I’m somewhat annoyed at the trend of setting profile pics and wearing armbands to show support or raise awareness of whatever the cause might be. Bare with me for a few paragraphs as I explain my position. First of all, I am all about supporting great causes. You need to stand up for what is right and what promotes a good cause. The problem is if it actually means something?
It is too easy to supposedly show your support for a cause by setting your profile picture to a logo or some symbolic representation of a cause or wear an armband of the same idea. Social media is bad enough as it is masking ourselves of who we really are. We as a people normally simply post what’s attractive about us online. It is attractive to post content that makes people agree with you, selfies even or what deep revelations flow through your head. But does the content you post truly represent your heart’s desire? Does it communicate what you are actually willing to do in order to whole heartedly support that cause? Are you so supportive that you would go out of your way to make that cause benefit from your true support? Or does it simply make you look cool, supportive or fit in?
One of my FaceBook friends posted a status that I cannot agree more with. This person will remain nameless and please excuse one profane word.
To sum this up, put your money where your mouth is. If you truly support a cause – DO SOMETHING tangible. Since when has a profile pic or armband made a difference to the little boy running from ISIS terrorist? The mass murder, slaughter and genocide happening in the Middle East is heartbreaking, it moves me, I want to do something about it. But what can I do? Blog about it perhaps?
Currently as I am writing this the trend is to set your profile pic to a letter that translates in the English letter as ‘N’ and it stands for Nazarite. Here is a post about the meaning with the letter/symbol being used.
Earlier this year the trend was about ending human tracking and writing an X on your hand was the thing to do. People would proudly post their Xs on their profiles to be seen in their friends news feeds. This is where I begin to get a little agitated about this topic. If you care about this cause so much and want to raise awareness about it that much, why is that I have not heard or seen anything about since then?
Yes it’s great to support causes, again don’t get me wrong, but there has to come a time where in the crisis moment to choose to simply glorify yourself or take action. It’s got to get to point where you creatively figure out ways to get involved with that cause. If you truly support the troops, then head over to the Veteran’s Affairs Office and ask how you can help a troop out. If you truly want to end slavery, do more than just write an X on your hand and find ways you can End It in your local area. If you believe Christians are being slaughtered in other countries and it’s an injustice that must be stopped, then get in the game. Call your local government representatives. Get loud and don’t shut up about it. If you can’t get on a plane to rescue the people’s lives you have got to figure out a way to make it stop. Organize an event, make calls, get your hands dirty and quit being lazy by only posting a profile pic to show your “support.”
If you really care about it, do something that matters. A profile pic is not going to save a life. You getting involved will save a life.
Now, what are you going to do?
