Think Progress - Why I Don't Fit In That Box

Think Progress

I think “Progress?” every time I am reduced to the qualities that make me a mere statistic. Every time I am grouped according to my gender or age, I yearn for progress. I yearn for peers who look past my age, weight, height and color to the content of my thoughts, ideas and speech.

Progress means looking at the list of boxes, “Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, Native American, etc” or “Male, Female” or “18-25, 26-30, etc” and choosing “I’d rather not answer” because you cannot be defined by the parameters of your demographic profile.

Progress is a mindset that calls for constant challenge to the status quo; it means actively analyzing the sound bites offered by mainstream media for their lack of substance and looking for what’s not being said.

Progress means filling in the blanks for yourself, digging to the core of the issue instead of parroting “experts” or the “media” and coming to your own conclusions by relying on your life experiences.

Progress means you might start your life as a “Republican” morph into a “Libertarian” and end your life as a member of a political party that isn’t yet formed.

Progress means keeping your mind flexible and limber in order to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the wonderful world we share.

Instead of centering our analysis on studies and statistics, on who has the most delegates or who got the best grade on the last exam, take the time to listen to the substance of the message you are hearing and responding to. That’s Progress!

*I mistakenly posted this as a forum topic, please post your comments here!