July: 7/3/98 - "The Way Things Are..."
I've been fighting artifactual (is that a word?) tradition almost my whole life. Ever time I try and find a new and more efficient way of doing something, I get hit with the line, "You have to do it *this* way, it's the way things are done!" I'm so tired of that attitude that I could puke. It's as if we're all happy living based upon some predetermined set of rules. These rules are mysterious, many times outdated, and they are followed as if they are God's own law.
Don't get me wrong, there are many traditions that are useful. I can't think of any off the top of my head, but I'm sure they exist. Something as old and valued as a tradition *has* to be based upon something wise, doesn't it? For example, let's look at the structure of our lives (for a trivial example ;) ). We see ourselves in the pattern of school, work, marriage, family, death. Why do we follow this pattern? There must be some logical reason. However, when I investigate the idea, I can't seem to find out why I'm a leper for trying to alter the scenario one iota.
If a person were to focus their life on a passion other than another person, then that person would be (in most circles) seen as eccentric. We all want to have a family and retire, right? That's just the way things are. Why can't they be different? I was at my grandmother's funeral last year, and two of my cousins -- girls, both around 12 -- were badgering me incessantly about not wanting to get married. It was like I was violating some universal laws for not wanting to get married. How do we manage to program women by age 12 to be breeding stock? I realize that we need to have children to propagate our species, but our population growth is way out of control. I'm sure we have room for a few people not to have children.
Even assuming that marriage should be separated from that, why must two people be paired together? Are we that afraid of being alone? Fear has never been a good reason for doing something (well, except concerning death, IMHO). Where does this *necessity* to be paired for life come from?
Most major advances tend to come from innovators and people who decide to go against the norm. If Einstein had just tamely accepted Newton's view of absolute time, I wouldn't be typing on this computer, and you wouldn't be reading on one either. So all I ask from you is to be tolerant of pioneering spirits that enjoy asking "why" to cherished traditions. If the traditions are sound and true, the question is harmless. It's only when the traditions are flawed when they are vulnerable to questioning.
To check out the previous rants, go to my previous monthly rants page.