Under the Red Dress

When I was scrolling down my Facebook newsfeed today, I saw that several of my friends had liked a page called, "Under the Red Dress". I clicked on the page, and was shocked to find one of the most interesting, beautiful and in my opinion most effective breast cancer campaigns that I have ever seen. Beth Waanga, who is an Australian mother, nurse and breast cancer survivor recently created this extremely bold campaign that vividly displays the normally unseen effects of breast cancer on a woman's body. First we see a beautiful, normal picture of Beth in a red dress, where she looks completely healthy and unharmed. As you scroll further, Beth shares nude photographs of herself after her battle with breast cancer, revealing the total bilateral mastectomy, navel reconstruction, hysterectomy scar and stretch marks from rapid weight loss to the world. I don't even know what half of those fancy medical words mean, but as they say, a picture says a thousand words. (to view the more graphic images on her page, click here)

 

Although some view these photos as inappropriate, too graphic or even sexual, I think of them as art and as an amazing way for Beth to tell her story. It is amazing that a woman would make herself completely vulnerable to the world, simply exposing herself in every way possible, in order to educate women about the dangers of this terrible disease. So brave. So selfless. So smart. Obviously Beth knew that the only possible way to inform people of the battle scars and the aftermath of having cancer was to show this body, this uniquely beautiful body, to everyone. Whether they were ready to see it or not. Although things often appear "normal" or "untouched" on the outside, but by taking a peek on the inside we can often uncover a different story. The biggest problems and challenges in life are often ones that we don't see coming or are temporarily invisible, and Beth is making a statement in that everyone should be proactive about breast cancer and take it seriously.

What are your thoughts on Beth's photo shoot? Do you think that she takes it too far? Do you think that this will be an effective way of conveying breast cancer to the world?

Is Allegiance a Convenience?

Today when I was driving around town, I stopped at a stoplight and noticed an interesting bumper sticker on the car in front of me. It read, "I pledge allegiance, not thoughtless obedience." Obviously this sticker is referring to the pledge of allegiance, a topic that I blogged about in the beginning of the year. From this sticker, it seems as if the person agrees with the meaning and thought behind the pledge, but doesn't necessarily agree with the way that it is implemented and executed within our society. He is telling the world that he is SINCERELY dedicated and loyal towards his country, and not just saying so because of routine or because other people tell him to be. I agree with him in that many children simply recite the pledge everyday out of memory, without even understanding it's meaning. However, I still think the pledge is an important tradition, and a good reminder of all the blessings that we have in this country.

All of this made me wonder why we even have a pledge in the first place. I know that the U.S. is one of the few countries that has both a national anthem and a pledge of allegiance. After some research, I discovered that the man who wrote the pledge, Francis Bellamy, desired to "instill into the minds of our American youth a love for their country and the principles on which it was founded, and create in them an ambition to carry on with the ideals which the early founders wrote into The Constitution." (from Margarette S. Miller's I Pledge Allegiance) I think that Francis' motives were solid, but how realistic are the benefits of reciting the pledge? I think that kids saying the pledge won't make or break the country's future, nor the loyalty and allegiance of it's citizens. However, it is a good way to instill patriotism into our daily lives and insure the identity of the American people.

Do you see any benefits of having a Pledge of Allegiance? If so, what benefits? Is there a better way for people to show their allegiance and patriotism to our country? Is it necessary to show allegiance to the United States in the first place?