Misunderstood
It’s worrisome, yet amusing, when people make illusory correlations pertaining to my character. Like, I own a snake, so I must be a sneaky person. Or, I’m a proper asshole (an illusion in and of itself), so it’s no wonder I want to learn German. How about, I like PitBulls, so it’s obvious I’m prone to violence. Mind you, these aren’t examples being pulled from thin air; at some point or another I have heard them hurled towards me. And my way of defending myself is to chuckle, smirk, or ignore outright my accusers. People use cognitive interpretation to make sense of surroundings and events. Be it due to emotional state or chronic mental illness, the cognitive is suspended and the interpretations are ongoing. The life experiences cannot be dismissed. Maybe you were attacked by a snake as a child. Or, maybe you just bought into the myth that snakes are slimy and sneaky. Either way in your mind they are evil creatures with ill-intention and likewise their keepers. Then there are the individuals growing up watching old WWII movies. The Germans, or I’m sure you would say “Zi Germanz”, are all hatemongering Nazis out for world domination. Hollywood (America’s Media) has done a fine job with this one. All villains had a distinct German sounding accent. Your senses have been conditioned, so your responses are not surprising. Germans are assholes. So anyone trying to showing interest in the language and culture must be _______? Ding! Ding! Ding! An asshole!! Do I need go into the dog breed that if be left to some people would be eradicated from the planet? No, it’s not bad owners and breeding practices. It’s the breed! Their jaws mechanically lock right? Listen, educate yourselves. Obviously there are things you clearly don’t understand. Or you’ve bought into the masses misunderstandings hook, line, and sinker. Make an effort to change your perception. A beautiful world will open up right before you. This is not a Kumbaya-let’s-hold-hands post, or it’s not intended to be that. But I think it’s full time we started lifting these veils that cloud our vision. You may see me, and your world, in a different light. Journey on….
