Unisex

Let me start by saying that I truly, honestly, have no issue with people doing as they like.
I believe everyone should be free to love whom they want, look how they want to look. Really, there’s not much that gets me going, so long as they are not telling me how to live my life.
To each his or her own. I’ll have an opinion, because I’m entitled, but go for it.
That being said, I have an issue with entertainers, celebrity, reality whatevers being touted as brave heroes.
I am not a fan of people that parade themselves around for spectacle, and I really have an issue with the people that follow them. The ones that comment on their bravery or how cool they are because the media says it is so. I don’t get it and I think it says something about the state of our society.
If Bruce Jenner, yup I’m still calling him that, wants to be a woman, feels he was born in the wrong body and has the money to have surgery, I say, “Knock yourself out.”
But instead of making a life decision, transitioning, he shares every nook and cranny of his world under the auspices of “telling his story to help others.” As my grandfather would say, “Malarkey!”
He does it for the advertising dollar and attention. It has nothing to do with making the transgender in cubicle four feel better. And it certainly does not strike me as “brave”. It’s a savvy business decision, it will make him more popular than the other scary clowns in his family. It’s money, that’s all.
And yet, people tweet him, watch his show, and I’m sure follow his life. They hold him up as a representative of a larger group of people that want to change their gender, as if he has sacrificed, given up something for the greater good.
I suppose people think he is a pioneer. Give me a break.
Cheryl Jacques gave up her job in protest, to support LGBT equality. Scott Long goes to work every morning for the causes that help break down barriers for people and choices our society still tries to stifle. Lynn Conway is a genius, but she was still fired. These people are often humiliated by their colleagues and the press. They face discrimination on its ugliest level, rich, poor, white, black, male, or female. They keep going, regardless of limelight, they are working.
They are brave.
People are brave when they are compelled, or choose, to go against the grain. Bruce Jenner…yeah, he’s just a narcissist, but the media savvy world, makes him a sensation, a hero.
It’s an insult to the word, a money grab.
I’m certainly not being mean to Bruce Jenner, that would be super politically incorrect, but certain things, certain “trends” really make me grumpy.
My grandfather also used to say that everything in life swings on a pendulum. Here’s hoping we swing somewhere away from our televisions and soon. It would be wonderful if the people watching Bruce, hailing him as a beacon of courage and strength, started living their own lives. Then maybe we would recognize our real heroes, the ones that are never interviewed or offered endorsements.
My thoughts from the laundry room. Please, Go to Bed.
acceptance courage crazy life Lifestyle Reality TV stupidity thoughts brave heroes Bruce Jenner celebrity Cheryl Jacques culture LGBT life Lynn Conway people Scott Long Television thoughts
Perhaps if Bruce gave all earnings from being “Caitlin” to those in real distress-he/she might be a hero!
I agree. I deal with death often in my line of work, and what I have discovered is life is full of so many quiet heroes and brave souls who just went through life doing something good for others. The deeds may be big, the are more often small, but the people they touched will tell you about them, because the person was humble on top of being brave and courageous.
It can be sacrfice–and count as such–if the potential exists for disaster as much as for gain–one never really knows which way that sacrifice, if it is one, will impact people. If at all. If you are a private citizen your scope for gain/loss is different (family, friends, neighbors) than that of someone who has been a public figure for decades.
Bravery means sacrifice. Does it count as sacrifice if the gain is more than the give-up? I enjoyed the opinion and perspective. Thanks for your tact and voice.
Me, too. I think you spoke for many of us with this blog, Tracey. Thanks for being brave enough to say it out loud what many of us have been thinking. ~nan
I totally agree, I’m sick of hearing how brave he/she is.
Totally agree. Just had almost the same conversation at my book club last week.
Good for you, Tracy, for saying it like it is. . . .
As Bruce Jenner worth – broke
As Caitlin Jenner worth – $500 million