Tuesday, June 19, 2012

What is "America" REALLY all about?

Folk-singer Joan Baez once stated to a small crowd attending a live performance of hers on the grounds of The University of California-Berkeley in July 1977:
"How many of you here have ever been to jail?
For those of you who haven't, I'll tell you---if you've never been to jail, then you don't really know what America's actually all about."

At the time I had yet to "get in trouble with the law", so I wasn't really quite sure what she was driving at.

But, in retrospect, I think I have a good idea what she probably meant by that last statement.

Now---for those of you who HAVE suffered the indignities and humiliation of being arrested and actually "locked up", think about what all it involves...I mean, besides "being talked-down-to like a stupid little kid" by arrogant paternal/maternal authority figures...

...being fingerprinted;
being character-assassinated both verbally and "on paper"---on a permanent record which can be viewed by just about anyone at any time in the future;
being locked in a "holding cell" with no facilities outside of a toilet---no shower or anything...unless they figure you're likely to be there for some time (especially if it's unlikely anyone'll come around to bond you out), in which case you get transfered to the "general population" where you get to "share" one toilet/sink combo and one shower with anywhere from 10 to 30 others.

...that is:
Those-in-charge assume "ownership" of and control over you...
You're given an "assigned" stereotype and pigeonhole---THEY give you an "identity" based on (in addition to whatever it is you got in trouble for) common social stereotypes which, themselves, are based largely on popular social prejudices and common preconceived notions regarding gender, race, physical type, and personality type...
You're forced against-your-will to navigate a series of "one-size-fits-all" elements---community facilities (toilet, shower, sink, sleeping quarters, recreation areas); a designated artificially-concocted social climate; regimented schedules and rituals; no allowance or accommodations for any individual needs, desires, or for individual expression...
Plus---whatever kind of problems exist with this environment you also have to suffer, regardless of whether-or-not you had anything to do with bringing them about...
And---you're "just-a-number", as well as "just-another-case/defendant/inmate".

But, come to think of it:
Wasn't basic training in the military also sort of like this?
...and is life as a "normal civilian" really all that different?
Don't we have to deal with a "one-size-fits-all" type of culture with it's social stereotypes, trendy material possessions, everyone having to use the same streets...shop at the same stores...eat at the same restaurants...watch the same TV shows...read the same books, magazines, newspapers...so many people going to the same popular clubs, listening to the same popular music, and the such?
And aren't we assigned "numbers" to our names? Credit cards, drivers licenses, social security cards, etc.?
And don't we get prototyped in everyday life? What about work records? School records? Hospital records?
And we're NOT forced into regimented rituals? Work schedules? Doctor's appointments? Classroom schedules? ...just how much "free will" are we allowed to have?
And all the problems society suffers from---do they not also affect our lives, and in the most adverse ways as well?

I think I know NOW what Joan Baez was getting at (in essence anyway)
...but, then again, isn't pretty much EVERY society like "America" in their own way?

"Conformity"---also known as "#12 LOOKS LIKE YOU" (wasn't Rod Serling a passive-agressive soul?)
..."#12" thinks like you as well---if you think about it long enough...

No comments:

Post a Comment