By ESTHER RAMOS
Group-thinking. Gang activity. Peer pressure. Mob mentality. I don’t understand the draw to do a thing solely because others are doing it.
To claim belief in a product, idea, or policy because others seem to believe in it; to engage ones time, talents or resources based only on the notion that “everybody’s doing it”; what, are we in third grade?
This idea with going along to get along has always been a bad idea. Did Moses in the Old Testament “go along”? No. How about our founding fathers? No. Just two examples of how going along became so hurtful, that entire societies could not get along no matter how far they went along. But each person who changed their lives had to have the personal conviction to do so, because doing things differently was more difficult than staying the same. Nobody got a free pass. Strength of character was needed from every soul, whether they stayed or left. Life was hard, and so were these choices, so everyone made their own.
What, you may ask, was the straw that broke my camel’s back this time? I was told by a well-meaning young man that he doesn’t understand why I spend time protesting any of the ideas or candidates in the upcoming elections, as we all know that ALL of the ‘Mormons’ are going to vote for candidate so-and-so. And since he sees where I’m parked on Sunday at meeting time, he figures he knows how I’ll be marking my ballot. Excuse me? It’s not like this kid is new. And I don’t know that he’s seen me doing this list of things that “everyone else” is doing. Or even that the Mormons seem to “all” be doing. I don’t get it.
I’ve always been this same thick-headed person that I am now. I have no group.
As a child I had one friend. She didn’t notice that I was odd and angry and clumsy.
My age group of classmates didn’t seem to be my peers, so I never learned to function as part of a group. From sports to politics I don’t understand group-think.
But just so you know, from here, it looks a lot like mob-mentality. Next time it comes up, no. You don’t know how I’m voting or what I’m thinking. I don’t mind getting along, but I won’t compromise myself to do so. Besides that, if you knew what I was thinking, you’d probably be running.
