Does our outward appearance determine what type of role models we become?

[Slender Agenda]

Very recently, local artist Christian Belle stated that he wants to stop wearing jewellery as he is about to become a father and would like to be a good "role model" (i assume) to his children.

With this statement in mind, questions such as what makes a good person arise. By getting rid of our outward socially "deficient" things, do we automatically become purer inside? Why is it that our outward appearances are used to judge the people we are on the inside?

A woman who smokes in this country is considered to have no morals. A man with piercings, jewellery and tattoos is painted with the same brush even though not quite as harshly.

It is because we live in a socially backward society that judges people on what they look like, what tribe they are from or how well they can speak the white man's tongue. I went to one of the best universities in Africa and my lectures were barefoot hippies that had dread locks and came to class with no shoes on. However these people had PhD's and had won awards internationally.

We spend so much time focusing on what people look like on the outside such that we do not see who they are on the inside or what it is they can offer us as individuals.

The reason that "big" and important people appear up-right is because they understand that they need to be what society wants them to be. They dress according to what society expects of them, they have conformed and become slaves to societies boxed in and shallow thinking.

Because of their outward appearances we assume that they are moral and upright people, as a result whenever they do something out of their "character" it becomes a big spectacle. But we never learn. We just dont stop to think that maybe there is more to people than their outward appearances.

It is a pity that the above mentioned artist wants to stop wearing jewellery just do he can be a "good" father. If internal cleansing is needed, i'm hoping he does that too.

 

[kukumega]

People do something from internal but they do say something they never have. You do what you are interested in and that makes you character. If you want to change, you should look upon your actions and interests if they are good or bad. So I think christian Bella is right according to his judgement since his actions affected him from inside.

 

[Brindy]

although we say you can never judge a book by its cover but it should also be known that a good cover can attract a reader. an outward appearance plays a big part in creating our images and first impressions. i agreee with the one who says that may be bella saw that his image tarnishes his innerbeing thus he is into a step by step change. He gets my support in that.

 

[Slender Agenda]

Brindy and kukumega but by supporting that are we not perpetauting false ideologies on human character and idelogies? is he not just repeating a cycle by which we teach our young ones to judge people based on what they look like as opposed to who we are? is this right?

 

[Red Giant]

Brindy and kukumega but by supporting that are we not perpetauting false ideologies on human character and idelogies? is he not just repeating a cycle by which we teach our young ones to judge people based on what they look like as opposed to who we are? is this right?

someone chararacter is a sum of many things and his/her outlook is one of them and one which is quick to catch. i think we should not overlook one's outlook in judging character but we must be coutious in applying it.

 

[Kaka Kapo]

But in most cases our outlooks portrays our inner behavior and our outlook can be used to judge the manner in us. So to Bella I think he has a point and its true I won't feel good to se my father wearing an earring eti because outlook does not represent the real man in him..