What defines who we are?

Question

I have never been a fan of boxes, and normally refuse to get in them. Society has a way of wanting to categorize people. As a kid, I confounded some of my classmates because they didn't know weather I was a "kicker", a "prep", or any of the other cliquey steriotypes. I am the same way, now. I could be considered a conservative, because I usually vote Republican, and agree with Republicans on a lot of things, yet I have a deep love of the earth, my fellow human beings, and feel that compassion should always be a factor in decisions, things that some would say make me a liberal. I could be called a feminist because I believe women and men are equals, and should both be treated with respect, yet some might not think I am b/c I don't believe in putting one gender down to raise another up. Men and women are both beutiful, and I don't feel oppressed by my husband (ok, most of the time, lol). Do we have to fit into boxes? If not, what is left to define who we are?

Answer 1

The great thing about being yourself is you don't worry about where you fit in. You can have well balanced views and not be forced into a particular clique. Because you are a republican is no reason to ignore other pressing issues and I don't think we do. I feel just as compelled as you on the issues you stated although the libs would make you believe we don't care. Just because I don't do all of my shopping at Whole Foods doesn't mean I don't care about the environment , nor does it mean I hate women because I think Rosie O has lost it. That is what makes us people and not a bunch of sheep. Hang in there, your some one I could relate to. Thank you for your question.

Answer 2

It is very true that human beings are very complicated and cannot be truly categorized.

Genetically, we are predisposed to be like our parents. Many of us find, to our chagrin, that the older we become, the more we are like our parents in our habits and expressions.

Environmentallly, throughout our lives we have experiences that continue to shape and re-shape us. Many of us start off with liberal ideas believing in the good nature of man. But after decades of mostly seeing the bad side of man, whether in relationships, disposition, politics, culture or religion we tend to become more cynical, distrustful, and conservative. So, people continually change.

Perhaps for convenience we put people into categories such as liberal, conservative, femenist, humanists, tree huggers, right wing, religious, etc., which is similar to the sound bites that we take as news. We may even put ourselves into these kinds of categories just to get along and fit in when it is convenient and advantages.

But, who we really are, none of us do not really know. We change from moment to moment, like a moving target. However, the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:11 says, " For who among men knows the things of man, except the spirit of man which is in him? In the same way, the things of God also no one has known except the Spirit of God." So, what is implied here is that we have to go to the source, God, who created man and everthing else to know both God and man. Otherwise it is way to complicated.

Answer 3

I have never been a fan of boxes either, I do some things because of upbringing. But, as I matured I formed my own ideas about things. i believe that with each life experience we form our own ideas and opinions which can change according to circumstances

Answer 4

The things that define us as people are our beliefs which consequently means that if you take away our beliefs then there wouldn't be anything to categorize us into our respective little boxes.

Answer 5

Individualism!

Answer 6

I agree, labels never fit people, or they shouldn't.

I think what defines us is who we care for and how we show it. All the rest is just details.

Answer 7

Our actions.