Mood:
caffeinatedTopic: Culture
We all associate ourselves with a particular form of identity which can be described in a way as “belonging to a certain social setting”.
Whether it is political, ideological, social or geographical, the list is endless and as much as it tends to narrow down on a specific ideological way of determining ones identity, it sometimes jeopardizes the former as a means of discriminatory afflictions towards an individual or a group.
Sometimes it becomes more severe that it leads to an ethnic attack, regional woes and international disputes due top simple basic facts of differences. From the post election unrest witnessed in Kenya to the long stand off in the Middle East to name but a few.
It can therefore be argued that an attempt to seek and create ones own identity which holistically stands out on its own without any reference to the existing stereotypical brands of being can be successful.
Through globalization and a race to one global nation, it is of relevance that the only way this can be achieved is to be unique in every different way. Just like a barcode enables a product to be identified through its unique format.
As a basic norm of any people, history is an important aspect structured to safeguard its cultural values and practices. If this aspect can be sought after in a proper way and understood, one can forge his own future with disregard to the bounding factors to his historical background, as long as he identifies with who he is, where he is from and to know where he is going.
This way of thinking points to a new ideology that we can create our own future. Surely why should we be identified through some of the existing institutions and ideological patterns rather than as who and what we are. It will just be a matter of time before an emergence of a new identity which does not reflect on any existing form of cultural, ethnical, geo political or any other institutionally stereotyped form of identity.
On a point of self critique this article does not portray a sense of anarchism fuelled by rebellion but tries to put across a point that as much as we are all part of and form a social structure, each one of us exists and acts on their own free will within these structures for the well being of all.
By Jeff Otieno Baraza.
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