Life Without Controversy Is No Life But Why We Should Not Choose The Safe Haven Of Conformism | Essay

 

LIFE WITHOUT CONTROVERSY IS NO LIFE BUT WHY WE SHOULD NOT CHOOSE THE SAFE HAVEN OF CONFORMISM

Outline:

        I.            Introduction:

-          Passivity and stagnation result from conformism, while controversy fosters vibrancy, creativity, and reformative change.

-          Hence, choosing a passive life of conformity is discouraged.

      II.            Life and controversy are inseparable.

    III.            All human progress stems from controversies:

-          Ideological progress, exemplified by the dialecticism of Hegel and Marx.

-          Religious Reformation, such as the rise of Protestantism challenging established religious norms.

-          Political Revolution, like the American Revolution questioning taxation and the role of government.

-          Scientific progress, illustrated by the Copernican Revolution challenging the planetary position of Earth.

    IV.            Controversy, as the foundation of non-conformity, contradicts conformity.

      V.            Conformism is perceived as safe due to its avoidance of challenging established norms and power structures.

    VI.            Reasons to avoid conformism or blind conformity:

-          Diminishes the vigor and liveliness of the human spirit (Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience").

-          Stifles debate and the pursuit of truth (J.S. Mill's "On Liberty").

-          Hampers creativity and the progress of human civilization (Will Durant's "The Story of Civilization").

-          Perpetuates injustice, tyranny, and oppression.

  VII.            Noble individuals reject the safety of conformity:

-          Socrates chose hemlock over conformism.

-          Imam Hussain (A.S) preferred martyrdom over blind conformity to tyranny.

VIII.            Nations should prioritize their national interests over conformism to a biased world order:

-          Pakistan's controversial nuclear program serves as a lifeline despite global scrutiny.

-          However, Pakistan's adherence to a colonial mentality impedes progress.

    IX.            Nevertheless, there are limits to both controversy and conformity:

-          Controversy should not lead to chaos or anarchy (e.g., Kharjites, white supremacists).

-          Conformity to laws ensures order, but it should not be blind (Thomas Jefferson's concept of "Vigilant and Watchful Conformity").

      X.            Conclusion:

-          "Do not conform to the patterns of this world; transform yourself by renewing your thought" (Bible, Book of Genesis).

-          Progress often depends on those who are unreasonable and refuse to conform to established situations.

G.B. Shaw has hit the nail on its head about the importance of non-conformity for human progress non-conformity to established norms and well-settled ethos often invites wrath of the powerful segments within a society. Such powerful and influential circles use tools of violence, coercion, and intimidation to curtail iconoclastic ideas. Novel ideas are often considered controversial because they challenge older beliefs. So, non-conformity and controversial actions are often punished. It is often quite dangerous to profess controversial ideas and practice controversial beliefs. However, they are equally important for bringing down outdated systems. Rosa Parks performed a controversial act Joy refusing to vacate her seat for a white passenger but this act of non-conformity ignited a massive civil-rights campaign in the USA That campaign uprooted a decades-old system of social prejudice in America. Conversely, conformity is a safer option but it weakens the human spirit and allows perpetuation of cruelty and repression. Indeed, controversy enables vibrance, creative activity, and reformative change in life whereas conformism leads to passivity and stagnation of life. Therefore, one should not choose conformism

Life and controversy are inseparable. Contradictions and controversies are the colors of life. They add spice and variety to life. The trial-and-error method of learning is based on judging controversial hypotheses through observation and experimentation. Both a common person and a scientist use this method to deduce optimal results from their life experiences and lab experiments respectively. Controversy is analogous to every alternative for a settled pattern. Sun that ends spell of darkness, marriage that ends pangs of isolation, and a new ruler that starts a new regime, all add verity to life.

