Where Have All the Rebels Gone
"So few want to be rebels anymore. And out of these few, most, like myself, scare easily." ― Ray Bradbury
As a young woman, I learned to cover up my outrageous ideas. I dreamt of doing things I knew were not acceptable to my parents and our lifestyle. I became conventional and proper, hence the Clap Saddle name of Prissy Prime Walk. By the time I was graduated from HS I had learned never to tell my parents anything about my activities or dreams. I was a secret rebel wanting out of my self-imposed prison.
Rebels have a bad reputation. We think of them as troublemakers, outcasts, contrarians: they are the ones, associates, friends, and family members who often cause anarchy and disagree with everyone else. Perhaps it starts as the ability to see multiple choices or see other possibilities as a child. It often comes to bloom by the time we are teenagers. In my case, when I stepped outside of my mother’s religious path, I was thrown out of Sunday school and thrown out of school several times because I disagreed with teachers’ actions. I even got the cheerleaders to go on strike. Fortunately, my rebellion has taken a more productive path as I aged.
Radicals, nonconformity, conflicts, and differences are often seen as problems. When traditionalism becomes the basis for anything it positions a possibility of causing an idea or organization to become passe’. Those involved don’t feel safe to instigate new ideas or create the next step in growth. For any organization to be authentic, its members must be able to criticize, dissent, and give constructive ideas without being seen as bad, or troublemakers. Constant communication, where a person can ask why and if, sets an atmosphere of innovation. This is needed to accommodate change that is in a continuous state of occurrence in all aspects of consciousness, from personas to brick and mortar. Only inert, non-alive ideas are seen as not changing, or changeless.
Rebels are the change bringers. They bring transformation to make a better world. With unconventional thinking, a willingness to move into unfamiliar thinking, and experiences they often refuse to step back into routines and traditions, refusing the status quo. Doing so brings about renovation and innovation that helps move humanity forward. We use phrases in our studies such as "unfolding in infinite variety, without beginning or end, the totality of being," and yet we exclude the very idea, refusing that which is, rather than rejecting what we think we have learned.
When we step outside a binary system into a multiple dimensional consciousness, we glimpse at ideas and possibilities of what we can create. But to do this we must allow students to be authentic. We must reward innovative thinking by taking time to stop, listen, and dialogue with students on their ideas. There will be missteps and if we embrace these as part of the process, we empower ourselves and students to take risks and celebrate what we create.
Research on innovation shows that changes in organizational growth and health are based on curiosity and not conformity. It takes one person to ask a question no one has asked before for a wave of innovation to happen.
Without upheaval and trouble, Thane and Billye said, “there is no growth, change without pain.” For new life to happen there must be a moment of pain. Conformity is a cultural constraint. It makes us feel comfortable and accepted. In a 4th Way school under a teacher such as Thane, you are asked to rebel and conform at the same time. This conflict led us out of our binary existence into a dimension of reality we had not known. The same thing happens in the argument of Translation, we must see the conflict to move into a space of releasing the wholeness of being, Truth in our thinking. Conflict is important if we are to know Truth.
If we are to survive, we must be allowed the rebels to say no to groupthink. A moment of nonconformity most often triggers creativity. I think we are a group of rebels. Perhaps we misunderstood Thane about toeing the line. Having the courage to step outside the box was always the lesson. Most students fowled the box and they got yelled out, embraced, and seemingly attacked. He praised and encouraged us to think outside our boxes, to fulfill our calling of Truth.
History is filled with rebels who went against conformity to make transformations for the good of all, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Suffragettes; the list goes on. By trying not to offend others we often create more harm than good. This does not mean we purposefully should offend another on a personal matter.
True rebels are not crazy or out of control. Their actions are not meant to defeat the current regime, but to improve it. They don’t break the rules because they want to, but because they have to. Rebels want to bring about a better future. They break habits, and groupthink, fight limits, to have a more dynamic and positive future.
Exploration shows that a few weeks of acting against the norms raises self-esteem, when we encourage students to speak up and express an opinion, they become more confident. Being rebellious is a habit. Resistance and unhappiness are an indicator. Students and Mentors that are disengaged is not a disease, but a symptom of a lack of freshness and safe spaces to engage new ideas. If we want a viable organization, we must turn rebelliousness into a creative normal. It is this creative atmosphere that will draw a new generation of students.
The Prosperos was never meant to dwell in the realm of old metaphysics covered in dust. When Thane was alive creativity was expected of Mentors. They were expected to teach or counsel and be active. He encouraged their writings and developing new ideas.
Translation itself is a product of rebellion, moving ontology out of metaphysics into practical application.
Be a living Translation.
Copyright ©2021 Suzanne Deakins