How Authority has Restricted Human Complexity

In my introduction, in breaking down the word "responsibility," we find "able to respond." However, various uses of the word have more to do with obligation and power in relation to others, than ability.

Synonyms include: answerable, and accountable, again, in relation to others.

As indicated, my intention is to "bring responsibility home," to oneself. Individuals, after having had impressed on them, all their lives, that they are to heed what those in power over them say in all areas of life, this is not an easy task.

For example, take the fields of Medicine, Psychiatry, Psychology, Sociology, Pediatrics and child rearing; all professional fields relating to the human body and behavior, from crib to grave. Universities all over the world teach, (impress upon students the correctness) the "facts" regarding these fields of "knowledge."

These institutions of higher learning grant Masters and Doctorate Degrees to many individuals every year, which provide them with pieces of paper that attest that they are qualified to determine what is or is not "normal" in their field. What has been determined to be "abnormal," (not normal) behavior is defined, given numbers and codified in books.

Over my lifetime, these professions have grown to become all-powerful in determining that any condition or behavior that deviates from what has been classified as "normal," is somehow a disease, which needs to be treated. A "disease," is something, by definition, that we are not responsible for. Alcoholism is a disease that has no disease agent; hyperactivity is a disease, that drugs are prescribed for in a vast number of children today, but has no disease agent.

When we look at the word, "disease," we can break it down to dis-ease. In other words, a lack of ease, peacefulness, contentment, health, security, etc., etc.

By classifying anything outside of the "norm" as "abnormal," we take away personal responsibility for ourselves. While granting that there are conditions which can legitimately be classified as "not normal" this does not change my contention.

We also are told that things we may experience on a regular basis are not real, just our "imagination," etc., etc. In actuality everything in life appears to arrange itself into some sort of bell-curve from non-existent to most prevalent, (normal) to again, non-existent, (as far as is known). This focus on what is "normal," i.e., acceptable, has resulted in those who do not fit the definition of "normal" in any and every way are forced to try to hid their differences, if it is possible.

I suspect that most people today do not know that, up until the late '50s and early 60's, those who are different, for example many people who are homosexual or dyslexic or who experienced paranormal phenomenon, were institutionalized, (locked up) in mental institutions.

Being "different" is, therefore, something that has come to be something to be ashamed of and, as a result, if possible, hidden from others, usually, as soon as we become aware that it is not allowed by those who determine what is or is not "normal," or "acceptable."

In actuality, we are all "different" in varying degrees.

Until we, individually, acknowledge our differences and accept differences in others, we will not even begin to be free of the control imposed upon us by those in authority/power over us.

With that, I will end this rumination.

Shirley Gallup