Purely a Matter of Relevance: People Get Offended Too Easily These Days or No, People Have Been Offended For Year’s And You’re Just Now Listening
Perspective. It’s one of the key elements of daily living. Even down to its most basic form. Without light bouncing off of objects and refracting in our eyes we wouldn’t be able to see anything and would walk into walls and off of cliffs like lemmings to the slaughter. In its more advanced forms perspective is what gives us the ability to have empathy and look at situations in a light you might not have considered prior.
So in the time since my last post some instances have arisen that bring things like perspective to the forefront. Nothing can create a better chance for perspective to come into play like when discussing topics that touch the nerve of many individuals.
I gaze towards the pachyderm in the corner. His name tag reads racism. Let’s acknowledge him.
If you have a pulse, an internet connection and don’t reside under a rock then you are well aware at this stage the marketing faux pas H&M made last week. If you’re unfamiliar, the ad in question viewed a young black child wearing a hoody that read “coolest monkey in the jungle.” Now before I get too far into it and let me state that no, I was not offended by it. Alas, I know many people that might very well be, and justified in their reasoning for it as well. In wake of the ad I have seen the example of short sighted perception rear it’s ugly head. “People get offended too easily these days,” or comments akin to “sad little snowflakes are getting their panties in a bunch.”
First off, if this is how you view the world at large, let me point something out; You are part of the problem. I’m sorry buddy, people haven’t just recently become offended by every little thing. People have been offended by these types of systemic racism and insensitivities for quite some time now. We live in an age where everyone’s reactions and thoughts have become center stage, and now people’s views and opinions are able to be viewed under a microscope on a global scale. Personally, I am grateful for it. No longer must we be forced to live in the dark and not know how our fellow men and women are affected by the inequalities of our society. Social media has created a forum for discussion of these topics and by way of this an ability to learn and understand the issues and plights those less privileged than yourself must go through.
Open your eyes and ears but more importantly, open your hearts. Only then can we as a people move forward to a more peaceful tomorrow, but ay, what do I know?
This has been purely a matter of relevance.
