Chas Bohrer

Professor Young

ENGW 1100: Identity paper

4 September 2015

             Identity, the traits and qualities that define us and separate us from others. No one person are exactly the same. Our identity and personality is unique to us. Race, age, religion, social status, gender, sexual orientation, culture, language, and origin are traits and pieces of us that make our identity. We wear our identity and showcase wherever we are while our personality only comes out when we talk and perform actions. People can look at us and identify us with specific characteristics because of our identity. Identity tells people our past, what we like to do, and could tell people a bit about my family. I think identity is a visual biography of ourselves.

            “Being Mexican is a state of soul – not one of mind, not one of citizenship.” A quote from Gloria Anzaldua’s, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue.” This quote means to me that you can’t put a label on your ethnicity with a citizenship. Your ethnicity is something greater than a piece of paper. I personally believe that our race doesn’t matter, you follow what you want to follow, you do what you want. Humans have the ability to reason and make up their own minds.

            I honestly think “Identity” is such an idiotic idea. When we look at someone we make assumptions about them without even talking to the guy. We are judging them based off what they wear, how they walk, how they act, what they eat, our whole civilization constantly judges everybody. My generation is a generation that is supposed to be “free thinking”, not having to care about anybody and be able to do what you want. We have made amazing progress but are still way off that non judgement ideal.

            Gay marriage was just made legal. I am still confused about why did we need to even put gay marriage to trial. If people want to marry the same sex then they can we try to control what other people by saying it’s wrong and inhumane. It’s actually inhumane to limit the thinking of other people, let them say what they want and behave how they want.

            Identity is just another way for others to judge and make ignorant remarks about us. My grandma is from a time when racist remarks were appropriate and whenever she says the N-word my family tells her she can’t say that because it’s not politically correct. I don’t like how we try to change how people view others, I think my sister and mom should of not try to change that.

            The world would be a great place if we did not have to hide from judgement and scrutiny but that will never happen as along as humans can think.