Social Approval or Principles?
August 4, 2013 at 2:16 pm
(This post was last modified: August 4, 2013 at 2:25 pm by Koolay.)
I was thinking about how during the peak of slavery in America, it was completely disapproved by society to be against slavery and racism. You would have virtually no friends, people would attack you verbally or physically if you questioned slavery and racism.
Today, being an anti-racist, doesn't require much courage at all. You get big kudos in the western world from society if you speak out against racism.
But... I wonder how many of these anti-racists awashed in modern culture would still stand for their principles, even when the chips are down, and you are completely outnumbered and ostracised for your principles?
How many of you would still be anti-racist if you were completely outnumbered by racists?
Every single society in history has pretty much said the same thing "We are normal, healthy and rational people - but we have a few outliers". If you would take anyone from the middle ages, and put them in modern society, they would be carted off to an insane asylum almost instantly.
How do we know, what we are doing right now in society is valid and ethical, when in a few hundred years, our Joe Shmo might be considered completely irrational and weird.
I guess the question is... Do you care more about social approval or principles?
Today, being an anti-racist, doesn't require much courage at all. You get big kudos in the western world from society if you speak out against racism.
But... I wonder how many of these anti-racists awashed in modern culture would still stand for their principles, even when the chips are down, and you are completely outnumbered and ostracised for your principles?
How many of you would still be anti-racist if you were completely outnumbered by racists?
Every single society in history has pretty much said the same thing "We are normal, healthy and rational people - but we have a few outliers". If you would take anyone from the middle ages, and put them in modern society, they would be carted off to an insane asylum almost instantly.
How do we know, what we are doing right now in society is valid and ethical, when in a few hundred years, our Joe Shmo might be considered completely irrational and weird.
I guess the question is... Do you care more about social approval or principles?
The only freedom, is freedom from illusion.
