Your Uniform

This is an essay that I wrote a bit ago for my literature class. The subject could be expanded on more if desired. I will try and get a post out on the film festival soon. Grandfather has the whole 200 something pictures that we all took though. Maybe we can get some of those up soon. I look forward to your comments!


"Clothing can suggest, persuade, connote, or indeed lie and apply subtle pressure while their wearer is speaking of other matters." A quote by Anne Holander. I do not know Anne Holander, but I do know that she was very right when she said this. In this paper, I'll go a little deeper than just the issue of clothing, for it is not just what you wear, it is your entire countenance from which people will form their opinion of you. From cell phone rings, to the brand of your shirt, you are reflecting something. Your uniform in manner and attire show who you represent; and are major factors in people's general reaction to you.

Let us begin with the clothing you wear. Imagine this: you are walking through the mall one day and you see a group of young people. Their attire and accessories are all of the latest "in" items, from hair to toe-nail polish. What do you think of them? I will tell you what my thoughts would be. "My, I bet the read the latest magazine", or "it's just another group of preppy glamour girls". In only a matter of seconds, I formed an opinion of them in my mind and should I get to know these parties better, I will build on that original opinion. Now, could I have just walked past and ignored the fact that these people are self-stereotyped? (more on that later) Yes. But I did just what society frowns upon. I started to form an opinion of them, or "labeled"them. This group of people was wearing a "uniform", and that is what I identified them by. People say "you can't judge a book by it's cover". I will disagree with them for the most part. A cover does not just carry a picture. In fact there may be no picture at all. Maybe just a background color that may appear offensive or not. But a book will always have a title. My point is that what you wear shows what you represent. For instance, even if you just dress like a "skater", but do not skate, you appear as a skater representative. So generally, your allegiance appears to lie with the skater crowd. In this case, it is not necessarily your manner (though representing something can over time mold you to it) but your appearance.

The way that we carry ourselves and our manners that we use are a big factor in how we will be judged.It is the same principal as the clothing we wear. Some people may dress respectfully, but their actions are less than good, according to the Biblical standards. Another interesting thing is that the world generally knows when a Christian gets caught in a mess. Look at all of the attention that conservative and respectable people get when they make a mistake. It would appear that they are held to a "higher" standard...even by those who do not use those same standards for their own behavior. Do you not think the world is watching you just as much? I submit that they are. People look to other people for examples. Someone is always watching you. They look to the things you do as a model, good or bad. Someone to mold their actions after. That is just a fact. But as Christians, how should we act? A smile full of joy, and not deceit, is a beautiful thing. As followers of God, we should reflect the joy that we have in Christ. I believe that is one of the first steps to having a Christian manner. As long as our manner is reflecting Christ, we are representing our God correctly. But since we are human, and human nature is to sin, we are not perfect. So repentance becomes a key action in our "uniform" that we wear. If we go around sinning, and act as if we did nothing, we give out fellow Christians a bad name. We are labeled "hypocrites". But if we repent, we can redeem ourselves. I do not believe anymore is needed here, being as the Bible gives us all the insight we need on this subject.

Earlier in my paper, I mentioned "self-stereotyping". In our current culture, stereotyping is a bad thing to do. We aren't supposed to judge people by the things they wear, or even by certain characteristics that they carry. But when large groups of people get together, they start to separate into other groups that they prefer, creating semi-cultures within cultures. Certain groups were "popular" and other were not. It seems to me that people started seeing benefits of being labeled with a certain name, so they would imitate what they wanted to be. Altering their entire uniform just so that they could be labeled what they wanted and receive the benefits. Such as being popular, getting that boyfriend that they wanted, etc. Thus, my generation becomes a "self-stereotyped" generation. I personally think that it is wrong to pretend to be something you are not (and should not be) just to get attention. It is not God's way at all. Now, as Christians, what should our stereotype be? Or, is it even worth being stereotyped Christian anymore? In John 15, verse 19 it says this: "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." That should sum things up for the Christian. We should not be of the world. People should not be able to call us things of the world and be telling the truth. If anything, we should be called radical Christians who have hearts for the Lord. Because anything but radical might be lukewarm, and God wants our best.

