Image Isn't Identity

My inspirations so often come from tv shows or movies and this blog is not exception.  Today's thought is brought to you by The Librarians.  It doesn't matter if you are unfamiliar with this show.  I'll add pictures to help as needed.  The title is a quote from the show that stood out to me.

A little background...  This is Eve Baird, played by Rebecca Romijn.  She's beautiful right?  Think about what role she might play in this show.  Just based on her appearance, there are some pretty stereotypical ideas that probably come to mind.  But they're wrong.  Eve is actually a military colonel, she's the muscle of the team.  She protects the librarians on their missions.  She kicks butt!

During the last episode I was watching, they were dealing with the selfie culture and it became clear that Baird was avoiding cameras.  One of her friends asked about it.  She told of how when she joined the military, the men called her things like"sweetcheeks" and pinched her butt.  It seems that all that kind of attention made her unhappy with the way she looked.

The boss of the team is the one who spoke the words "Image isn't identity" near the end of the show.  Regardless of what she looks like, it doesn't change who she is.  I just stopped on that thought.  It is a much needed epiphany in many of us.  Not just our physical image, but how other people think of us.  Those don't change our identity unless we let them.  What we look like doesn't have to determine who we are.

Why do we take selfies?  Is it vanity?  Is it attention seeking?  What about selfies with celebrities?
What is the point?  We don't actually know that person, but if we can post a selfie with them, our friends will be jealous and think we're really cool?  This is the only picture I have with someone fairly well known.  Why?  I could tell she didn't really enjoy this part of the job.  lol  For her, what she does isn't about fame, so this kind of thing must feel awkward.  But that's beside the point.  Why did I stand in a line to get this picture?  Does it make me worth more in anyone's eyes?  Does it enhance my identity or my character in any way?

Who are you?  Who determines your identity and your value?  I think those are essential questions to answer in this human experience.  Do you know who you are, or do you let others define it for you?  Why do you post selfies?  I think the answers are deep and personal, which is why I'm really only posting the questions, not my own answers.  Also the flip side of the question, how do we see others?  Do we judge them based on outward appearance or do we try to find out who they are?  I think answering these types of questions can go a long way in healing society .  Know who you are, be yourself, bring your unique gifts to the table, and work to see others as they are, not as you think they are.  If we were all the same, society would collapse.  It takes all of us with our specific gifts and talents to make the world function.  So why do we insist that everyone should be the same?  Don't think that's where we're at?  Are we really tolerant?  Think for just a second.  If someone expresses an opinion that is different, how are they treated?  If someone wears clothes that aren't "in fashion" or "just like everyone else" what happens?  The talking heads preach tolerance and uniqueness til they're blue in the face, then turn right around and bash anyone who dares act on their uniqueness.  Let us all express our unique identities.  We are created equal, but that in no way means "the same."  I'm different.  I'm ok with that, but it doesn't mean I don't sometimes feel the pressure to conform.  I hope we will all find that place of security in identity someday soon and rise up and discover how much we can accomplish together after we stop fighting against everyone who is different.