In our world, we seek freedom, but from what? Many look solely to the overt tyranny of oppressive governments to blame for the lack of freedom. Then others see all governments as the source of the loss of freedom. However, I see a different cause for the loss of freedom: the narrow-minded outlook of human societies.
We humans thrive on societies, the structure formed by human interactions. However, inevitably in our societies, we believe some objects, things, or traits are more valuable than others. Therefore, we, as members of the society, seek to shape ourselves to society's ideals, rather than follow our own. This is a slavery like no other. Not a slavery of movement, nor a slavery of labor. It is the slavery of our selves.
Now, we are faced with choices, the two primary ones being: follow who we are, and follow what society thinks we should be. Following what society thinks we should be has one major disadvantage: it restricts us to society.
The structures put on things by society are enormously complex. “You may lie against the arm of the couch, but not sit on it. You must never use certain words in polite company. You can not put your elbows on the table, but you can put your saliva-ridden fork on it.” These are the petty examples, while some more important ones include: “Success is equivalent to money. If you lack money you lack success, and success is all-important. Therefore, money is all-important.”
We cannot limit ourselves to what society dictates for us. If I desire to die poor and lonely, then I would think myself successful should I do it! Should I seek to die among friends who will inherit everything I own, then I will be successful should I do it! My goals define me, and changing my goals for the benefit of society changes me. I do not wish to live by the standard for American society: minivan, safe job, wife, 2.5 kids, a house in the suburbs. I wish to live by my standard: itinerant, medical practitioner
in dangerous areas, and no children. Maybe my standard sounds unhappy to you, so here's the beauty of it: you don't have to live by it. You can live by your standards. Define them, and live by them. Do not fault somebody else for following their standards so long as they do not impinge upon somebody else following their own standards. Then we shall be truly free.
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I agree, however, others seem to think that happiness for them is happiness for all of us. Tax cuts even favor the American Dream- Tax cuts for kids, farms, couples, churchgoers, and all other things "typical". Society looks down upon freethinkers, the unmarried, gays, those who don't want "success" as others in the past have defined it. Why should anyone be called a slacker just because he or she neither wants nor cares to make over 50K a year?
I agree totally and completely with this. Conformity is slavery, and thats why im a half black half Hispanic fencer who listens to rap and UK metal bands. I wear comfortable clothes, not stylish clothes, and im an avid gamer.
However, the folly of human kind's nature towards being in a group is that to be in a group, the group must be connected some how. For most people, this connection is through similarities, and therein lies the problem. Is this problem curable? I don't know... and im not so sure that it is, as human nature is about as absolute as nature itself. The problem is that we are so ingrained with the idea that society is good and isolation is bad, that people accept societies ideals without question, and these ideals get carbon copied to their own ideals.
It really does require an effort on the part of each individual, and it may be that it can't be cured. Might as well give it a shot, though,
? Spread the word, and it might be possible.
This was awesome. If it weren't so late right now, I'd have more to say about it. Maybe tomorrow. Good post.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman