Imagine you are in the middle of a sold out arena and you have no clothes on. As you look around you notice every one is clothed except you. What would your first reaction be? Would you ask yourself how you got into such a situation? Would you run for the exit or crumble in a heap of fear and shame? Certainly you would not be welcome amongst the other attendees. Society does not look favorably on people completely undressed in open public. This may be one sure fire way to get a seat in the back of a police vehicle or a trip to your local psych hospital. Totally exposed with nowhere to hide is not a good place to be.
Today you’re a warrior. A knight with a suit of armor. A battle is about to start and you need to defend the fair maidens of your town. A heroic welcome awaits with praise and adoration, ale and turkey legs, and shouts of victory upon your return. You arrive at the armory and your suit of armor is missing. Another knight has taken your armor and your horse also. All that is left is a sword. The Knight Commander commands you to take up the sword and charge into the battle. Retreat is not an honorable option so you march to your certain death. Off to battle with no protection. There will be no return, no hero’s welcome and definitely no turkey leg. The other Knights may appreciate your bravery, but you will soon be forgotten.
Whether you are naked in public or naked on the battlefield, nothing good is going to come out of that situation. We are constantly being seduced, encouraged and implored to expose ourselves every day in life. People are giving pieces of themselves away for free. They are showing their soft underbelly and making themselves vulnerable. I like to sit back and watch nowadays as people dive into the rising tide of the momentary hot topics. Today it may be gender debates or tomorrow it maybe the 2nd amendment. People may be using full cans of Bud Light for target practice or they may be buying cases of it in support. Topics come and go and the culture war rages on.
Every time we expose ourselves in public, by demanding to be heard or joining the mob, agreeing in solidarity and shaming the opposition we are giving a piece of ourself away. We have been convinced there is power in our speaking out. But when the world is full of people shouting how can you listen. Everybody is talking and nobody is listening. Life has become a striptease for many. They will strip themselves bare before the world. Emptying themselves out in a group, at work, or on social media. They change their profile pictures to support France, or rainbow people, mass vaccination, or poor suffering puppy dogs. They have convinced themselves there is power in the profile picture.
To add fuel to the fire, the opposition answers back with a volley for FJB cannon balls and laugh at those wearing masks alone in their cars. Each side keeping score how annoying the other side is. Answering back the imagined opposition on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Fueled by anger and disdain people are convinced they are impacting the world around them. They are impacting someone, themselves. They are fueling themselves with frustration and anger, become more naked and exposed daily.
Many of us have been drawn into the public battle at one time or another. There is a lot of frustration in the streets. There is a war for our identity going on and this is undeniable. Being powerless to affect change is frustrating. So some choose to run naked through the streets. Some choose to battle without armor. The only harm that comes is not to the demise of the enemy but the exhaustion of one’s self.
Anger is not a weapon of mass destruction, it is an internal time bomb that kills the one carrying it first. Do not be enticed into showing or sharing your anger. It means you are weak. Do not let the anger of another draw you in. It will unnecessarily ruin your days and put burdens on your back you are not meant to carry. If warriors want to charge into battle and make themselves a martyr, it may be wise to bow out.
There is nothing wrong with surrounding yourself with a shroud of mystery. You don’t have to put all of your beliefs and thoughts out for public consumption. We live in a world of judgmental wolves who are looking for meat to devour. Only foolish people volunteer for the feeding frenzy. Some may thrive on controversy. It may be best to avoid it all together.
News flash: Not every one likes you and that’s ok. There are no extra credit points for being transparent to the entire world. Share your life with those who love and care for you. Don’t set yourself up for rejection. If you are looking for a fight you certainly will find one. Shine the light on any topic long enough and your will find someone to disagree with your passion project. But after all isn’t that what people are looking for most of the time. When they find the haters they cry foul and demand repentance and an apology.
While running around naked and fighting without armor the powerless warriors are depending on the negative reaction of others to further unite them and empower others to join the cause. Making and an endless circle of reinforcements for the cause. Only a matter of time until exhaustion sets in or a new cause makes the nightly news. Until then keep watching the endless virtue signaling and remember silence is always an option.