Have you ever read the article called “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”? It unveils our innate bias and tendency to assume that there are always “others”. When in reality we all stem from the same tree of life.
I am in a new land.
I have been given a new name, a new family, a new home.
How I once identified as myself is no longer my own, in fact it is no ones.
Jacqueline Oeschger has been put in storage for now, along with the traits that she consists of.
Jacqueline once identified most with her loud personality, her Army brat background, sailing, and the arts.
I am in a place that restricts my ability to express myself, for lack of language.
I am in a land without masts or boats or lakes to sail on.
I should feel as if I have been stripped of myself but actually, I am exactly the same.
Because like the article pointed out, there is no “us” and “them”. Just like there is no “me” and “her”. I am as much myself as I ever was, only the perception and settings have changed. The surrounding variables may be different but I am the same.
We need to alter our thinking from being separate beings to one collective group. This is just as much my home as Germany or Georgia or Culver ever was. Jacqueline and Fatou may feel worlds apart but they both belong to me, and between us there are no differences.
I am her and she is me.
We are them and they are us.
If you aren’t familiar with the article it’s worth a read. It might make sense of this a little more.
Jacqueline Oeschger
