A fruit salad world

These days I must admit that I find very little to be optimistic about. The environment is collapsing before our eyes, the economy is going to hell, and with the candidates in the upcoming elections, I don’t even need to say what’s happening in politics. Even in the realm of human relations one can find only a few things to smile about. Perhaps it’s the eternal cynic in me or the idea of always expecting the worst. but occasionally I can’t help but feel that it’s everyone out for themselves and the few deeds of kindness that still manage to proliferate our society slip by quietly unnoticed.

Nowadays, instead of equality, peace, and love we often hear about prejudice, injustice and hate. Most problems stem from people refusing to accept one another. Instead of embracing the diversity of the world, we see that people rebel against it and in a somewhat Nazi mind-frame refuse to accept that which is different. Terrorism, one of the world’s biggest problems, comes from this very prejudicial thought pattern.

In the end, what does this create? It spawns a world wherein people are always either too sure or unsure of themselves. I admit I’ve fallen victim to following the trends and molding myself to the cookie-cutter format expected of me. But in the end I realize that more than being the ideal example of society’s blueprint what matters more to me is that I am true to myself. I believe the beauty of the world is in its diversity and that people who are all the same are as boring as a child’s paper dolls. To be real to oneself despite the harsh judgment of one’s peers is the only way to truly live life and be free.

Unfortunately, I know this is not a very common idea – especially among the younger generation. Everywhere I look I see 19-year-olds and 18-year-olds all dressed alike down from their one-inch thick made-up faces to their skin tight tube tops and three-inch heels. So you can imagine my surprise when I came across an essay written by a younger friend of mine, Den-den, from my high school alma mater talking about how she believes that being yourself is the right way to live. The following is an expert from her piece:

"Criticism and critiques are a big part of everyone’s life. My friends and I can’t help but criticize others on occasion especially when it comes to their clothes. But, moreover we have harsher criticisms against ourselves. We wish we were taller and thinner.

"Indeed, I may be short and chubby but so what? I believe it is in how you carry yourself and assert your image to the public that makes you stand out. It is the attitude and esteem that really matters. One should have a positive outlook towards oneself to be able to radiate confidence and charm.

"In every decision we make and in every road we take prejudice is inevitable. We just have to have faith in ourselves and never allow anyone to bring us so far down that we can no longer redeem ourselves. Accept criticism with an open mind and let it go. Do not hold grudges against others for it will just hold you down. When you let go of fear and hate you can truly be free."

This surprising amount of youthful optimism is a sign to me that the world hasn’t gone to shit yet. There are still those who believe in people and who believe that acceptance of all for who they truly are will bring out the Utopia that we all long for. I think the clothing brand Benetton had it right when they launched the United Colors of Benetton advertisement campaign several years ago and celebrated the world’s beauty in differences. After all I like comparing our world to a fruit salad — the more variety the better and the sweeter and when all is said and done, we’re all just a bunch of fruits making our way through life.

I definitely think that all the major problems of the world come from people thinking that our differences are a bad thing. What is it that makes us different anyway – the color of our skin, the tint of our hair, the shape of our eyes? These are not important. I have spent many wonderful days with friends from all over the world. Blonde-haired Americans, dark-skinned Africans, green-eyed Italians, fair-skinned Brits, and incredibly tall Germans and I have learned as much from them as I hope they have learned from me – their token olive-skinned Asian.

After all when the unimportant physical attributes are stripped away we are all the same. We are particles of matter we are souls and light. We are stars in our own lovely and sundry universe. After all, the best pieces of music are those with a rich and vibrant melody and some of the world’s loveliest paintings are those bursting with colors and I believe that the best way to be a complete person is to learn from others that come from a background that’s different from our own.

So, as move forward in a cynical society, I carry a spark of hope inside that we will one day bring down all racial and religious barriers and live the way I think we were destined to live – with Catholics and Muslims holding hand, Buddhists teaching us the path to enlightenment, and Japanese and French sipping sake and wine at the table of brotherhood. Only then can we finally live fully and as Martin Luther King said only then can we be "free at last!"

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