61.6% of Australians voted yes, 38.4% voted no. Needless to say the 15^th of November is a historic day for all Australians.

With the ABS equal marriage survey finally showing the will of our nations people, the country can now finally understand and accept the new way forward for marriage equality. We are now on the way to joining the list of countries that have legalised same sex marriage. Personally, I could not be happier, but I cannot help but be a little worried for a future.

The whole basis of Australian life is coexistence. The communities and societies that we are all apart of, work on a fundamental Australian dream that consists of happy smiles and neighbourly conversations. Now, for the most part, our worlds will mesh finally with the LGBTQ community and if all goes well, they will be accepted as a norm of our society. No longer will they be considered the “other” and no longer will the old fashioned values of a past Australia restrict their right to love. All is supposed to be well.

But is it?

The margin maybe a majority but the difference is not. 38% of people said no. 38% do not agree, and 38% of people do not want this to happen. This worries me…I expected a landslide. It was very soon after, that I saw numerous posts from outspoken religious and conservative peoples. All of which were outraged about what they consider a tarnished look on marriage in Australia. 38% of people were let down, that’s over 4 and a half million people who aren’t happy campers.

I cant help but ask myself what this means.

Do we have protests?

Are people in danger?

Are families at risk?

And  can we no longer achieve a coexisting society?

Only Time will tell.

And while the rest of us celebrate, 4 873,987 people sit at home, go to work, and live their lives, shaking their heads and wondering what in the hell happened to their worlds.

In a world of radicalism, the realists and pessimists will only fear a revolt that might cause more harm than ever. Our worlds are colliding, and not everyone is going to accept it. That alone is a reason for us to educate and inspire, and not ostracise those who are not convinced.

In the last three to four years I have learnt that problems rarely get solved when we do nothing but debate. That time has passed. Communication and discussion are the only ways in which we can harmoniously coexist. Rather than ridicule and crucify those 4 million people, show them that the world is not going to change for the worst.

Accept what you may consider their flaws and help the rest of society become the community that the Australian dream was built around.

This isn’t just your world, nor is it just mine. It’s everyone’s…so we might as well get along.