(Untitled)

[turk_diddler]

One of those strange weeks where a national celebration leaves people like me utterly alienated. How are you supposed to celebrate 70 years of a monarch's reign when you think the institution is an insult to democracy, and the apparent 'stability' it provides really means maintaining the class system that locks society into the privilege and

Comments

[bluehorse]

Re that party...it might also be a reaction to the pandemic lockdowns? Like releasing a loaded spring? Whatever, I still would have avoided the whole thing.

I think that you may be onto something about living a life of unquestioning conformity is the way to get ahead, but it's not just capitalism, consumerism, nationalism and/or monarchy. I think this may apply to any "ism" and its ilk. The same thing takes place in socialist/communist countries, or religious groups, or businesses. It's the idea of having to be a team player, or the Japanese saying about the nail that sticks up gets hammered down. "Don't make waves;" "I was just following orders;" "Hear no evil, see no evil, say no evil." Until recently, Japanese schoolkids who had hair that wasn't the right shade of black were forced to dye it the correct color in order to stay in school.

Humans are crazy. On the one hand, many of us seem to have this willingness (or need?) to conform. On the other, a lot of us are appalled and/or wish to rebel. Who is right? Is it all relative to the situation?