This just in: My sarcasm doesn’t translate, in full, to all people of the world. Wait, what? You mean to tell me people don’t always understand how that I say, “I’m dead” after seeing a fabulous pair of studded loafers, I’m not actually dead? Or when I say, “I want to kill myself” 17 times a day when I’m annoyed that I’m not actually contemplating suicide?
Who would have thought that not everyone has the exact same sense of humor? You like Honey Boo Boo, I want to throw her off a bridge. I’m obsessed with drag queens, you may be a right-wing gun-loving Republican. But you know what? That’s the beauty of America.
The brilliance of our country allows me to post whatever I want on my Facebook page, whether it’s sassy commentary on Lindsay Lohan’s latest arrest or my hatred for Chris Brown. It allows me the freedom to say whatever I want about the Kardashians, Christina Aguilera, eggnog and people who think a little too highly of themselves. It allows me freedom of speech and expression.
It allows me the beauty to believe what I want to believe and tell everyone—or no one—exactly how I feel about what I feel like talking about. And you know what the cherry on top of it is? No one, anywhere, can tell me I can’t.
That being said, I’m fully aware that sometimes, my “crass sass and sarcasm” comes off as rude if you don’t know me. And it should be said, to all of you Aztecs, what I say is never meant to harm and offend, and is always in good fun, but I get it. Not everyone thinks the dramatics and sense of over-the-top hullabaloo I put onto ordinary, run-of-the-mill events are entertaining and that’s OK. I also know putting myself out there and making people laugh is all I could ever hope to do with my life.
I also understand, most importantly, putting myself out there and loudly—very loudly if you know me personally—expressing my opinion opens me up to waves of criticism. I realize—much like my spirit animals in the celebrity world—being in the public eye (no matter how large or small the public may be; from readers of The Daily Aztec to consumers of TMZ) opens the floodgates to a plethora of critiques and praises. I take them all to heart with an immense amount of gratitude. So thanks for reading and telling me how great I am, but also, thanks for reading and telling me how annoying, young and naive I am, too.
One of the most important things I’ve ever learned is to stand up for what I believe in and not apologize for it. Whether it’s fighting for equal rights, standing up for my best friend who’s being wronged or defending my right to sarcastically comment on all areas of life in a college newspaper, do what you have to do and don’t apologize. Take no prisoners. Speak your mind. Express yourself in whatever way you deem necessary. Prepare yourself for backlash, take criticism and keep your head held high. We live in a world where a bunch of old ladies and dudes fought really hard to make freedom happen and it would be a great disservice to our ancestors and heritage not to stand on our soapboxes and spew our naïveté, no matter how many nameless, faceless bloggers say we’re wrong.
