Letter to the Editor
"A Blatant Attack on Shallowness," an article which was recently printed in a school-sponsored publication, Samizdat, is nothing more than a hypocritical judgement [sic]. We recognize that the article does not necessarily reflect the attitudes or beliefs of the magazine's editor or staff. Our letter is not intended to be an attack on the magazine itself. Although we recognize and respect the underlying argument that no one should be judged on their appearance, we disagree with the rather hypocritical and insensitive manner with which the topic was handled, as well as the use of a school publication to make pointed attacks on individuals.
The article continuously emphasizes the author's weariness of "seeing people judged on the basis of their appearance" yet proceeds to make blatant attacks on those who choose to wear certain clothing, classifying them as "just another Gap clone." The auther assumes that those who don "over-priced, brand-name designer garbage" will invariably frown upon anyone who does not fit "the mold." Yet the article fails to recognize that prejudice and bigotry can run both ways, as (unintentionally) demonstrated by the content of the article.
Those who wear "designer get-ups" are instructed to "take off [their] masks and take a look in the mirror," whereupon they will proceed to "shudder in disgust" at what they see. Of those who do choose to reflect, most would not find this "mask," but rather discover that what they wear is a part of who they are, and consequently is the style that makes them feel more comfortable.
The original intent of the argument is undermined by the article's hypocrisy. The auther declares that "if you want to look just like the anorexic waif on Seventeen, that's just dandy" and two lines later urges against making "judgement [sic] calls" based merely on physical appearance. People have just as much right to sport Abercrombie & Fitch or J. Crew clothing as they do to wear sweatshirts, chains, or black lipstick. They type of clothing one prefers has no bearing on their inner character of personality, but rather reflects their personal form of expression.
The article equates judging someone based solely [sic] on their appearance with bigotry and racism, and in some ways this is true. But just as one would never assume all Caucasians to be supremacists, nor all men to be chauvinist pigs, one should never characterise all "preppy" or "trendy" people as elitists of the fashion world. That is not to say that we do not recognize the tendency of some to sneer at unconventional fashion statements, but this issue will never be resolved by making unfounded generalizations, which only serve to divide people further.
Our intent is not to attack the article or its author, but merely to point out that certain measures of sensitivity should be taken in regards to all people, designer label or not. Upon sitting down and talking to one of these "Structure-clad individuals," one might actually discover (shocking as it may seem), that there is more to them than a Gap exterior.
