March 6, 2003

I'm getting a lesson in deconstructing norms and values that were socialized into me.

I guess I'll start out with describing a view point I have on socialization. Basically everything has been socially constructed. The way we see the sexes, work, sanity, etc, it's shaped more in our minds than by biological facts and absolute truths (if such a thing exists).

I'm starting to think that the reason why I come across as liberal is because my attitude towards other people is that I wouldn't wish on them anything that I wouldn't want done to me and the fact that I just want to be left alone (in a sense live and let live). I've realized that I am not completely comfortable with everything, but I'm willing to try to accept it.

We talk about homosexuals in the military, women in combat arms, war protestors, and the supposed downfall of civilian society. All of these issues are socially constructed, if people weren't so staunch in their beliefs there wouldn't be a problem. I'll give people this though, even in my absence of group affiliations I find that I have to correct myself. We're all just people; it's unfair to generalize fears and hatreds to groups, albeit convenient.

It's strange, history shows that the military has been able to adapt to the changes that are implemented (ala forced integration of African Americans). I guess the reasons why institutions change so slowly is because the people are afraid to implement the changes.