#i'mdifferent

Hot Sauce In Cola.

After reading Part 1 of Race, Class, and Gender in the United States by Paula S. Rothenberg, my eyes were opened to the word that controls our social hierarchy and defines us all: Difference. Each and every individual is different. Different race, ethnicity, religion, gender, class- the list can go on. We all have our differences, but instead of using our differences to separate each other, we should use them to come together and be introduced to the uniqueness of each individual.

Throughout Unit 1, the question I continued to ask myself was why we’re always looking at differences in a negative light and as a reason to separate ourselves from one another. 

I learned that before the world was more open to difference, people who were different were “disabled”. They were “disabled” because they were different. They were “disabled” because they were African American, Jewish, homosexual, or a woman. Personally, I do not see these as differences- I see them as identity.

Difference is not a concept that you can pack up and shut tightly into a “box”. The concept of difference should be like a can of worms. There should be DIFFERENT colorful worms flying all around you, introducing you to new ideas, and learning to appreciate what’s around you. 

At the end of the day, despite all our differences, experiences, and personal situations, we are all human beings. Yes, we are all different, but we should all be able to set our differences aside, coexist and educate each other about our differences. I feel that difference will never go completely unnoticed, but I hope that one day it will not be the reason for division between people. I hope that one day difference will not define who we are, but individuality will. 

The word difference leaves me with a question I want you to think about: What defines someone as different and why should that have an effect on how they are perceived as an individual?

Just remember: 

(NIV) Genesis‬ ‭25‬:‭27‬

HI SUHYUN (feat. Bobby)  - I'm Different