Post by The Silent Orator on Oct 3, 2007 15:35:52 GMT -5
This was my essay for english composition... typed, spellchecked, and proofread in an hour (with some time to spre). Just got done with the essay... literally finished it ten minutes ago.
We had an hour last monday to write our rough-draft by hand.
Also, if anyone knows how to get an indentation on here, that'd be cool...
~*~*~*~*
John Toth
October 3, 2007
101-16
W#6
Many people in the modern world strive to conform to the standards of what is perceived as normal. They shackle anything they feel will make them different, and they act unnaturally to avoid the label of abnormal. Many people fight for freedom from oppression, but very few of these crusaders attack the real antagonist. One can only attain true freedom when one realizes that normal is a deadly illusion. Normal is a subtle deception that sows the seeds of conformity, restriction, and strife.
First, the illusion of normal creates conformity within society. The media becomes a mass propaganda method for conformity. It encourages the image of promiscuous women and macho men. Furthermore, the media puts those who do not conform to standards in a bad light. It ridicules honest politicians, while promoting the dishonest, slanderous campaigns of the corrupt ones. Consequentially, this promotes everyone to be alike. Conformity is easily seen without much variation in adults and children. One can be teased for glasses, braces, physical weakness, clothing, habits, broken families, lack of ability, or any other reason from the constantly growing list of social abnormalities. One’s talent could be stunted, ignored, or even repressed if it is not socially acceptable to others. In addition, little progress can be made in society for these reasons. The constant repression of new thoughts by age-old ideals are littered throughout history. During the middle ages, people refused to believe that the earth revolved around the sun or that the earth was round. During the 1800’s, people ridiculed the idea for the steam-powered engine or the telephone. During the early 1900’s, freedom for minorities and women were frowned upon. During the middle of the 20th century, discoveries about atoms, radiation, and the string theory were more widely believed as superstitious stories rather than fact. During the late 20th century, southern schools still refused to acknowledge evolution in their classrooms. During the early 21st century, the Wii was ridiculed because of its unique approach to gaming. In today’s society, people conform their lives to standards that many believe are normal. They are standards that are based upon age-old, and most likely outdated ideals.
Second, the illusion of normal creates restrictions on individuals. Their peers often frown upon a person’s creativity if it is not socially acceptable. A person could be teased for wearing pink pants, a zebra-esque shirt, cat ears, a dog collar, lime green high heels, and socks with kitten faces adorned upon them. Guys may be teased for wearing pink colored outfits or frilly shirts. Girls could be harassed for wearing camouflage outfits or having a very short haircut. A younger child may be teased for drawing purple apples. Furthermore, people’s freedoms are constantly being repressed. Those few freedoms that people have are frowned upon when exercised. People frown upon the freedom of speech when homosexual people have their parades. People frown upon the freedom of the press when journalists report the harsh truth. An overwhelming majority of conformists who allow themselves to be subjugated to unfair laws and practices frown upon those who exercise their rights and freedoms. Some of these oppressive practices include the Patriot Act, as well as half of the executive orders in existence. In addition, people are constantly being compared to the standards that people had set before them. Mozart, when he started performing and composing, was always expected to play in a baroque fashion, like Bach. Music of the 1950’s was considered by many to be scandalous because it did not resign itself to a previously set standard. Modern presidents are expected by society to act like their ancestors; however, society neglects to inform themselves that these idolized role models have committed serious faults themselves. In a society stuck in a standstill, such as the society of today, change is little and often frowned upon by the excuse that it is not normal.
Finally, the most dangerous consequence of the ensnaring illusion of normal is the strife it creates. What people might consider normal in one society is abnormal in another. Many Americans would shudder at the thought of Italians eating horsemeat or Chinese people eating dogs. Many Hindu people would be appalled at the consumption of pork in the world. Religious differences in different societies cause many wars. The most notable examples are the crusades. Each side believed they were normal and right, and neither side were willing to give in. This caused great bloodshed and death between both sides. Hitler believed that the Jewish people were not normal people, and consequentially he tried to kill them all. However, such complacent thoughts cannot be allowed to fool people by the superficial thought that it only happens on the rare occasion in these well-known events. It happens in this very age, in this very day, and in this very moment. It happens in schools today, corrupting the future generation of the world. Students could be teased for knowing too much in class. Teenagers could be deceived and pressured into believing that alcohol and drugs are normal. Younger children could be tricked into doing something they were told is right when it really is not. However, do not believe that it simply happens in the youth of our world. The silent assassin of peace and tolerance strikes in the adults as well. Enmity can easily be seen in any workplace. People often form their own cliques and speak ill of those not part of them. They put on a false smile and a bittersweet voice that deceives those that they do not like. It destroys any sense of teamwork a company may have between its workers. Furthermore, normal corrupts households. Parents often favor one child over another, because they believe one child is more normal than the other one. The favorite child is given the spoils of their parents love and respect, while the other children have to fend for themselves. Normal is a dangerous concept that slowly poisons most aspects of society, and pollutes the minds of those who do not try to resist.
Nobody can achieve true freedom in this world if people continue to ignore the reality that is desperately trying to reach them. The horrible illusion of normal creates many adverse effects on our society; it even affects even those who think they are free of the illusion. Normal can influence and distort a person’s logic because of conformity. It hinders people struggling to get free by all the restrictions it maliciously imposes upon society. Furthermore, the poison of normality causes strife among people who have relatively different beliefs. One should realize that it is important that the superficial characteristics of normal’s deceptively common application should not be allowed to distort a person’s view to the more substantial fabric of its truly negative influence. It is only through knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that one can be free of the shackles that ensnare most of society today.
