So You Think Your an American

Much against my own moral code of ethics, I found myself watching reality television. The show was So You Think You Can Dance. It is one of the tortures I subjugate myself to in order to appease my wife. On this particular episode was they were performing their usual beginning of the season talent search. This ordinarily consists of spectacular individuals with a lot of talent intermingled with delusional. Far be it from me to pass judgment on these deranged individuals, but there is a certain amount of sardonic amusement from their follies.

The one individual who caught my attention was a belligerent man who had put on a ridiculous performance, wasting the judges time. He then proceeded to argue with the judges’ criticism. It was obvious his only drive for being on the show was to make a scene and get on TV. If this were not enough he topped off this escapade with the following statement (mind you I am paraphrasing). He said, “I go where I want. I do what I want. I am an American.” Correct me if what I remember is skewed. The point is, this individual saw the ability to doing what he wanted and going where he wanted as being innately American. And his practice of this philosophy was him being American. Let me just say, this was not America’s fines hour.

Since when did America become an unruly Anarchy? The error in his philosophy it that even in America you can not ‘go where ever you want’ and ‘do what ever you want’. I don’t think he meant this literally (or at least I hope not). However, his attitude reflects and attitude prevalent in free countries, especially America. It is what I call a cultural anarchy. People assume because they are protected by the constitution and able to say and in some cases do what ever they want that they should. Gone are the days of social etiquette and mutual respect. Asking such things of these individuals would be considered to them un-American.

I am sure these same individuals would object to any government controls and regulations, instead adopting a wanna-be anarchist stance. The truth is the only reason these individuals have their freedoms is because of the restrictions America places on the censuring of such individuals. The all powerful 1rst amendment lends them these rights. In a true anarchy, they would have no such rights and would soon be subjugated by those with greater power who would set up small proto-dictatorships. There freedoms would be stripped and there ability to go anywhere and do anything would soon be reduces to an impoverished life of servitude. Thus is the way of anarchy.

This leads me to the question: if such affects would be felt by a government falling into anarchy, what affects would be felt by a culture falling into anarchy? I have no answer to this, but I am sure if our society continues in its ways, we may see the outcome.