by Danielle Lawson

Created on: December 08, 2008

Do not judge, lest ye be judged. Isn't that somewhere in the bible? Let us not forget the horrible happenings in old Salem, Massachusetts. People were hanged because the whole town believed they were doing something un-Christian. I don't believe the people who carried out that task are resting too peacefully. The founding religion of this country preaches tolerance, forgiveness, and love thy neighbor, but the truth is none of that really happens. Everyone has the right to free speech. So, in turn, everyone will voice their opinions. With the overall mentality of today's American people, those opinions get forced onto the rest of society whether they know and like it or not. I live in the Bible Belt. I am part of the Goth subculture. I can honestly say this happened and is still happening to me.

Growing up I was always into the darker things in life. Of course it was kept secret. I would not be hanged for it in today's world, but I would be judged unfairly. I had to hide myself from the world. Does anyone want to live as something they are not? I like to be able to show the world who I am. I wear black, not because I am depressed (I am actually quite happy), but because it is part of my personality. It is my morbid mentality. It looks good on me. It is me. So what if my favorite holiday is Halloween and not Christmas.

I could not begin to be me until I was 18. Even then I could only dress that way on weekends or my days off of work. No one gives promotions to people like me. Nothing was based on performance or how well your work was done. I had to conform to a limit. I had to keep hiding. At age 24, I found my outlet. I moved to New Jersey, then Pennsylvania. I found like minded people. I visited New York and Philadelphia were the scene was even bigger. For the first time in my life I could really be me. I was not judged. I could walk into a store and not get very many dirty looks. Instead I got compliments on my boots and jacket from "normal" people. I learned a sense of empowerment. Now I am back home and people may judge me, but if they do they soon regret it. I defend myself. Then they only hate or like me for me and not because of what I wear or how I wear it.

When a person judges someone else based on something superficial as fashion it shows their fear. This fear dates back to ancient times. Psychologically speaking, lighter, brighter colors are associated with daylight. Daylight is associated with strength, power, and knowledge. Black and darker colors are associated with nighttime. Nighttime is associated with the unknown and fear of the unknown. People fear what they don't know about or cannot understand. Here is an interesting little tidbit, in the Middle Ages, white was worn for funerals and black for weddings. I don't remember the reasoning behind it. I'll have to look it up, but you can make your own assumptions about it.

Just because a person dresses differently than the norm does not mean they are not likable people. It does not mean they cannot do a job effectively and efficiently. Just because they like Halloween does not mean they have evil intent. If you wear your pants down to your knees, I may not like it but I will not assume you are a horrible person because I can see your boxer shorts. Doesn't that really sound silly? I can also say that Christianity's tolerant God would accept me into heaven. Aren't we to aspire to be like Him. I would not be judged by Him on what I wear but by the content of my decisions and how I treat others. Most religions will teach the same things.

So I say to all, who are we, as a people, to judge others based on fashion?

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