The reality of it all is: I have a reasonable possibility of fatality. It happens all the time. Everyday. This struck me the other night, and it hit hard. I might actually die doing something I love. For as long as I can remember I had wanted to join the United States Army. It was my dream, to defend the people I love. This issue arose. Death. I knew people died all the time in war, it's impossible for them not to. But I never really figured it would happen to me, you know, getting shot, blown to bits, captured, raped. None of these things really crossed my mind. I figured I'd go for a few years, do my job, and come home--(with the possibility of being Stop Loss'd) But recently a veteran of war visited our high school. And there I heard some of the most disturbing things I've ever heard, or envisioned.

"Imagine, you're kneeling beside your best friend's bleeding body; can feel their hands becoming clammy and you can't even stay with them because if you do, you'll be dead soon enough too. You know that whole 'No man left behind' thing? It's bullshit. They WILL leave your ass out there if you are near death." His words truly moved me. I did so. It frightened me. Though I did consider his extreme bias and his probable exaggeration, still it must have been pretty scary because emotion just simply radiated off his tongue.

If you're dreams and ambitions were threatened by death would you still pursue them?

 

I was wondering this very question to myself the other day. Dressed in somewhat tight ripped up jeans, a charcoal sweatshirt with holes in the sleeves, my hair in my face. This is how I dressed when meeting up with some friends at the local mall. Upon arrival I had been asked several times by different people if they could "give them a drag" unaware I'm fully straightedge and do not carry cigarettes on me. Slightly annoyed I entered anyways. I smiled holding the door open for a mother and her two daughters, both about my age. The mother gave me an odd look saying "Thank-you....?" Though, her daughters both dressed in total Hollister clothes, brightly exclaimed "Thanks!" Is it that today's youth is less judgmental of appearance? Or is it that the aging parents are becoming more paranoid of who their children might become if they let them dye their hair, wear black, listen to metal, etc...?

I attend a public school in the United States. The majority of kids there are Hispanic, where White kids are the minority. I noticed that if you attend this school and you are Hispanic you most likely wear baggy pants, flat rim hats, baggy shirts, have your hair gel'd in some way or another, and listen to rap, hip-hop, or pop music. If you are White you probably wear tight clothes, studded belts, tons of bracelets, have long dyed hair, and listen to rock, indie, or metal music. Dispite the dramatic difference in cultural styles, we all get along well as both friends, and lovers. We give conversation, trade numbers, and share lunch tables. Is this social acceptance because the youth of today has put aside differances, and learned to accept common intrests they find if they actually take the time to learn they share? I believe so and I do not think a person's style should effect who they choose to be in life. 

Personally, I DO dye my hair, wear black, listen to metal, etc. But I would not consider myself at all a bad influence to perhaps a younger age group. I love working with kids, I do volunteer work, and do not like to affiliate with drugs. But does this show through my clothing or what I listen to? Not exactly. If I really was looking to reflect this, I'd present myself more conservatively and more formally, rather than uncaring. I think adult, especially parents, are a little over concerned with teenagers. Of course they should be involved and try to influence their kids to STEER them in the right direction. But this should not mean they must shove a certain appearance down their throat. Simply to guide, while avoiding tampering with their children's "freedom of expression." (in America at least)

What do you think a person's "Dress Code" says about them? Do your clothes define you?