“Think for yourself. Question authority.”
"Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are going in this ocean of chaos, it has been the authorities -- the political, the religious, the educational authorities --- who attempted to comfort us by giving us order, rules, regulations, informing -- forming in our minds -- their view of reality. To think for yourself you must question authority and learn how to put yourself in a state of vulnerable open-mindedness, chaotic, confused vulnerability to inform yourself."
I heard this quote from Timothy Leary about 10 years ago and it has resonated with me ever since. We are taught from a very young age to fully trust authority figures because they are held to a higher standard. They are considered truth tellers who provide us with the structure we crave and the warmth of the security blanket we long for. But what happens when one of these figures succumbs to the lust of greed and corruption?
“Don’t let one bad apple ruin the bunch.” It’s true, we shouldn’t allow one or a few individuals dictate the way we view an entire group, that isn’t fair to those whose actions are in the right place. We can, however, respectfully question motives and intentions.
It is not rebellion, it is recognizing the inevitable evils that exist. By asking the right questions, becoming mindful of the intentions of those around us we can equip ourselves with knowledge and recognize truth.
"Admit it. You aren't like them. You're not even close. You may occasionally dress yourself up as one of them, watch the same mindless television shows as they do, maybe even eat the same fast food sometimes. But it seems that the more you try to fit in, the more you feel like an outsider, watching the "normal people" as they go about their automatic existences. For every time you say club passwords like "Have a nice day" and "Weather's awful today, eh?" you yearn inside to say forbidden things like "Tell me something that makes you cry" or "What do you think deja vu is for?" Face it, you even want to talk to that girl in the elevator. But what if that girl in the elevator (and the balding man who walks past your cubicle at work) are thinking the same thing? Who knows what you might learn from taking a chance on conversation with a stranger? Everybody carries a piece of the puzzle. Nobody comes into your life by mere coincidence. Trust your instincts. Do the unexpected. Find the others.”
FIND THE OTHERS. Do not allow fear to be a muzzle. Speak up for those with no voice, find the others who will scream truth alongside of you. WHY is a powerful question. Why is this considered normal? Why is it just “what you do?” Why have we blindly trusted? Why don’t we ask why more often?
Observe two and three year olds, their favorite thing to say is “why?” It doesn’t matter how many times you answer them, a never ending string of “why?” will follow you until they feel satisfied with the answer. It is a part of our nature to question everything but years of conditioning has forced us to sit down and shut up.
Parents tend to get frustrated with the “why” phase, but it is a sign of hope for the future. A free thinking mind is the greatest threat to those pushing their agenda and the ultimate defense for a crumbling society.
Question the source, learn the truth. Never stop asking, WHY?
It is never too late to cut your strings.