We had an hour last monday to write our rough-draft by hand.
Also, if anyone knows how to get an indentation on here, that'd be cool...
~*~*~*~*
John Toth
October 3, 2007
101-16
W#6
A Total Illusion
Many people in the modern world strive to conform to the standards of what is perceived as normal. They shackle anything they feel will make them different, and they act unnaturally to avoid the label of abnormal. Many people fight for freedom from oppression, but very few of these crusaders attack the real antagonist. One can only attain true freedom when one realizes that normal is a deadly illusion. Normal is a subtle deception that sows the seeds of conformity, restriction, and strife.
First, the illusion of normal creates conformity within society. The media becomes a mass propaganda method for conformity. It encourages the image of promiscuous women and macho men. Furthermore, the media puts those who do not conform to standards in a bad light. It ridicules honest politicians, while promoting the dishonest, slanderous campaigns of the corrupt ones. Consequentially, this promotes everyone to be alike. Conformity is easily seen without much variation in adults and children. One can be teased for glasses, braces, physical weakness, clothing, habits, broken families, lack of ability, or any other reason from the constantly growing list of social abnormalities. One’s talent could be stunted, ignored, or even repressed if it is not socially acceptable to others. In addition, little progress can be made in society for these reasons. The constant repression of new thoughts by age-old ideals are littered throughout history. During the middle ages, people refused to believe that the earth revolved around the sun or that the earth was round. During the 1800’s, people ridiculed the idea for the steam-powered engine or the telephone. During the early 1900’s, freedom for minorities and women were frowned upon. During the middle of the 20th century, discoveries about atoms, radiation, and the string theory were more widely believed as superstitious stories rather than fact. During the late 20th century, southern schools still refused to acknowledge evolution in their classrooms. During the early 21st century, the Wii was ridiculed because of its unique approach to gaming. In today’s society, people conform their lives to standards that many believe are normal. They are standards that are based upon age-old, and most likely outdated ideals.
Second, the illusion of normal creates restrictions on individuals. Their peers often frown upon a person’s creativity if it is not socially acceptable. A person could be teased for wearing pink pants, a zebra-esque shirt, cat ears, a dog collar, lime green high heels, and socks with kitten faces adorned upon them. Guys may be teased for wearing pink colored outfits or frilly shirts. Girls could be harassed for wearing camouflage outfits or having a very short haircut. A younger child may be teased for drawing purple apples. Furthermore, people’s freedoms are constantly being repressed. Those few freedoms that people have are frowned upon when exercised. People frown upon the freedom of speech when homosexual people have their parades. People frown upon the freedom of the press when journalists report the harsh truth. An overwhelming majority of conformists who allow themselves to be subjugated to unfair laws and practices frown upon those who exercise their rights and freedoms. Some of these oppressive practices include the Patriot Act, as well as half of the executive orders in existence. In addition, people are constantly being compared to the standards that people had set before them. Mozart, when he started performing and composing, was always expected to play in a baroque fashion, like Bach. Music of the 1950’s was considered by many to be scandalous because it did not resign itself to a previously set standard. Modern presidents are expected by society to act like their ancestors; however, society neglects to inform themselves that these idolized role models have committed serious faults themselves. In a society stuck in a standstill, such as the society of today, change is little and often frowned upon by the excuse that it is not normal.
Finally, the most dangerous consequence of the ensnaring illusion of normal is the strife it creates. What people might consider normal in one society is abnormal in another. Many Americans would shudder at the thought of Italians eating horsemeat or Chinese people eating dogs. Many Hindu people would be appalled at the consumption of pork in the world. Religious differences in different societies cause many wars. The most notable examples are the crusades. Each side believed they were normal and right, and neither side were willing to give in. This caused great bloodshed and death between both sides. Hitler believed that the Jewish people were not normal people, and consequentially he tried to kill them all. However, such complacent thoughts cannot be allowed to fool people by the superficial thought that it only happens on the rare occasion in these well-known events. It happens in this very age, in this very day, and in this very moment. It happens in schools today, corrupting the future generation of the world. Students could be teased for knowing too much in class. Teenagers could be deceived and pressured into believing that alcohol and drugs are normal. Younger children could be tricked into doing something they were told is right when it really is not. However, do not believe that it simply happens in the youth of our world. The silent assassin of peace and tolerance strikes in the adults as well. Enmity can easily be seen in any workplace. People often form their own cliques and speak ill of those not part of them. They put on a false smile and a bittersweet voice that deceives those that they do not like. It destroys any sense of teamwork a company may have between its workers. Furthermore, normal corrupts households. Parents often favor one child over another, because they believe one child is more normal than the other one. The favorite child is given the spoils of their parents love and respect, while the other children have to fend for themselves. Normal is a dangerous concept that slowly poisons most aspects of society, and pollutes the minds of those who do not try to resist.
Nobody can achieve true freedom in this world if people continue to ignore the reality that is desperately trying to reach them. The horrible illusion of normal creates many adverse effects on our society; it even affects even those who think they are free of the illusion. Normal can influence and distort a person’s logic because of conformity. It hinders people struggling to get free by all the restrictions it maliciously imposes upon society. Furthermore, the poison of normality causes strife among people who have relatively different beliefs. One should realize that it is important that the superficial characteristics of normal’s deceptively common application should not be allowed to distort a person’s view to the more substantial fabric of its truly negative influence. It is only through knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that one can be free of the shackles that ensnare most of society today.