Seeing Invisible

People see what they want to see

Some people see a 'white' person. Some people see a 'black' person. Some people see a 'foreign-born with a strong accent'. Amusing is the latter given I was born and raised in the 'heartland' of United States. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

My age is a mystery. Proof is presented without an ounce of shame. While being referred by many as an 'ole soul', not by name. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

The 'Religious Right' sees a heretic who is for abortion and gay rights. The 'Liberal left' sees a zealot who believes in an Almighty God; Faith that moves mountains and gives the blind sight. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

Emphasize equitable distribution of sacrifices and rewards, people see a 'spread-the-wealth' idealogue. Emphasize hardwork and personal responsibility, people see a cold-hearted selfish expletive equivalent to a female dog. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

Politicians, the self-proclaimed public servants, an oxymoronic distinction at best, seems to be the greatest offender of all. There's much hand-shaking, baby-kissing, data collection, policy formulation, and impact analysis ad nauseum. There's a tendency to lose sight it's about real individuals, not them.
Whether in a community of 30, 50, 10,000, or more. Each individual is relevant and can make a difference. Individuals are the keystone of democracy. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

Invisibility is a comforting blanket. It's reassuring I'm more than a 'sound-bite' or a statistic on a chart. I'm not wholly defined by the constraints of biases, stereotypes, and demographic categories. Though, it's comforting to know that individuals are not robots, as you can see.

Invisibility is a smothering blanket that takes my breath away, denying me the opportunity to express 'I'm free'. I realize tis true. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me.

Why? They don't know me.
I'm Invisible. Yes, that's me.