Annals of human history bear testimony to the fact that the total of human progress has originally emanated from controversies. First, ideological progress rests on controversies. G.W. Hegel and Karl Marx presented a theory of dialecticism to theorize human progress. The dialectic theory of human progress states that society progresses when an anti-thesis emerges against a thesis This anti-thesis is often controversial which initiates a confrontation between the original thesis and the controversial anti-thesis. As a result of this conflict a new ‘synthesis' emerges which is better than both of the previous thoughts. Marx applied the ideal dialectic of Hegel to explain how human society evolved from a Master-slave society to a modern capitalistic society. The common theme that runs in the theories of both scholars is that controversy, in the form of anti-thesis, ignites ideological progress.

Secondly, all forms of religious development and emergence sprouted from controversies. Abraham created controversy when he refused to worship idols.

Moses disobeyed Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses to emancipate the Israelites. Similarly, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) caused a “controversy’ when he announced his prophethood on the hill of Saffah. In the Middle Ages, Martin Luther King initiated a controversial debate about the role of religion in personal lives. His “Ninety-Five thesis” was banned in continental Europe but he did not conform to the edicts of power-hungry popes. His controversial teachings kickstarted a protestant Reformation all across Europe and paved the way for enlightenment in Europe.

Thirdly, political revolutions often start from controversies. For instance, the American Revolution was the consequence of taxes, imposed on American colonies by the British Empire. The colonists wanted representation instead of taxes but the king was not willing to do so. Consequently, a rift emerged between the Americans and the British which culminated into the Declaration of Independence 1776 by the Americans. Similarly, the French Revolution was the result of the controversial idea of “human equality" presented by Jean Jacques Rousseau. This idea soon gained traction and common people overthrew the Bourbon dynasty in 1789.

Finally, scientific progress has often been marred with controversy throughout human history. Most importantly, the Copernican model of the universe created a great controversy as in this model sun was the center of our solar system. This heliocentric model is opposed to the geo-centric model presented by Ptolemy and supported by the Bible. Copernicus and Galileo supported this new model. Therefore, they had to face persecution at the hands of the Catholic Church for this blasphemous thought. However, this new model brought about a revolution in the field of science. To this day, the Copernican Revolution is considered the most significant shift in scientific thought.

Moreover, controversy (which is a base for non-conformity) is antithetical to conformity. Conformity is submission and obedience to authority while controversy represents rebellion and a maverick attitude toward an authoritarian system. Conformity is usually a safe' option whereas controversy is a perilous path. Conformity makes people mere spectators in the theatre of life while controversy makes them actors. Servility and blind conformity make life dull and gloomy while controversy adds spark to life.

Furthermore, conformism is safe because it does not challenge established norms and entrenched power structures. In the era of Zia-ul-Haq, those journalists who heaped praises on the military regime were rewarded but those who spoke against the military rule were punished severely. Conformity is a sign of weakness and compliance is a sign of cowardice" as Che Guevara put it. Those who are yellow-bellied and cannot stand up to injustice, often choose the haven of conformism.

After discussing the significance of controversy and dissent, the perils of conformism beg description. To begin with, one should not be a blind conformist because it attenuates the vigorous and liveliness of the human spirit. The human spirit or human energy is a force that keeps the motor of life running. If one embraces conformism, one's energies start to dampen. Henry David Thoreau, the renowned American thinker, argued that the, “most precious belonging of a man is his passion to be free which weakens under compliance.” A person's passion to excel in his life, achieve tremendous heights, and meet his goals cannot be fulfilled if he dares not venture into uncharted boundaries and rather limits himself to the abode of conformism.

Similarly, conformism or blind conformity should not be adopted because it stifles debate and obviates the search for truth. Search for truth requires debate and inquiry whereas debate necessitates the essence of controversy. On the contrary, if there is conformity, no controversy will originate.

As a result, no debate and dissent can exist in such a repressive environment John Stuart Mill writes in 'On Liberty' that "When one submits oneself to a predominant thought, there can be no hope for any improvement in that thought unless one questions it." it is a matter of common observation that during military regimes, conformism reign supreme whereas debates on important issues become non-existent or are forcefully suppressed.

