My Revision: Identity Paper

The Original

Be Bold with our Identity

            Many people want to be born with a good appearance and healthy physical conditions. However, people are just born the way they are. Or perhaps in the coming years of their life, their appearance and good health fail. Some people think that “Physical Disabilities are the biggest challenge to a sense of identity”.

Remix defines identity as what we are born with, is shaped by culture and personal choices (Latterell 5, 9, 11). There are factors that we are born with; gender, race and our place of birth, will be referred to as absolute identity because they cannot be changed. Latterel also said, “…identity is shaped through acculturation. Acculturation is the process by which we absorb the practices, attitudes, and beliefs of particular social groups” (Latterell, 10). Moreover, she said that we must examine the choices we make in our daily lives-choices about our social relationships and anything else we care about (Latterell, 11).

            The concept of physical disability will be picked from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “An individual may also qualify as disabled if he/she has had impairment in the past or is seen as disabled based on a personal or group standard or norm.”

Grealy, from the book Masks, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a lethal form of cancer. She lost nearly half her jaw in the attempt to reconstruct her face”  (Grealy, 66). I can see from her picture that she has an asymmetry jaw.

When people have physical disability condition, they often feeling sorry about themselves. I can tell in Masks, Grealy mentioned, “the great tragedy of my life” (Grealy, 66). It was her reaction about what happened in her life. The next reaction, they try to cover ‘the wound’ with something. She felt very good when she was wearing her costume for Halloween at the end of October. She said, “No one can see me clearly. No one could see my face” (Grealy, 67). 

The worst reaction might be having a low self-esteem. Back to Grealy’s story, she calls it: “deep bottomless grief … called ugliness” (Grealy, 66). At this point, she felt bad and sorry about her appearance. I would say that she cannot accept herself. She has low self esteem. Therefore, she feels secure when she wears a Halloween costume as her mask.

When tragedy or bad things happened in life, what should they do to cope with? First, I would say that they have to realize their self-image. Actually there is simply question like who I am. In comparison, when I read “Who You Callin’a Bitch?”, she  looks herself as a child of God. She is a queen. A lot of time, she looks around, she saw women being verbally and physically assaulted, especially in rap music.

Second, I would say that they have to accept themselves as they are. They have to know that situation could change to bad, worse and worst. Learning to love and accept their circumstances is the best. It is not always sunny, sometimes there are clouds.

Third, I would say that find their beauty inside. Everybody has talent can be shared to others. Some people good at writing, singing, playing music, et cetera. Queen Latifah said, “All things start inside your soul and work outward. Thoughts are powerful” (Latifah, 34). The situation and condition surround her does not change her point of view about herself. She stated, “To me, though, all women are beautiful. Every woman is a queen and we all have different things to offer. (Latifah, 37). Her statement is very encouraging.

Likewise, Donald Trump in Find the Greatness within Yourself, he said, “How else you can find the greatness that lies within you? That means confronting your weaknesses and not just admiring your own strengths” (Trump, 242).

Once again, some people might have concept that “Physical Disabilities are the biggest challenge to a sense of identity”. I would say that physical disability might be not being the greatest obstacles to establishing a sense of identity. For Grealy’s case in Mask, I think in my mind that if only Grealy had point of view about herself like Latifah had, she would not be tortured by her condition. When somebody has a strong point of view about himself, any physical disability will not be an obstacle for his or her identity. Some people like Ray Charles, the blind, Kenny G., the asthmatics, Ludwig van Beethoven, the deaf, proved that they went beyond their physical disabilities.

The Revision

Great Appearance Plays an Important Player in Identity.

            What distinguishes ourselves with others is our identity. According to Remix, identity is what we were born with (Latterel 5). The gender, race, and physical description are the greatly determined to the identity form. Having a good physical description especially good appearance is the greatest contributor to develop a strong sense of self-identity.

People tend to admire at a person who has pretty and great appearance in all over the world. One great example, in High School’s Secret’s Life written by Emily White, she describes that at Calhoun, virtually all the popular kids are physically well proportioned; one girl I interview will later describe them as “the kinds of kids who get their way because they have perfect in hair, perfect teeth, et cetera.” (White 18). Unlike Grealy, from the book Masks, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a lethal form of cancer. She lost nearly half her jaw in the attempt to reconstruct her face” (Grealy, 66). I can see from her picture that she has an asymmetry jaw.

When people have unfortunate appearance condition, they often feeling sorry about themselves. I can tell in Masks, Grealy mentioned, “the great tragedy of my life” (Grealy, 66). It was her reaction about what happened in her life. The next reaction, they try to cover ‘the wound’ with something. She felt very good when she was wearing her costume for Halloween at the end of October. She said, “No one can see me clearly. No one could see my face” (Grealy, 67). 

The worst reaction is having a low self-esteem. Back to Grealy’s story, she calls it: “deep bottomless grief … called ugliness” (Grealy, 66). At this point, she felt bad and sorry about her appearance. I would say that she cannot accept herself. She has low self esteem. Therefore, she feels more secure when she wears a Halloween costume as her mask.

Having great outward appearances like having handsome and beautiful faces and fabulous body shapes are important as they indicate strong sense self identity. It would be better also if they are balance out with having inner beauty. Everybody has their own positive side. Some people are good at writing, singing, playing music, et cetera. Queen Latifah said, “All things start inside your soul and work outward. Thoughts are powerful” (Latifah, 34). The situation and condition surround her does not change her point of view about herself. She stated, “To me, though, all women are beautiful. Every woman is a queen and we all have different things to offer. (Latifah, 37). Her statement is very encouraging. Likewise, Donald Trump in Find the Greatness within Yourself, he said, “How else you can find the greatness that lies within you? That means confronting your weaknesses and not just admiring your own strengths” (Trump, 242).