During our entire life we constantly are being shaped, pressured and exhorted into accepting the current version
of acceptable public tenets and conduct. From childhood through our last days, you cannot evade the lessons that are unending.
This has always been the price that needs to be paid for the security to reside within a 'Civilization'. By its very nature,
this process is neutral. Perspective and value systems will judge if this method of consociation is freely accepted. Society
has a deep vested interest in creating cooperative members. Conflict should be keep to a minimum if the mechanisms of a society
are to achieve their objective. But just what is that goal?
As most, who has experienced being a member of any organization, will know; there is always a dominate framework
that permeates all decisions. It can take the form of an idea, a structure or a leader. But the necessity of practical requirements
demand that choices must be made. Even the decision to do nothing is a choice. So what we have as one of the cornerstones
of organization to community life is the process of establishing a norm by which all actions are judged. That holds true for
both policies and people. Without a standard that approaches the intent of universal acceptance, your ultimate consequence
is the risk of continuous turmoil. Society is about delineation of roles and the organizational structure of how all the pieces
fit into a montage of relationships. That in and of itself is, again; is neutral. So what is this danger for this process
of Socialization' ?
If a system of organization demands that decisions are made, and the method to arrive at this objective is
invariably based upon the dominance of conflicting factors; your result will be the formulation of an acceptable determination
or policy. This conclusion has its own essence. Its a value position, by nature. So what do we have here, the 'survival of
the fittest'? I hope not, but in the majority of instances there is a very real element of this struggle within most interactions.
If a value basis is at the core of the social intercourse, it follows that the culture itself will not only experience its
own righteous bias, but will have a requirement that some form of an accepted value system be implicit. The development of
methods, techniques and means to achieve the successful promotion and acceptance of this cultural norm, then becomes one of
the main objectives that any society undertakes. This process is most commonly known as 'Socialization'.
Our goal in not to examine the forms and varied ways that 'Socialization' takes place, but we will ask, if
any society has an unrestricted right or legitimacy to employ the significant resources that it commands, to establish what
the accepted ethos is at any given time? I don't deny the influence that the culture wheels. My query is simply to ask: "
Does it have the moral grounding to demand YOUR acceptance of the values it accepts as, 'PC', and promotes with an intensity
of a zealot ? " These norms don't carry the force of law, but in many ways are much more effective and compelling. That is,
because YOU decide to embrace them, even if you don't understand or question why you act in the manner that this 'PC' standard
is setting. Few people ever give it a second thought. This essay is not meant for such people, for they will never exert themselves
to address this topic in the first place. They have been 'Socialized' already, for a main tenant of this process is to accept
that which is appropriate, and avoid thinking for yourself. Are there any among you that will argue this point?
The reason that 'Socialization' is so dangerous is that it denies you your most basis and cherished possession,
namely; your ability to think and judge for yourself. You will read this continuous theme in all the political, media and
cultural articles that are presented and cited. Most of you may not find this process hazardous to your own well being. Surely,
I know that from my personal conversations with many of you. But my appeal is not to preach or scold; you will get enough
of that in the 'Strappado Wrack'. My hope is to get you to read, think and reply to these subject matters. Will you, or are
you so 'Socialized' that you feel there is no reason to consider the issue? Your input, or lack thereof, will answer this
question.
SARTRE - December 7, 2000