Likewise,   conformism hampers creativity and the progress of human civilization. Will Durant in “Story of Civilization” points out many civilizations that were wiped off from the face of the earth because they cocooned themselves with blind conformity. Babylonian Civilization in the ancient cities of Ur and Uruk did not adapt according to the changing ecological conditions and hence they perished. Inhabitants of Ur faced a severe drought about five thousand years ago. Instead of moving to more fertile areas, they conformed to their religious beliefs that severe drought always brings prosperity later on resultantly, thousands of citizens died of hunger thirst, and infighting for food. Blind conformity can become a death hell for civilizations.

Finally, blind conformity should not be adopted because it provides room for the unabated perpetuation of injustice, tyranny, and oppression. If a person or a nation does not protest against some wrongful act committed by some other person or government, that wrongdoer becomes audacious and he will commit more grave crimes in the future. For instance, when General Benito Mussolini took over Italy by force, many Italians thought that conformism to Fascism was the best option to avoid the cruel policies of the Fascist Regime. However, this conformism encouraged the Fascist Regime to promulgate more cruel and repressive laws. Hence, it can be inferred that conformism to injustice and tyranny strengthens a cruel regime.

As exhibited conformism leads to a myriad of menaces so it must be avoided. Nobel personalities of the past were mindful of this reality and therefore they did not choose conformism even If they had to lose their lives. First of all, Socrates was prosecuted by the Athenian Senate for corrupting the minds of the youth with his revolutionary ideas. He was found guilty and was given two options either to drink hemlock poison or renounce his teachings. Socrates chose the former and uttered these words. "Life is dear to me but truth is far dearer.” Likewise, Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) refused to offer allegiance to a tyrant and a debauched ruler. He was threatened with dire consequences but he did not seek refuge from conformism to save his life. Conversely, he wanted to save Islamic principles and he eagerly embraced martyrdom while the wretched of Kufah preferred ignoble conformism.

In a similar vein, nations should also avoid conformism when it clashes with their national interests. In one case, Pakistan chose to give precedence to its nuclear program over prejudicial restrictions on nuclear proliferation through NPT. If at that time, Pakistan had chosen to be conformist, its security would have been in a state of jeopardy now. On the other hand, the Pakistani elite and government have always conformed to the colonial mentality. In language, mannerisms, culture, and system of administration colonial mentality pervades all Pakistan. The elite of our country has never strived sincerely to break free of the shackles of colonial conformism. As a result, Pakistan’s indigenous cultures have failed to flourish and it couldn’t make any remarkable progress in the field of economics and science.

Nonetheless, there are limits to controversy and conformity. First, controversy should not be for chaotic and anarchic purposes. Dissent and difference of opinion should always be civil. Similarly, debate and argumentation should be for creative purposes and not for destructive ends Moreover, a controversial attitude is good only as long as it is not forced upon those who do not subscribe to controversial ideas. Kharjites of early Islamic history and terrorists of modem day committed this fallacy of imposing their maniacal ideologies on the whole society. Similarly, white supremacists in Europe and the USA hold controversial ideas but those ideas are meant to spread hate. They do not put forward a new thought for the collective progress of the human race rather they use controversial notions to create divisions within humanity.

Secondly, conformity can be useful for bringing discipline and order. However, such conformity is not blind rather it is “watchful and vigilant conformity" as it was termed by the third American President Thomas Jefferson. He stated. “Price of liberty is eternal vigilance which gets corroded if we take it for granted." He wanted citizens to be loyal to the government but only as long as the government was loyal to its people. The populace should be watchful of the government’s actions and should remain vigilant for the security of their rights and liberties.

The quintessence of all discourse is that controversy provides a seedbed of critical thinking and debate in which the plant of human life thrives. On the contrary, blind conformity acts as an acid that retards the growth of human life. It might be an expedient option for selfish reasons but It is never a wise one because It does not only cripple human Imagination but also arrests the growth of human society. A|l progress in history was the result of non-conformism and If we wish to continue this undertaking of progress, we must stay clear of conformism In the future too.

“Do not conform to the patterns of this life; transform yourself by renewing your thought"

The Bible (Book of Genesis)