True Progress Towards Perfection Begins When We Are Alienated from the Society
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Many societies try to get its people to conform to a standard. This policy diminishes the chance of growth as a society. Forcing any level of conformity upon people only helps to stifle their creativity. I believe that people cannot start their journey for perfection until they begin to alienate themselves from society.
People cannot grow in an environment that purposely tries stunts their growth. They must separate themselves from this negative element to continue to move on. Richard Bach supports this point with his story about a seagull that chooses to perfect his flying skills while all the other seagulls do nothing, but search for their next meal and eat. For the seagull to make any progress towards perfecting its flying ability it must alienate himself from his family and peers. Ralph Emerson also has a similar opinion because he thinks we should take after children and stand alone for our ideas and beliefs. We ought to refuse to conform to the society that has been placed before us and instead navigate our own paths.
Staying amongst a society that discourages people from following their own course can derail their progress substantially. They may begin to conform to societies ebb and flow and dont put much heart into their work. Emerson believes this cowardice to tear from the mold will only hurt our progress as people. Stunting our creativity and leaving us at a standstill from an evolutionary stand point.
Although society is willing to accept a persons personal identity, if people continuously project their independence there can be consequences. Bachs Seagull practiced his skydive time after time only to be voted out of the flock by its council members. Emerson displays this constraint using the relationship of man and child. As in children are rarely held accountable for what they do, while adults may face dire consequences for their actions.
With societies natural lean towards conformity the only way a person can truly reach perfection is to alienate themselves from society. Both Emersons and Bachs stories give us a guideline on how to maintain our identity and strive for perfection through alienation. All we have to do is take the first step.