On the Subject of Normalcy

What is it about being “normal” that everyone seems to crave? I for one have always been proud of being called “weird” and “strange” and usually reply with a solemn “thank you”. The way I’ve always understood it, the word “normal” just means the average. Am I wrong on this? In fact, I am going to double check with the good people at dictionary.com right now. Ah yes, here we go:

nor·mal (nôrml)
adj.

1. Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical.

How lame is that? Is that really what people want to be? Conformists? Followers of the crowd? Complacent zombies of the perceived norm? Isn’t that what the Nazis were? And I certainly don’t want to become a Nazi. But that’s just me. We should be embracing the little quirks that make each one of us unique in that special way Barney might talk about. Instead, they are seen as emblems of embarrassment and shame, forever molded into the foreheads of the oppressed. Rather than shaking hands at these differences, we are shaking fists. Using them as pedestals to rise above our brethren. My heart fills with sadness when I see kids being shut out and ignored by their peers because they are considered weird and/or strange. Cruelty, thy name is child!

This brings to mind a writing by Baha’u’llah that holds some sentimental value for me. And I quote:

“Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.”

Man, that’s some incomprehensibly powerful stuff.

But yeah. Not everything that’s “normal” is necessarily good. And ultimately, the implications of being normal are pretty fleeting. What is normal today was not the norm 50 years ago. And in the same manner, will not be normal 50 years from now. Likewise, what may be the norm, might not necessarily be the most morally sound thing in the world. Some examples that immediately come to mind: drugs, pre-marital sex…I think that’s all I gots. But you get the point.

...you know, for kids