In his 1933 novel, A refugee crosses his tracks, Norwegian/Danish author Aksel Sandemose created the concept known as The Jante Law, based on the portrayal of the small Danish town Jante; where similar to the American comedy classic Cheers- is a place “where everybody knows your name…and there always glad you came. “
The funny thing about the show Cheers was that by knowing your name when you walked into the bar, patrons and employees were free to personalize their statements on how big of a dumbass you were.
Jante Law is based 10 separate but somewhat repetitive rules which could be best summed up as, “The top 10 things you hear in a club right before someone smashes a glass bottle over your head.”
1. Don't think that you are special.
2. Don't think that you are of the same standing as us.
3. Don't think that you are smarter than us.
4. Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
5. Don't think that you know more than us.
6. Don't think that you are more important than us.
7. Don't think that you are good at anything.
8. Don't laugh at us.
9. Don't think that anyone cares about you.
10. Don't think that you can teach us anything
Nordic countries such as Sweden and Denmark have adopted this symbiotic, unwritten cultural code of conduct to condemn the idea of “self elevation” over social equality and fairness to all.
Oh the irony of it all…
Question…Does social equality just spontaneously happen?
If so, why do we nominate leaders and draw up laws?
Who needs them?
And how could we possibly choose between candidates?
They are after all, no better than each other.
The American Boys Club tinkered with a similar notion 230 years ago:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Of course by men, they were referring to scared, White, English, Protestant men who fled England like cocky teenagers with the notion that no-one could tell them what to do. And by self-evident, they meant, there was plenty of land for every scared, White, English, Protestant man to live like a king without having to covet thy neighbors shit…Women, Blacks, Animals, or anything that doesn’t look or sound like us need not apply.
The Jante Law could also be described as “The Reason you never move into your girlfriends house.” Your girlfriend has her house decorated the way she wants, and everything is “in just the right place,” so don’t even think of offering your decorative suggestions or bringing over your favorite chair- you couldn’t possibly have anything “better” to offer. Enjoy your home…get familiar...and take your feet off the sofa!!!
It is merely my opinion that Nordic countries often show a far more progressive stance in terms of social acceptance on many issues, however, “equal” is the fable we tell our children to cushion the punches of “bullies” as we navigate through the real world of competition.
Believing that no one is better than someone else reeks of insecurities and breeds an idea of contentment. Being content is on par with being retired, and being retired is the place you generally reach right before death.
The world as we know it has been built on the shoulders of individuals who have dared to ask, “how can I/We do this better.” Maybe the Jante Law should be modified to read, “excellence is to be embraced, jack-asses need not apply.”
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
myTopic...Part 2...Survival
Every action we perform is done so under the premise of three internal conclusions. Our actions are based on our desire for Survival, our need for Validation, and our mental air-conditioner called Relaxation.
I preface survival with “desire” because without the desire to continue you could simply end your time line any time you wanted. Anyone could put an end to their own life if they so desired at any moment. But at this exact moment we are all choosing to move forward. This also could be referred to as one’s resiliency. Resiliency is the ability to recover readily from illness, depression, and adversity.
Resiliency is not something that can be taught as much as it acts as the vocal chords of your mind. It is the voice that tells you, “It’s all going to be all right, to keep going, don’t stop, and never give up,” for others, the voice says, “you don’t deserve happiness, just walk away, you’re not good enough, and why do I even bother.” Resiliency is created by your DNA but is often nurtured by your environment.
Your resiliency is based on your ability to take an interpreted hardship and effectively minimize its negative effect on you physically or mentally. Since we have an infinite database of processed thoughts, actions, and reactions that constantly guide us through our days, current hardships are analyzed and compounded to and against past issues as your brain and mind discuss a proper solution. Once processed, your brain comes up with answers while your mind signs off on, or vetoes your desired course of action. The people who have veto happy minds, tend to be the ones who often feel defeated, while the people who trust their brains course of action and follow through with the game plan often persevere.
So to reiterate, survival is the number one need because without it, the timeline ceases. As humans our basic individual survival needs consist of:
1. Homeostasis- the ability to regulate your internal environment.
2. Oxygen to breathe
3. Protector from the elements (shelter/ clothing/ food provider)
4. Water to drink
5. Nourishment
6. Rest / Sleep
7. Excretion
I have eliminated sex from Maslow’s first level (physiological), under the hierarchy of needs, because sex is only necessary for the survival of a species and not an individual (Something which I have sadly proved for many months now). I have also added protector from the elements, because when a baby is born, it is dependant upon another established individual to provide food, water, and shelter. Without that individual, the baby would quickly die from the inability to survive on its own.
I preface survival with “desire” because without the desire to continue you could simply end your time line any time you wanted. Anyone could put an end to their own life if they so desired at any moment. But at this exact moment we are all choosing to move forward. This also could be referred to as one’s resiliency. Resiliency is the ability to recover readily from illness, depression, and adversity.
Resiliency is not something that can be taught as much as it acts as the vocal chords of your mind. It is the voice that tells you, “It’s all going to be all right, to keep going, don’t stop, and never give up,” for others, the voice says, “you don’t deserve happiness, just walk away, you’re not good enough, and why do I even bother.” Resiliency is created by your DNA but is often nurtured by your environment.
Your resiliency is based on your ability to take an interpreted hardship and effectively minimize its negative effect on you physically or mentally. Since we have an infinite database of processed thoughts, actions, and reactions that constantly guide us through our days, current hardships are analyzed and compounded to and against past issues as your brain and mind discuss a proper solution. Once processed, your brain comes up with answers while your mind signs off on, or vetoes your desired course of action. The people who have veto happy minds, tend to be the ones who often feel defeated, while the people who trust their brains course of action and follow through with the game plan often persevere.
