudly for twenty-two years. How he progressed through the ranks of a Marine was astounding. He was only twenty-two years old when he was given his own squad to lead. He loves the United States and its flag and would die protecting them. I struggled  as a teenager with my father about not accepting the military. To be honest I wasn’t sure why, I only rejected government because it was what I was taught as a Jehovahs Witness. 

I would see my father hurt by my neglect of the United States; I wasn't allowed to salute the flag or sing the national anthem. He was hurt because being a Marine was his life, what he was proud of and not being able to share it with me hurt him. As I learned about the United States History my viewpoints on government and the rule of rejecting the government as a Witness conflicted. I no longer believed that it’s something I should shun, my father helped me understand for myself that I may not believe in how the government works but the men and women that fight for this country should always be appreciated. I am proud of my father, Master Gunnery Sargent William Galeas, for serving as a Marine and fighting for his family and the families of others. I salute the flag and sing the anthem proudly. It may not be what is accepted of a Jehovahs Witness but my faith is still in tact and being proud of my father won’t change that. 

Jehovahs Witnesses are believed to purposely separate themselves from those who aren’t members. The same rule of keeping our standards of morality in tact applies here as well. We are allowed to talk to whomever we choose, there is no rule that we must only talk to other Witnesses. We must always keep our faith and not be distracted by anything or anyone that will keep us from following Jehovah the right way. I have always had friends that were’t a Witness and have never had a problem. Again there are some Witnesses that don’t talk to people outside of our religion but to me that seems to go against or morals as Jehovahs Witnesses. 

The ethics and morality of being a Jehovahs Witness is something that will never fade from my life. Though there are some things I don’t agree with it’s how we must treat others and respect ourselves that I believe and live. We must be modest, peaceful, and not lie. Gambling, tobacco, and illegal drugs are not acceptable by any means. I try my best to remain modest and humble. I always treat others with respect and kindness. Though my sarcasm is something I struggle with at times I keep it modest. I firmly believe in treating other the way you would want to be treated. Not lying is something I admire about being a Witness, no matter what sort of trouble I may get into I can’t bring myself to lie. Everyone of course does, but the moderation in the severity of the lie should never be outrages. A few ethic rules of being a Jehovahs Witness I strongly disagree with. 

Homosexuality is considered a serious sin within the Jehovahs witnesses organization; same-sex marriage is forbidden; and abortion is considered murder. Through meeting a vast variety of people and viewpoints I have built my own understanding of homosexuality, same-sex marriage, and abortion. One of my dear best friends is gay and I have never looked at him as committing a serious sin. I would never reject a friend because of my faiths rules on sexual preferences. Everyone, no matter what faith, gender, color, or sexual preference should be denied the rights of others. Abortion will always be debatable, but the same way everyone has their freedom, a women shouldn’t be judged or shunned because of how she chooses to control her body. I am glad that my mother has truly softened how she applies the rules of being a Jehovahs Witness to her life. We happily celebrate the holidays as a family and with friends. Our faith is still in tact and has truly grown stronger through spending holidays with our friends and family.