Being different
I was at a function yesterday where I heard several late teens express a phrase I found ineffably repellant where they referred to their look or their attitude as a "retard". On one such occasion yesterday I said to a girl, the third I heard say this repugnant phrase, why do you say this? as her friend laughed it off. I truly am at a loss for why people in the rising generation say this. I guess it must be like the phrase "it's totally sick" to mean something is good. But whatever the reason, I still find the isolation or demeaning of a segment of society that largely cannot speak or defend themselves to mean do I look weird or freaky is a sad indictment on an attitude I have seen that permeates much more than a few people of late.
One of the teens was expressing to her peers whilst I was near, and I know these people well, the importance of fitting in and I made the comment that I don't ever want to "fit" in, I embrace being different to which she quick wittingly responded as though to belittle me, "and that you are, different". I smiled and said "I am proud to be and if that was the best you can throw at me I am so hurt and offended...not!" she smiled but looked at me curiously, I guess to assess whether she had offended me, to which I assured her that she had not even gone close.
For some hours after this encounter I thought much about the nature of why we want to fit in, and often then find a way to exclude so many others. I thought and pondered much on those who are different, and find a resonance with the notion of being different personally. I also came across a You Tube clip that lasts 4.5 mins and really makes a grand statement which I was proud to watch. Goldenrod, a visitor to my blog, mentioned once the power that an underdog has to most people. I think we all identify with a struggle and we love to see people beat the odds and win, this commercial is no different. It says much to me about connecting with one's self. Who we are, what we do, and what we want to achieve no matter what odds stand in our way. This extraordinary commercial has had 1.4 million visits already and I hope that people see it as a little more than a feel good clip, but realise the levels that are contained in these few minutes of footage are powerful and far reaching. I am grateful to the person(s) who created this and put it on You Tube.
I hope you enjoy.
One of the teens was expressing to her peers whilst I was near, and I know these people well, the importance of fitting in and I made the comment that I don't ever want to "fit" in, I embrace being different to which she quick wittingly responded as though to belittle me, "and that you are, different". I smiled and said "I am proud to be and if that was the best you can throw at me I am so hurt and offended...not!" she smiled but looked at me curiously, I guess to assess whether she had offended me, to which I assured her that she had not even gone close.
For some hours after this encounter I thought much about the nature of why we want to fit in, and often then find a way to exclude so many others. I thought and pondered much on those who are different, and find a resonance with the notion of being different personally. I also came across a You Tube clip that lasts 4.5 mins and really makes a grand statement which I was proud to watch. Goldenrod, a visitor to my blog, mentioned once the power that an underdog has to most people. I think we all identify with a struggle and we love to see people beat the odds and win, this commercial is no different. It says much to me about connecting with one's self. Who we are, what we do, and what we want to achieve no matter what odds stand in our way. This extraordinary commercial has had 1.4 million visits already and I hope that people see it as a little more than a feel good clip, but realise the levels that are contained in these few minutes of footage are powerful and far reaching. I am grateful to the person(s) who created this and put it on You Tube.
I hope you enjoy.
Comments
Thank you for sharing your words as well as the clip.
You are a foreigner - from outer space as it were, an alien - to them and, as such, your words will likely not be understood until years later (if they remember them at all!).
Much love to you, dear one ... ... I realize that this subject is very touchy for you.
(These comments are being written before I watch the video. I just wanted to share my initial thoughts with you.)
I haven't visited your blog for sometime now and i just want to say that it is a very interesting site. Your pics and entries are beautiful and heartfelt.
Thanks for posting them.