One of the most dangerous, unanticipated consequences of our novelty-obsessed consumer culture is the discouragement of sincerity. You see it in teenagers all the time-- they like something, but are too self-conscious to admit it, fearing the judgment of peers and idols. Years of conditioning-- social, familial, internal-- wear us down. A young artist is criticized, discouraged, called impractical. A young dancer is told he looks "gay." A child finds a passion, dives in, and finds only isolation when he/she refuses to follow the trends, bend with the wind.
"What are the other girls wearing?"
"Why are you so obsessed with this strange music?"
"Only nerds actually LIKE math."
As early as Kindergarten, we're given cues as to what is acceptable to embrace. This isn't just gender conditioning, and it's not just a matter of parenting. Even with parents who encourage creativity and praise passion, children (and adults) are still subject to the phenomenon that is a general distrust of enthusiasm. Many times, it's peer-group pressure, and the desire to fit in. We tame our desires (sometimes destroy them) so as not to seem spazzy, geeky, giddy or gullible. Honest love is sneered at and chided sarcastically-- encouragement sometimes given, but only guardedly.
We are a nation trying to keep our cool, and we lose all warmth because of it.
Conformity is mistaken for success. Self-suppression is mistaken for dignity. Saddest of all, apathy is mistaken for attractiveness-- those who care the least are often admired the most. We perpetuate these myths through our systematic discouragement of true individuality. Once a country founded in individualistic fervor, we have devolved into a mere group of consumer categories. Our schools acknowledge only the generic concept of "child," and teach only that which is focus-group approved and market-tested. We measure intelligence with fill-in-the-bubble; we balk at the idea that intellect is highly variable, malleable, and mostly immeasurable. We have surrendered the ability to self-define along with the ability to self-discipline.
In our quest for a softer standard of living, we have sold or given away all that is truly valuable-- our food supply, our self-reliance, our communal spirit. This is no ONE generation's fault-- we cannot blame Boomers anymore than they may criticize "kids today." Love has been bred/bled out of us slowly, much too slowly to accuse only a small minority. It is EVERYONE'S fault, myself not discluded. Dostoyevsky called sarcasm "the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded"-- and that was 150 years ago. How many sincere souls have been invaded since? How much light has been snuffed out? More importantly, why have we continued to allow ourselves to be deceived by the false realities of these "invaders"?
I propose a rennaissance of true-heartedness. Let loose the shackles of snark, of impassivity, of sardonicism. Be skeptical when necessary, but never cynical. Cynicism implies a broader knowledge than any one man is capable of-- you do not know, you CANNOT know; cynicism is egotism, as is boredom. If you're bored, it's your fault. WAKE UP. Pay attention. There is a world of beauty and possibility outside every door, even in our trailer parks and ghettos. If you're bored, you're doing it wrong. If you're apathetic, you're failing at life. If you're too busy spitting up half-formed judgments of others' honest efforts to make an effort yourself, you're a traitor to truth, and you've just willingly handed over your destiny to destruction.
Time to take it back.
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