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It's All About Conformity, Actually
NMB, Florida February 12, 2002 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
IT'S ALL ABOUT CONFORMITY, ACTUALLY
You read about it in the papers and see in on TV all the time. All our
beliefs and behavior involve conformity. I submit the following list for
your consideration.
The religious mores of the majority group in any country force the
minorities to become more like them - if not in actual beliefs then in
behavior. To look, act and speak like the majority group provides
protection and the best example of this is the success of the liberal,
progressive Jews who are Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative here in
America. They are practically indistinguishable from the WASP majority.
Governments like that of Iran, while seemingly monolithic and wholly
fundamentalist Islamists, do not at the same time appear to be reactionary
as in the days of Khomeni. The conforming crowds that lined up yesterday to
shout "Death to America" are only pro-forma (I hope). It is the expected
reaction to remarks by our U. S. President that accuse Iran of being part of
an "axis of evil." Such "remarks", while only verbal, provoke threats of
death to a whole people by merchants, homebodies and other ordinary citizens
who coalesce or conform as one group - over there.
One point that should hit home to every living family is the training given
to your babies. They have to be just like you or you will mistreat them
until they do. (Time Out. NO, NO! Spank. Punish).
The most striking example of conformity is the national ethos of one giant
country, China. The respect for ancestry that may now be changing is a
powerful force for its people to conform. Think about it fleetingly - your
children growing up to serve, respect and cater to you so you age in peace
and comfort.
Here at home we conformed not quite universally in showing that we suddenly
lived in America. Our Stars and Stripes has been reduced to show more of
our kitchen window and it occupies only a corner now. We confess that we
never put up flag (s) on our cars.
As I remember it there was a period during my growing up that one sock up
and one sock down was a passion for the group I ran with. Sometimes it was
one pant leg rolled up while the other was down. Then there were the
hairstyles. I tried mightily to train my hair to look like that of a movie
star. That was only until I visualized the never pictured Doc Savage of the
very important adventure stories in pulp fiction that changed my taste in
hair "do's" forever. Well, not completely since my Army days wiped out
these fancies. Talk about conformity, just think a little about the Army,
Navy and etc.
Now, the conformist tendencies of some of our youth never make it big. I
am thinking of clothing choices. I am glad to see that the "prison chic" of
some youths where the baggy pants hang low so the sewed on underwear shows
has only spread just so far. Going without bathing has just so much appeal
for a brief spurt of time. And, finally, body piercing hurts, bleeds and
gets infected. Earrings, however, have made it in at least the female
portion of our kind.
"Repression does not squelch unrest, it feeds it." (I read this is the NY
Times this morning and can't find it to cite it properly; sorry.) This might
seem to be a repudiation of the theme of this essay. It is, however, the
time tested road to history in all cultures. The traditions of the majority
group either are forced upon or just gradually take over the peoples within
it until they all eat, dress, and act alike eventually adopting the same
language. The pressure is to conform and for a while, years and even
centuries or for just swift brief interludes - that is what people do.
Carol's Evaluation: 9 out of 10.
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