So to reiterate, survival is the number one need because without it, the timeline ceases. As humans our basic individual survival needs consist of:
1. Homeostasis- the ability to regulate your internal environment.
2. Oxygen to breathe
3. Protector from the elements (shelter/ clothing/ food provider)
4. Water to drink
5. Nourishment
6. Rest / Sleep
7. Excretion
I have eliminated sex from Maslow’s first level (physiological), under the hierarchy of needs, because sex is only necessary for the survival of a species and not an individual (Something which I have sadly proved for many months now). I have also added protector from the elements, because when a baby is born, it is dependant upon another established individual to provide food, water, and shelter. Without that individual, the baby would quickly die from the inability to survive on its own.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
myTopic...Part I
Death - noun
-the act of dying; the end of life; the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an organism.
There is only one fact of life. One day you are going to die and there is absolutely not a thing you can do about it. Death is the only thing in this world that we are certain to experience following our first gasps of air (taxes are optional). However, we are never told when that last gasp will be, and thus the cycle of uncertainty, instability, and fear begins. Collectively and personally, our physical beings are measured by increments of time. When a child is born, age is defined by days, then weeks, months, followed by years. As children, we often can’t wait to grow “old” and experience the freedoms and responsibilities of adult. As adults, we lament the naiveté of childhood. Currently, a child born in the United States today has a life expectancy of 79 years as a female, and 74 years as a male (I will save the jokes on gender differential for later).
There are many factors by which an individual may be judged in our current society. The most prevalent factors include:
Age
Artistic Ability
Athletic Ability
Family Achievement
Financial Achievements
Humanity
Intelligence
Physical Beauty
Physical Health
Professional Achievements
Sexual Prowess
To judge an individual’s talent or ability, we must define them.
For example:
To say "Bob" is 80 years old means nothing. It is only when we compare Bob’s age to the average life expectancy of other humans in terms of gender and generation, do we begin to evaluate his achievement. Other factors can contribute to our analysis…Negative factors such as drug and alcohol abuse, bad eating habits, or poor physical fitness cause us to marvel at the age achievement, while clean living, proper conditioning, and genetics tend to make us rationalize the results as more justifiable.
However, judgments ultimately boil down to one final comparison...
"Me versus You"
1. Bob is 80 years old. (Can I imagine myself at 80?)
At this point your mind creates a sliding scale (From exceptionally above average to horribly below average) for other factors you believe contribute to the life expectancy of an individual.
2. How does Bob’s genetics compare to my own?
3. How did Bob’s lifestyle at my age compare to my own (drugs, food, family, job, fitness, etc.)?
4. Any other factors you believe effects life expectancy?
5. Weigh the pros and cons of all the variables.
6. Come to a personal conclusion regarding Bob’s age and your potential age.
7. Rationalize it.
It is worth noting that rationalizing your personal conclusion is always the final step because you have no way to prove your conclusion. Probabilities may be in your favor, but as many of us have seen at the poker table, the river can suck the life out of you. And since the only 100% probability in life is that you are going to die, all other analyses have a river card.
-the act of dying; the end of life; the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an organism.
There is only one fact of life. One day you are going to die and there is absolutely not a thing you can do about it. Death is the only thing in this world that we are certain to experience following our first gasps of air (taxes are optional). However, we are never told when that last gasp will be, and thus the cycle of uncertainty, instability, and fear begins. Collectively and personally, our physical beings are measured by increments of time. When a child is born, age is defined by days, then weeks, months, followed by years. As children, we often can’t wait to grow “old” and experience the freedoms and responsibilities of adult. As adults, we lament the naiveté of childhood. Currently, a child born in the United States today has a life expectancy of 79 years as a female, and 74 years as a male (I will save the jokes on gender differential for later).
There are many factors by which an individual may be judged in our current society. The most prevalent factors include:
Age
Artistic Ability
Athletic Ability
Family Achievement
Financial Achievements
Humanity
Intelligence
Physical Beauty
Physical Health
Professional Achievements
Sexual Prowess
To judge an individual’s talent or ability, we must define them.
For example:
To say "Bob" is 80 years old means nothing. It is only when we compare Bob’s age to the average life expectancy of other humans in terms of gender and generation, do we begin to evaluate his achievement. Other factors can contribute to our analysis…Negative factors such as drug and alcohol abuse, bad eating habits, or poor physical fitness cause us to marvel at the age achievement, while clean living, proper conditioning, and genetics tend to make us rationalize the results as more justifiable.
However, judgments ultimately boil down to one final comparison...
"Me versus You"
1. Bob is 80 years old. (Can I imagine myself at 80?)
At this point your mind creates a sliding scale (From exceptionally above average to horribly below average) for other factors you believe contribute to the life expectancy of an individual.
2. How does Bob’s genetics compare to my own?
3. How did Bob’s lifestyle at my age compare to my own (drugs, food, family, job, fitness, etc.)?
4. Any other factors you believe effects life expectancy?
5. Weigh the pros and cons of all the variables.
6. Come to a personal conclusion regarding Bob’s age and your potential age.
7. Rationalize it.
It is worth noting that rationalizing your personal conclusion is always the final step because you have no way to prove your conclusion. Probabilities may be in your favor, but as many of us have seen at the poker table, the river can suck the life out of you. And since the only 100% probability in life is that you are going to die, all other analyses have a river card.
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