Non-Christian people look to other people for answers. That is just a fact. They are unlike Christians in the fact that we look to God and His word first and foremost for answers, yet we also value the wisdom of other people. Christians might see this as a dis-advantage, because the non-Christian people looking only to other people will find weakness, frailty and sin, because it is human nature. But we can use this to our advantage, because if we put ourselves forward in such a way that our light's shine (Matt. 5:16) they will look to the Light. We need only to be there so that they can look to us, and not the world. But when they look to us, we need to make sure that we are representing out Father in a way that is honoring to Him. If the crowds see anything else, they might doubt our faith. Now that I have reassured you that the world is watching, what uniform are you wearing? Remember, we all wear one. Your uniform in manner and attire show who you represent, and are major factors in people's general reaction to you. In closing, your uniform can bring someone closer to God, or just as easily push them away.


Paige

Continued from below...

After posting, I didn't think it fair if I just left you hanging like that, so I will now give you a bit more information about the link I gave you. A rumor went around saying that the Aussie's didn't want Muslims in Australia and that they were telling them to get out. Only the radical Muslims that were planning on living out the Muslim way of life though. If they chose to live the Australian way, they were fine. This article gives you the real story, and some great quotes. I think the Australians were being rational. I also received something different when I got the email. This is what I received:

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to
get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off
potential terror attacks. A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders
pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime
Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would
face a crack down. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard,
hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did
not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by
parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia
law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on national
television. "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws
governing people in Australia: one the Australian law and another the Islamic
law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent
courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to
another country,which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option",
Costello said. Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave,
he said those with dual citizenship could possibly asked to move to the other
country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who
did not want to accept local values should "clear off". Basically people who
don't want to be Australians, and who don't want to live by Australian values
and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off", he said.
Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he
supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since
the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the
majority of Australians." "However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled
when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that
our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold
a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia,
However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country,
and apparently some born here, need to understand." "This idea of Australia
being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and
our national identity. As Australians, we have our own culture, our own society,
our own language and our own lifestyle."

"This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials
and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"

"We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish,Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society,
learn our language!"

"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some
Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and
women founded this nation on Christian principles, and this is clearly
documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our
schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the
world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."

"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept
ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us." "If the Southern Cross
offends you, or you don't like " A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a
move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have
no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came
from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it another's.

"This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you
every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining,
and griping about Our Flag,Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of
Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian
freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'."

"If you aren't happy here then LEAVE.
We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU
accepted."


(some editing was done, but nothing to effect what was really said)

Now, is this too radical, or is it how we should be. Perhaps some more Biblical principals should be added too. I am not sure that I would be so harsh. It is a wonderful ministry opportunity. But if the people are close minded and biased, it really would be better for them to leave. I know right now The United States main issue with immigrants is from Mexico. Many people are complaining that "we shouldn't have to learn Spanish, make them learn English". Is this right? I think it might be. But we should not be so close minded and not be open to learning other languages. I would preferably learn French, not Spanish. But nonetheless I am interested in learning one. Another thing that was said above is that their country was founded on God, and if the people didn't like that, they should leave. I thought about that, then thought about how much America might shrink if we applied all the things above. We would lose all of the "politically correct" people too. I am sorry for the confusion below. At first I just posted a link, but then quickly realized that the link was not exactly what I received. Also, I am not claiming that the above is 100% accurate. I just thought that it might be a good conversation provoker. I am checking my source a bit more, and will try to give you the link that I was given soon. I think that this is longest post I have ever done. I won't try and make it harder for me to break this record so I will end here. I look forward to your responses.

Paige :)

Have the Australians Got it Right?

I recently received an email from a friend that I found quite interesting. It contained a link to a site that debugs rumors to see if they are true or not. I had no clue this existed until now. The rumor that she sent me was true. The link will be posted below. I think that the Australians are on to something...But that is just me. Is what they are doing Biblical? What do you think? I will do a further post on this later. For now, tell me what you think.

Please bear with me as I review my sources a few more times. Thank you very much!


Paige ;)