To be or not to be; that is the question: When people look at you, what is it that you want them to see? Who or what do you represent? And what are your beliefs?
These questions can come with so many answers and yet, some of those answers are hidden behind a hidden truth. In the past many of us have either been victims of bullying, or been the bullies ourselves, unaware of the story behind the facts. This was mainly due to being different or standing out. Some people would say that life gets better beyond school, others—growing up you are tasked with so much more responsibility. But whilst growing up is your identity forgotten, in search of, or finally found?
A lot of people ‘discover themselves’ at University, whereas others study for exams and this thing called a ‘degree’. Almost every day students and staff alike will pick up Salient, read through certain articles that could have the most mundane points imaginable and discard it later through the day. So that article will not dish out any answers to people that are seeking, rather it is written with one real thought in mind: To be or not to be, or in plain language, to accept or not to accept, the change and difference in society. Things change and as the human race we learn to accept and adapt to such change, but at times change becomes a thing that can threaten us. Society may change, but do we become sheep and trail behind it like everything is going to be A-OK?
“I said I’m sorry mama, I never meant to hurt you, I never meant to make you cry, but tonight I’m cleanin’ out my closet” – Eminem
Coming out of the closet is a somewhat lighter term than that of modern slang, but what else can be said if not to offend or choose a side—for or against. It’s not just people’s identity or how they change that defines who they are but it is by the actions from their decisions that write the book people will read.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” – Martin Luther King Jr
Subtract the children from this equation and look at it like one people. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream that his nation would become one people, that his race would not be judged by their colour but by their character. Now looking at Aotearoa and the people here, to be judged on the outside or by the way people walk or talk is unfair in itself. Are we to become one people no matter the identity some take or the change some go through with? Fates cards are in your hand, it is by your decisions will we see the outcome.