I think that part of what drives this is the culture of entitlement, & the valorization of victimhood. The well-meaning liberal media often tells us that being a victim, or disadvantaged in some way, makes a person more "special" than the rest of us who are not fortunate enough to be victimized. This was most prevalent in the 80's and 90's, but the trend has not entirely faded.
I can recall reading as a child about how handicapped people are "special", and sometimes wishing that I were crippled so I could be special too. Now, in my late 30's, I have rheumatoid arthritis, and it's just a plain nuisance. I don't care to belong to the "disabled subculture", because I dislike the entitlement mentality which insists that everything should be reorganized for the convenience of those with physical impairments (at the expense of business owners and taxpayers).
Now, I think that these cultural beliefs arise from a basic sense of benevolence, compassion and altruism, but the excess of altruism often leads to worse results than plain self-interest. Humans have an innate instinct to care for the weak, sick and helpless, and this instinct, like all others, needs to be understood and channeled properly.
The idea of being "whole" without a limb is also interesting. It reminds me of a line from W. B. Yeats in "Crazy Jane Talks With the Bishop": "For nothing can be whole or sole/That has not been rent". The idea of achieving wholeness through self-sacrifice or self-diminishment is a long-standing part of Christian tradition. In Jesus' own reputed words:
"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."
And, of course: "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:43-48)
Self-mutilation as an expression of holiness is found in other world religions, too. I think self-amputees may be seeking some form of spiritual transformation, by subjection to a physical ordeal.
Re: natural progressioncherubrock33October 11 2006, 18:31:22 UTC
Could it be that the persons idea of the self only extends to a certain point and beyond that seems alien, not truely part of their self, even an unnecisary after growth. Perhaps they have the same affinity for their legs as they would an unsightly tumor. Could it be exhilerating, the connection to mortality, shedding a piece of yourself that was with you so long- that is you, but wasn't, and still existing. Like an exercise in ego deconstruction to prepare the self for death.
I can recall reading as a child about how handicapped people are "special", and sometimes wishing that I were crippled so I could be special too. Now, in my late 30's, I have rheumatoid arthritis, and it's just a plain nuisance. I don't care to belong to the "disabled subculture", because I dislike the entitlement mentality which insists that everything should be reorganized for the convenience of those with physical impairments (at the expense of business owners and taxpayers).
Now, I think that these cultural beliefs arise from a basic sense of benevolence, compassion and altruism, but the excess of altruism often leads to worse results than plain self-interest. Humans have an innate instinct to care for the weak, sick and helpless, and this instinct, like all others, needs to be understood and channeled properly.
The idea of being "whole" without a limb is also interesting. It reminds me of a line from W. B. Yeats in "Crazy Jane Talks With the Bishop": "For nothing can be whole or sole/That has not been rent". The idea of achieving wholeness through self-sacrifice or self-diminishment is a long-standing part of Christian tradition. In Jesus' own reputed words:
"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."
And, of course: "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:43-48)
Self-mutilation as an expression of holiness is found in other world religions, too. I think self-amputees may be seeking some form of spiritual transformation, by subjection to a physical ordeal.
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