Hello. You may have read my article in a late December issue of the Times,
2001. Well, if you didn't I'll tell you what I said. I asked a question. Why
do we wish Merry Christmas? Other humans celebrate other things.
Well, now
I'm asking all people to answer another question. This is bigger. "What is
your typical person?" Am I a typical person? Is my friend a typical person?
I'd like to start out by explaining the reason for these questions. Over the summer I became a vegetarian. I don't think it's right to treat animals the way we do in our society today. Ever heard of a farm factory? I won't even go into the details, but I decided to become a vegetarian. Or at least try it.
I have become healthier. I am more able and willing to do things. Sure I have to put up constantly with people (including my closest friends and family) asking ignorant question, insults and teasing, but I know that it will be a very long time (if ever) before I once again start to eat meat. I have also cut out milk and eggs.
Someone I know once told me, "You should be proud of what goes into your body." This was good advice -- it has meant that I have gone to the library on numerous occasions and read many books, taking in facts (and yummy recipes!). In almost all of the books I have read, they state, "the typical American (or Canadian) family has this," or they say, "the typical human being does this."
What is typical?
Am I typical? I'm different from all of the kids I know and most adults.
Steak in my family is considered a staple food. Yet I get up in the morning,
I go to school, I listen to music, I play soccer, I love going to hockey games.
I also know I'm normal because like lots of girls I know love to hit the malls, shop, spend money and go to the movies. The only difference is what I eat.
Is it them? They're the ones who eat sausage for breakfast, ham sandwiches for lunch and steak for supper. Is that typical? Because they, like millions of others eat meat, and aren't considered weird. (At this point I would just like to say that I have nothing against people who eat meat, I only have a problem with people labeling others because of their differences and their beliefs.)
Is there anyone who is typical? I don't think that in the world there is a single person who can be considered typical. Look at the world problems. September 11th has brought out great sadness in the world, but being purely patriotic to my country isn't right. I must be patriotic to myself and to everyone else, no matter what country they live in. Patriotic to the world. Are the ones who sit and watch typical? Or is it the "typical American" who goes and fights? I don't think it's either. Are white people typical? Are native people typical? Are black people typical? I think that the term typical is too general.
I want the world to understand that we are one society, and we have to learn to understand each other. We have to stop labeling each other. I think that the most typical person is the one who cares too much about his or her own life. I mean, we all do it. I admit I do it. It's "typical" human nature.
But I have stopped. This world-wide problem can begin stopping right here. Stop going to the pool party and asking "Do you like my shirt?", "Press 333 if you think I'm ugly", "Press 122 if you think I'm hot". The list goes on and on. It doesn't matter how you look. And you know what? I don't think it's right to tell other people they're ugly, or weird or a freak. It's not right to silence or warn them for being in some shape way or form different from you.
I guess that I have rambled just about long enough. I know that this is going to be the biggest piece of cheese since the moon for some people, but that's okay. Long ago I stopped caring what people though of what I do or say. I am me. And this is my truth. Accepting each other is in my mind the first step to stopping another event like September 11th. If you don't agree, that's all right. I hope by writing this, I inspire just one person.
That is all. Giggler01, signing off.
