Rational Insanity
By Bryan Mari J. Argos

Illusions

Why do so many people want to be someone they are not? Simply because this is wishful thinking. It is impossible.

I have encountered so many people who pretend to be someone else. Pretense can be very harmful no matter how menial. I have friends who claim that their family names were actually someone else before, but had to be changed to protect their wealthy heritages. Weird, I would believe someone who said that their family name used to be Xavier and was later changed to Javier; or someone who would say that their family name used to be Asis and was later changed into De Asis, but I would definitely not believe crap like someone saying that they used to be Roxas and are now whatever. The nerve they have to live in such an illusion just because they want to climb up society's ladder.

A heritage is something one cannot just get easily; it is borne from years and years of bloodline and generation after generation of affiliations. While it is true that every person in this world is related up to the sixth degree, can't we just be contented with whom we are at the moment and not yearn to be someone we are not?

This is not just evident in family names. I get really pissed off when some people have what most psychologists would call, delusions of grandeur. Some people think they are stars, they are glowing icons, or whatever else they may think they are. This is fine with me, as long as these people don't pull society into their crappy illusions just because they want the entire community to live with their illusion.

Magpakatotoo ka. There is nothing wrong with who we are. I may be unique from other people, but it is this uniqueness that gives me my identity and I would not trade my identity for that of someone else's because I have spent my entire lifetime building my identity up with a little help from my family heritage. Pretentious people are lower than the filth of the earth. Pretentious people are the worst liars there could be because aside from just lying to the people around them, they also lie to themselves as they live in the illusion that they are what they are not.

You would actually see many of these people when you go out to social gatherings. They would usually be tugging along some known socialite, then when time comes for everyone to get their plates loaded from the buffet, you will see these people literally loading their plates like they haven't eaten for a week (which could be true). Then, there are the spineless social climbers who have dedicated their entire lives to lying their way up the social ladder. Then, when they have reached the top and marry off some unsuspecting millionaire who, because of love pardons the lies, their true colors begin to show. They treat other people around them like dog dinky, when in fact, they are the ones who should be treated in such a manner.

You cannot buy yourself into society. Even when you think you have penetrated the inner social circles of the old, respected, and rich families of your town, there will be always one person in that circle who has lived long enough to expose your deception. I wouldn't go there if I were you, because although I would have apparently been accepted into the inner sanctum of high society, there will be no sincere eyes for me, everyone will know who and what I truly am.

It is such a shame to be called a social climber or a gold digger, to make matters even worse. These people would lick the dirt off someone else's shoe if it means having that one shining opportunity to step into the limelight. I pity these people because the primary reason for their deception is the fact that they are not satisfied with themselves.

Hey, who cares if you have dark skin, if you don't have the steep bridged nose of a mestiso/a, if you don't have a pocket stuffed with moolah, if you have a small winky, if you are not “alta sosyedad”? No one really, because high society is all lies – take it from me. What counts really is how well your relationships are with other people. Mind you, relationships in high society are merely illusions; simply to show that the good life is the high society life. Everybody in high society lives in an eternal masquerade of beso-besos, fashion complements, shallow pleasantries, and hypocrisy. I would slip out if I had a choice, but see, we are what we are, and as I was saying, part of what we are comes from the lineage that we were born to. The more important thing in life is how sincere are you with other people. Set aside the glitz, the glamour, the fame and the fortune. Forget about those sumptuous buffets that rot through the night because they are barely even touched by the alta sosyedad. Be true to yourself and to what you feel. High society is not always the path to acceptance; sincerity definitely is. Open yourself up to other people and do not pretend to be strong when you are not. The greatest strength that a person can have is learning to accept his/her weakness. Be natural, be you!

Be rational; be insane…every once in a while! TTFN!

I'd like to invite you guys to send your comments and reactions to the number indicated here in my column and be part of THE RATIONAL INSANITY PINBOARD, every Friday. Be heard! Speak out! Also send me your topic requests! Hello to my dearest readers, Anne, Mary Dale, Chan,Michelle, Zarthus, Jonald, Mr. Bobot, Vic, Vincent, and Rex, Alex, Arvin, Corz, Jim, Kiara, Malikh, Audrae, Franz, Hendrick, Janice, Jay, Jim, Jonathan, Mark, Marz, Mel, Pres, Nhonoy, Niel, Piper, Rheavil, Joey, Alma, Rodolfo, Ecker, Ryan, Roni, Ian, Narle, Sunny and to Anuj of CMC, I love you all! Byers! Salamat gid sa mga walang-hintong text and reactions nyo! Catch Rational Insanity in TNT's online edition, check us out at www.thenewstoday.info, text me at (0920)9254269, or email me at prague@eudoramail.com . Byers! Mmmmmmmwah!