For the past couple of days I have been responding to the comments that I received from my previous post, Loving What You Love. In doing so, I learned a lot more about the Bronies I wrote about. People shared their thanks, links to videos, and valuable insights that challenged me. Through engaging the Bronies, Brony parents, and even a few Brony detractors, I came to see how the fandom culture is much like any other culture that we are aware of. They have their own music (see below), art, language and of course mythologies and values system. And like any minority within a larger culture, they have those within the larger culture who tend to not be capable of appreciating what they offer.
For over a decade now I have been been consciously dedicated to mastering the ability to articulate the language of difference. It was when I was working at the NSA, that I first came across the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. I was shocked that such an office existed. I began spending my breaks in the office reading magazines and books on the theories of the benefits of capitalizing on a diverse workforce. The theories suggested that a more diverse workforce makes the workplace better, that there was more innovation, yadda yadda, yadda. I totally bought into it. This awareness seemed like an answer to my prayers. After so many years of struggling to communicate cross-culturally, I was thrilled to know that there was actually a discipline that took this societal need seriously. I was so excited that I enrolled in a Diversity training program and even tried to get a temporary transfer into the Office of Diversity with the hope that I could make a career change that would allow me to focus on helping people learn to appreciate difference. When I finally got into recruiting several years ago I even worked on “Diversity Projects” with clients. It was then that I discovered that for many people “Diversity and Inclusion” are just buzz words.
Maybe I am a little gungho when it comes to that idea, but what I found was that there are few people who can embrace difference. Even when the difference or the change, is in their best interest or in the best interest of the planet, most people can’t do it because they are too afraid–we are too afraid. I’ve watched people who cry inclusion be just as exclusive as anyone. I know people who know what is like to be oppressed jump in line to oppress others. And I’ve seen bleeding heart liberals marginalize the very people they say they stand up for. Now am I saying that truly open minded people have to accept everything indiscriminately? No. Of course not. Am I saying that everyone should like each other and go around skipping and holding hands. No. But what I am saying is that when we are shut down by fear then we don’t even have the chance to embrace anything–not even a better life or a better world. One of the Bronies shared with me a secret to overcoming that fear. He said that to embrace being different, all you have to is just find something that you value more than you value your own security. I think that is awesome and goes perfectly with something the author of the book, The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz said. He teaches that “Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive – the risk to be alive and express what we really are.”
I think the thing I respect the most about the Bronies is that they are choosing to be different. One of the commenters on the last post wrote, “Alot of my friends have asked me, why have I chosen to be a Brony? Why would I want to open myself up to the possible ridicule that comes with being apart of this fandom.” I think the answer is above. She found something she valued more than her security and is willing to be alive and express what she really is. How many of us wish we could do that in some other area of our lives, but are too afraid to step up. I’m raising my hand. But not for long. I am not saying all of this because I am not afraid, but rather because in light of seeing others be unafraid, I realize that I have let myself become afraid. After being different for so long, I got tired and started feeling like it would be easier to try fitting in. But the truth is that it is great to be different. We all are anyway. When we choose to be different ultimately we are just making the choice to be who we are. And as the Bronies have shown me, we give others the opportunity to be who they are as well.
I recommend really listening to the song below. The lyrics are spot on and I think that if we look deep enough, we will find that we all wish we had the strength to live into the awareness the song calls up.
Seriously Tripping Through Life 