A quick look at any society or culture sees its members as the same. Whether we are looking at Americans, Brazilians, British, Malaysians, Italians or Canadians, outsiders see members of a particular society as "all the same." We often see stereotypes, not individuals.
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| cormorants (photo by Jeff Howard) |
Societies or cultural groups do tend to head in the same direction. We all see similar news, advertisements, fashions. We tend to look and go in the direction we are lead - Offer me food I like and I will eat it. Offer me cute clothes and I will wear them. Tell me "Everyone wants it," and I'll want it too. We often grab the latest trend without little thought of the consequences. We seldom ask, "Who will it hurt?" Do I really need it?" "Does it offend someone?" "Will it affect our health?"
We see whatever light is offered by our friends or the media whether it is advertising media or news media. We listen as if there is only one voice and we turn left or right as we are directed.
Floating along with the crowd.
But not always.
Sometimes individuals or small groups ignore the surrounding crowd . . . listen to other sounds . . . see other lights . . .
. . . change direction, change their clothes and change their ideas. If we pay attention, look very closely, suddenly we see someone different. We see an individual, not a society. Perhaps it is you that is different. Maybe me. One of us might be the one who thinks for ourselves, considers more than what the crowd is doing. Maybe you are that independent thinker . . . choosing the way you want to look-the way you want to be.
Knowing that you are part of the culture in which you live but taking time to listen . . . to pause . . . to consider looking in a different direction.
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| Cormorants (photo by Jeff Howard) |
