Where am I from? I am Asian.
Oh hang on, that's not right. I'm South Asian.
Don't get me mixed up with the others, though, I'm Indian.
Not North Indian, I'm South Indian. Malayali.
No, not a Malayali from Trivandrum or Palakkad. I can't for the life of me understand the way they speak. I'm from Kottayam.
I don't live in Kottayam town, though. Those town folk are strange. I'm a little way away.
Yes, that's the house. Oh but I don't live downstairs, the people down there don't talk very much. Don't get me wrong, we are the same people, we are one family, but they are different.
That's right. Upstairs. Not the room by the stairs, but the one by the kitchen. That's where I'm from. First bed from the right.
That's where I'm from.
Yes, I exaggerated the answer a tinge, but I did that to make clear how absolutely ridiculous we sound when we label and put ourselves in boxes separated by race, place, personality types, etc. Where does it end? We are all in some way different from each other, but does that mean we need to be kept apart? That we should dislike, or be afraid of one another?
I don't think so. As for myself, I know that my life would have been far less interesting if all that I saw of the world was that little town of Kottayam. It's a beautiful place, and it will always be a home of mine, but it's not a box that I am willing to put myself into. God made me, and he gave me this incredible, wonderful world to explore and to enjoy.
Call me naive, but I think what we need right now, with all the racial tension I've been reading of in the news, is a little love, a little appreciation and a bit of good, light-hearted sass. We are all different, yes, but it is a beautiful different. A kind word can go a long way. So here I go:
Japan: thank you for your hilarious commercials. I... just... no comment.
Australia: you guys are the most enthusiastic and fun-loving lot of people I have ever met.
America: thank you for bad TV. The kind that makes you forget about all your problems, and start to obsess over the problems of fictional characters. I need bad TV every once in a while. I'm not even being sarcastic, thank you for this.
Sweden: Absolut Vodka.
The UK: I know it's been a little awkward since our breakup, but come on, give me that visa. I miss you.
South Africa: I lowkey watch your gospel choir videos. You are amazing. You put the rest of us to shame. We are not worthy.
Brazil: Marcus Mena.
There it is, my five minutes of appreciation. This barely scratches the surface: there is so much more to be said about the people and places that have made my life as fun as it has been. I encourage you to do the same. Take some time out to make known to someone how important they are to you. Take a moment to appreciate, and to be thankful for those we may have categorized as "different".
"We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace." - William Gladstone
