Sunday, April 28, 2013

Who Am I?

Category
Label
Role

Role
Label
Category

Society places these upon us.
Why do we allow them to define who we are expected to be?

I've never been comfortable in a box.
Claustrophobic.
I can't breathe.
The sides feel like they are closing in all around & I can't see.
Too many expectations.
What does this all mean?
What's society's perception of,
of...
me?

Ethnocentric points of view.
The world is guilty of using them to reference each of you.
The fertile ground where bullies are bred.
A dark, isolated place inside an ignorant head.

The world places these categories,
these labels,
these roles,
on the things seen as different than thee.
The sweet little lie is justified with false belief
that it helps us
understand one another?

But how does a
category, label, role...
How does this give you the slightest glimpse into my complicated soul?

Imagine for a moment that you had to spend an entire day
describing one another
without
categories,
without labels,
without roles.

What would you say?

Would it force you to look at people differently?
Would it force you to see individuality?

The absence of
categories,
labels,
roles.

And what about yourself?
Would you then see your value?
Would you recognize your wealth?

No longer permitted to cling to
your category,
your label,
your role.

Or is yours a more frightening fate?
Left wondering: Who the HELL am I?
Standing there lost & confused in an anxious state.

You aren't a category.
You aren't a label.
You aren't a role.

You are unique.
You are special.
You are an individual.
You are all of this in spite of what names for you society may call.

You are not a category.
Republican, Democrat, Christian, Atheist.
You are a person.
Unique.

You are not a label.
Gay, Straight, Bi.
You are a person.
Special.

You are not a role.
Husband. Wife. Daughter. Son.
You are a person.
Individual.

Can you go for just one day?
No identification tied to
categories,
to labels,
to roles?

"Tell me a little bit about yourself..."

What will you say?




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