I'm going to keep this post relatively brief as I want it to be less space filling and more thought provoking. Plus, I really need to get a post out since it's been too long in gaps, but that is another story (making excuses that I've been too busy transitioning). More on that will come.
Today, more specifically now, I can't help but think about the notion of image and how heavy its implications can weigh on us.
We live in a world where image seems to be everything and we make it that way, which impeded our abilities to act innately. Not everyone is worried about how their image is portrayed, yes there are always outliers, but much of our lives are micromanaged because of image. To clarify, I don't want you to think I'm trying to say you shouldn't care about your image; conversely, I'm same we should care about our image in a more concentrated and productive manner. A couple examples to consider:
Drake, an actor turned musician, seems to be quite the polarizing artist. On one hand, people like the emotional and real life quality he brings to his music. On the other hand, he's too soft and emotion; some people see him as a weak individual and unworthy of musical accolades. Since he falls under the rap/hip-hop category, he's proscribed an image of "gangster" or "hood" that he's supposed to adhere to, but he doesn't. We tend to get so caught up in an artist's image and who they are supposed to be that we loose sight of the artist.
In a similar vain of artists and images, one can't help but think about Miley Cyrus. She's an example of someone so desperate to break her image that she's going to extremes to create a new one. I get the sneaking suspicion this new image isn't necessarily the image she wants deep down, but instead the one she thinks can be most beneficial to her short term in achieving certain goals.
An example that leaves me despondent:
Today, news broke about a 16 year old boy in Chicago who was murdered because he refused to join a gang. The gang members tried to project their image on him and when he rejected their ideals they projected and protected their image by taking his away, permanently. What's saddening about this story is that it isn't isolated. Too many young people, in general, are getting murdered/killed because their image doesn't fit the liking of a certain group.
Countless war veterans either ignore or are ignored for their mental illness suffered from trauma post active duty. They're so worried of maintaing an image of strength and honor, the fact that mental illness is real and dangerous (now matter how strong you claim to be) gets lost. Sadly, because this image gets protected and deeper problems get neglected, tragedy strikes on both small and large scales.
As people of religion, we often project our images of what is supposedly ideal (which is another topic entirely). When outsiders don't fit these images, we are quick to reject and condemn them. Unfortunately and confusingly, trying to project and condemn images due to religion kind of goes against its core. Treat others how you want to be treated; love your neighbor. Instead, we preach religion but spread hate when the image isn't right.
Men have to be strong; women must be week. When the converse image is displayed, there's obviously something wrong with that individual for they just don't fit. Strong women are bitches; weak mean are girls.
The examples are plentiful, but I trust you get the point.
We get so tangled up in images and what image we should project that we lose insight and the sense of our humanity, who we are. Instead of making the world a better place, we find it easier to crush it because it doesn't fit the image that we perceive to be true. We preach love and say we want happiness, but project hate onto others. Until we can accept the fact that people like what they like and let go that not everyone will fit the mold our minds create, we won't ever live in harmony. I strongly urge everyone, myself included, to stop worrying about fitting into and image and just be you. On that note, let others be them and love them for it. After all, we're all an image of God, aren't we? I'd at least like to think that. I hope you take this thought into consideration. --Robert
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