I've pondered the matter, as I do, and the only argument I can think of in favor of using this "reason" is that somebody worked out that a certain way of doing things was best, and that must be why it's tradition, right? That's weak.
Fortunately, I have you guys! I'm really looking for some intellectual discussion from you all on this one. I'm stumped. Part of me is hoping there's a stronger argument in favor that I'm just not coming up with at the moment. On the other hand, I wouldn't be disappointed to learn that you find it as logically tenuous as I do when given proper scrutiny.
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I was reading an article on the debate to legalize marijuana and one of the No's had this as his 'reasoning':
"If marijuana was going to be legalized they'd already have done it by now."
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| Dafuq you say? |
If gay marriage was going to be legalized they'd already have done it by now.
If women were going to be given suffrage they'd already have it by now.
If the Middle-East was going to have peace they would have it by now.
If black people were going to be given equal rights they'd already have it by now.
If we were going to abolish slavery we'd already have done it by now.
Change happens at a point.
Think about that.
There is always a day when the people go to sleep and awaken to a different world. Looking back on history, reading it like a contiguous series of events, it's easy to fall under the impression that events flowed visibly from one to the next with the 'conclusion' in sight like a movie or book. We forget that today will be in a history book someday.
"Slavery is an evil" becoming an accepted truth all across the civilized world? No one saw that coming sitting on their porches on their plantations.
"This is how things have always been" is quintessentially self-serving, isn't it?
There's a protest at a local highschool about how the principal is gay.
ReplyDeleteA protest? What are they saying? That he's teaching the students to be butt pirates?
DeleteI agree, usually. Joining the military because all your fathers did and because it was instilled into your mind since youth, that's kinda stupid. But tradition is exactly that, instilled from an early point. I think it's because of that that it stays. You take a child away from his family, bring him back after a decade and let him know that it's tradition that he shovel cow dung for manure purposes. In most cases he'll be reluctant.
ReplyDeleteThere are exceptions though. The only one I can think of is when something has value and it's passed down because it's tradition to do so. Not quite what you were talking about, but it's still a form of it. First thing that comes to mind is Butch's watch on Pulp Fiction.
That's an heirloom, really, not the kind of 'tradition' I'm talking about.
DeleteIf your family heirloom is a Nazi flag brought to America by your SS grandparents, passed down for the purpose of reminding you about the pure Aryan bloodline from which you hail, what do you say about that? I think you should take some time to think about whether that set of family values deserves to be perpetuated.
I take your point though. Every generation should not throw out all of their parents' values as 'old-fashioned' just in principle. Respect, honor, duty, these are some things our ancestors valued. People these days will throw out all three in the chase for money.
I completely agree with you here.
DeleteBut there is always a reason behind the tradition. No matter what the reason be. As the new generation, I think it is our responsibility to know the reason and see if that reason is sufficient enough for us to carry on or not.
And there's the rub: more people don't take that responsibility.
DeleteWell I suppose it can depend on the tradition. Though the argument that "It's always been like that" is a pretty weak one. Back in very religious days I don't think they would ever have seen the blasphemous society we live in today. Blasphemous from their view that is. I don't really have a problem with traditions, as long as the reasons behind it are still recognized and celebrated. Though using it as an excuse to do something usually means that this isn't the case, and they're doing it just because.
ReplyDeleteThe issue I have with that is no one gives a shit about the reasons. As organisms we aren't hardwired to give everything careful thought. Our brains take shortcuts all the time, and that's not a bad nor good thing. It's simply the reality.
DeleteWhen you settle to accepting anything based on tradition, you probably don't give a shit about the reasons already. Not because you're careless, or stupid, or even ignorant. It may simply never have occurred to you to revisit the conclusions you have had installed in your mind at a young age.
okay. No question about it. You seem to be well informed anyway. Gosh! ^_^
ReplyDeleteYep, yep. These Drafts have some serious content, yes?
DeleteYES -in caps lock :)
ReplyDeleteI've bitten into the Draft pile nicely. I think it's time to lighten up a while.
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