Choices

I just watched this short film and read many reviews, pro and con, about the content.  Some focus on gender equality, both pro and con.  Some focus on ethics.  Neither of these are what hit me when I watched it.

My choice.  She keeps reiterating that her clothing, love, sex, et cetera, are all her choice.  These are all true.  She can choose to dress however she would like or follow the requests or demands of those around her.  She can choose to be a stay at home mom with a gaggle of children or work all over the world seeing impressive sights and meeting people of a variety of cultures.  She can choose to be a drug addict or live life clean and sober.  She can choose to weigh 90 pounds or 490 pounds.  She can choose cheesecake or asparagus.  She can choose to be a criminal or a victim.  She can choose to become whomever she wants to be.  It is, after all, her choice.

What hit me is that she left out the most important part of her choice.  That would be the consequence.  For each choice you make, there is a consequence.  Cause and Effect.  Nowhere in the video is anything mentioned about consequences or responsibilities.  The focal point of this video appears to be some kind of God given freedom, with which I wholeheartedly agree.  You have the right to choose to be and do whatever or whomever you want to be or do.  You do have to understand, however, that a responsibility comes with that choice, whichever path you choose.

I don't see this video as empowering, but rather misleading.  I think that the better route would have been to encourage exploration with the understanding that there is an equal and opposite reaction for every action taken, but that choice wasn't mine.  Consideration needs to be exercised with every choice made.  Responsibility needs to be accepted when making decisions, for these decisions affect not only the maker but also those around him or her.

Those who made and were in this short film will now need to accept the consequences.  They will have to answer to their public and accept that not all are greeting this short film with open arms.  Some are loving it and are accepting of the vision that the producers were attempting to convey.  Some are not.  Love it or leave it, it's your choice.