The Battle for True Beauty

Yesterday I was faced with a harsh reality. Yet again the situation I loathe finds its way back into my life, playing games with my mind. Ever since I can remember I've been against the American concept of beauty, the idea that to be beautiful one has to be thin. It doesn't matter the content of the person's character or even the beauty in their face. The sole deciding factor of beauty in America is a thin body.

Throughout my life I've been challenged to forgo my thoughts and convictions concerning this, but I have stood strong. Just recently though, I'm beginning to think that as I deal with Americans, my fictitious ideals of beauty are not reality. Because this world is fallen, because the people in it are fallen, the reality that supersedes all others, is that thin is more beautiful. What a lie the devil hass weaved into the whole of society.

When this reality keeps its distance from my personal life, I can bear it. Even at times, I can fight against it. When this reality invades my space like a bad smell, its not as easy to keep my hands up.

So the question remaining is, What does one do? Conform? Retaliate despite the cost? Dismiss it like it nothing to be bothered with? Or run away as far as one can go?

What is one drop of water going upstream while an entire river flows down?

Do I do it for him? He is an American to the very core. His ideas of beauty follow that of the mainstream.

Is it pride that keeps me from it? Is it obedience to a different lifestyle?

Can one mere person change the cultural norm of a nation?

I would like to believe so, but for now, the battle in my mind remains. There will be no resolution tonight.