These two articles bring a great deal of realization to people. It shows that we are not unique, we do only what society tells us. No matter who you are, you become a victim of society whether it is by loosing your identity in a democracy or giving up your life in theocratic society.
In the Questions of Conquest article, the Incas surrendered themselves to death due to the inability to live without a leader. According to the author, these people lacked the ability to make their own decisions. These people are a creation of their society; they do not have the means to think for themselves. They had the opportunity to make a decision but they can’t exercise that privilege due to lack of individuality. Furthermore, in a theocratic society the people are collective; they agree with each other and more or less do the same things. By living this way they loose what makes them unique, and it restricts their ability to be individual thinkers.
Are we products of our society? Freedom and democracy endeavors to answer this question. From the moment we are born we are thought how to behave. As a baby we are told to smile and as we get older we are thought numerous other “necessary” manners such as ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ However, the most interesting aspect of this article is the fact that kids are not the only ones that are manipulated by our society; adults are too. The author of this essay believes that we take ready-made goals and adopt them as our own. He’s absolutely right whilst making this statement. As a high school student, I seek the best possible education for the sole purpose that I am told it will get me the most prestigious job offers and a secure future. If I were to think of education in a different manner, my thoughts would be regarded as unusual. Why? Because we as students have grown accustomed to the fact that education only promises us a brighter future! We end up doing whatever we deem necessary in order to accomplish these goals and forget that they are not truly our own.
These articles expose the connection between the modern, western, and the historical Inca society. From these articles we learn that each society has its flaws in guiding its people. The characteristics are displayed in great detail and therefore, allow us to see observe our society from a different angle.
In terms of Freedom and Democracy I agree with the general ideas that the author has put forward in his blog. We do certainly conform to the ideals of society to feel within our comfort zone. And most individuals have lost their individuality in order to follow the herd mentality. Any deviation is deemed as abnormal by Psychologists and the deviant can be ostracized by society. This begins from childhood and continues to adulthood due to conditioning which is an acceptable and ethical form of brain washing. Some of these ideas were paralleled in The Long Bag We Drag Behind Us by Robert Bly. However, wasn’t democracy a form of governing where the individual was allowed to exist, as opposed to the regime of communism? Then why should Democracy be so debilitating to ideas and individualism? After all, it is a democratic society that allows the entrepreneur to follow. Surely a person can break free of the mold and be an initiator, set an example to others by setting a precedent. Perhaps it is our failures that make us fall on the belief that it is not our fault, and use society as a scapegoat. History has shown many individuals that have thought out of the box and have come up with innovations that were unthinkable at first, such as the invention of the plane to the mini skirt. Others then followed suit and gradually new ideas became the norm as they were integrated into our ideals. As far as the views on education, yes the author makes some valid points. We are taught, not to color beyond the lines, but it is those who venture outside the lines that become from mediocre to great. Education is limiting and idea suppressing only if we allow it to control us. The power not to submit to others ideas and views lies in our hands, but we often take the convenient or easy way out. Bill Gates went along with the ideals of society when he entered the revered institution of Harvard, but he broke these rules by quitting. The same society that condemned his decision now applauds and accepts his decision after his success without the security of a college degree took him to dizzying heights of successful entrepreneurship. Despite these facts the masses will conform to the whims of society like a ant society and others like vagrants who prefer to live on the streets rather than conform will continue to be ostracized as lepers.
ReplyDeleteIn the Questions of Conquest, the author again makes some interesting observations on the essay. The Incas were effectively disabled and surrendered to defeat upon the removal of their leaders. Living in a theocratic society they were defeated by their minds that lacked initiative as opposed to their archaic weapons. What we need to consider though that the leaders were not divinely sent but were human. Society allows the breeding of mostly conformist followers but among the ant pack lie a few leaders. Some leaders are born while others are made and this is reflected in historical accounts of leadership from Caesar to Obama. It is important to consider these variants when talking about society otherwise the view points become far too idealistic and simplistic.
To recap, the author in his blog makes some valid points even though with sweeping generalizations.