Identity...some scary stuff.

This post was massively inspired by a PolyesterZine writer, Jonno Revanche, who wrote this amazing article about identity. I just love the way he talked about this and the entire idea of it made me think in a way I didn't before.

For those who are cis, for those who are white, for those who are straight, for those who are accepted in all different ways, it's easy to say "be yourself" because..of course, who else would you be? But for those who step out of the """"norm"""" it's completely different.

I like to think we live in a world where we're safe to be who we want to be, whatever that may be, because throughout my life, I've been told to follow my own path, and heard others say that to many others so quickly and easily...but with recent events, I've realized that's now difficult to say and fulfill.

"Be yourself." As Philando Castile gets killed for getting out his wallet.

"Be yourself." As hundreds of people are killed everyday for practicing their religion.

"Be yourself." As 49 people were killed in Orlando for doing that exactly.

Do you see how powerful two words can be and how...difficult it could be to follow it? These two words have been said so lightly, but in reality it's one of the most challenging and dangerous things to be and do in this society.

Many of us look at it as a tiny phrase to follow because we've got that privilege, but if you think about it, not everyone does.

It's incredible to see people express proudly on what they love to do and who they want to be and love who they want to love because it can be disheartening to see all of these tragedies happening every so often. The people who have been killed unfairly, others may relate to them in such a deep way, that it can be terrifying to continue on being themselves. Continuing on trying to be comfortable in your own skin because it's not only hard to do that, but now you need to be careful of where you are at because...not everyone is safe.

"Not everyone is safe." Clearly this relates to everyone, but some of us can say we've got a bigger safe guard than others.

One of the worst things about this entire idea is that, we cannot choose the color of our skin, we cannot choose who we love, we cannot stop ourselves from being who we are, and yet that is the reason why many are killed. They're killed for things that cannot be changed about themselves.

This is one of the most ludicrous actions that can ever take place.

Identity is abstract, it's frightening and can lead to something sinister. At night we can close our eyes and sometimes be able to create a world where we can walk around comfortably, but when we open up our eyes again...that world diminishes and it's so hard to realize that. That many cannot be comfortable.

To end this, here's a part of the article Revanche wrote, "If I am direct, I am always trying to gasp away my worries, am always teetering on the brink of death -- but how marvellous, how glamorous it feels to be there at all." And it is glamorous to be yourself...even if it may take a great amount of strength to realize that it is worth walking on this Earth rather than being a person who you're not comfortable being.

Identity....some scary stuff. =^^=