Don't Be a Rebel, You Conformist!

                                                                        By Tony Y.
                                                                                 

It leaves a tart flavor in my mouth to bear a title so crass, but you know it’s true.

People want to be unique. We all understand that scientifically speaking no two human beings are exactly the same (even identical twins), but somehow that isn’t enough for a majority of us, and we push for grander, more apparent differences.

We are attracted to renegades because they’re hip and romantic. Not soap opera romantic, but Charlie-Sheen-in-Ferris-Bueller’s-day-off romantic. (See below)

Are we mavericks because we dress glitzy or disrespect authority? Colored hair? Gauged ears? Black coffee? Tight pants? “Underground” music?

 

No!

 

I have nothing against any of these lifestyles, except when we trick ourselves into believing these actions and veneers turn us rebel.

This style of “fighting the system, man” is a trend. The clothes, attitude, and demeanor all morph over time, but every generation has its counter-culture of choice.

BEING A TRUE MOLD-BREAKER

What follows is a quote from SLC Punk, another movie with confused young people and innocence lost, but with tremendous heart and wisdom.

 

Brandy: “Wouldn't it be more of an act of rebellion…if you didn't spend so much 

time buying blue hair dye…and going out to get punky clothes? It seems so petty.” ”…You wanna be an individual, right? You look like you're wearing a uniform. You look like a punk. That's not rebellion. That's fashion.”

Steve-O: “Then what's rebellion?”

Brandy: “Rebellion happens in the mind. You can't create it. You just are that way.”

IT’S IN THE MIND

Spoiler Alert: do things because you want to.

Chasing a movement of flair and fashion is not wrong. But assuming that assimilating with that crowd will make you untraditional is right out. Having loud jackets and kaleidoscopic locks makes you something, but not rebellious. Wear those holey jeans because you like to. Dye your hair red because it’s your favorite color. Drink black coffee because cream and sugar isn’t your fancy. Do things because you want to.

Another pertinent quotation from the movie-box:

 

Troy: “Let me ask you something. People have been clowning me about this jacket since I got here. But if I take it off to make them happy, I’m weak, right?”

Jeff :(shrug) “Troy, what’s it matter. You lose the jacket to please them, you keep it to piss them off...either way, it’s for them, that’s what’s weak.”

 

SIDE NOTE

This has the potential to fold back on itself, when we ask “what if I want to be a conformist?”

            My answer: Go for it. If you are at peace with your intentions, then who is anyone (especially me) to tell you off?

            Moral of the story?  Be yourself. Cliché as a love poem about the Moon, I know. But as wise man George Watsky once said “...stereotypes start with a grain of truth, clichés begin with a boulder”

Yours Truly,

Tony Y.