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Traditions

Why?

By BurtPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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What we have in life that we can count our own is who we are and where we come from… right?

Tradition is the backbone of structure, law, and religion, a guiding faith for morality and society. It is the root of who we are, the link to our heritage that reminds us of who we are by reinforcing who we were. Tradition does that by the very nature of what it is. Unfortunately, it often becomes a corrupting influence and the more you rely on it the more it makes you want to ignore the changes taking place all around you.

Tradition makes some people feel invincible by banishing their insecurities and fears. It dominates people in a way that nothing else can. Tradition comes remarkably close to being a drug, an addiction. People find they want it; they rely on it; they have to have it. For better or worse, that’s what people rely on to strengthen them, to support them in their somber moments, and to remind them of their identity. Without those things, people are directionless.

More and more, I’ve come to understand that tradition for the sake of tradition is foolishness. People who genuinely believe in a thing beyond the point where it logical is a rare and dangerous thing. Most often, people spout all manner of deeply held beliefs about religion, morality, and society which they find most inconvenient when called upon to apply to their own lives.

The institution of marriage is perhaps the oldest and most observed tradition society has today. Dating as far back as 1250 CE, marriages were a union between families for the betterment of the families. Couples didn’t marry one another because of feelings or love, but for monetary advancement and status. Children today are taught that when they grow up, they will marry and have children. It is expected. Children are taught that marriage it is a life-long commitment made between two people. Knowing what I do today, I find the institution of marriage to be absurd. How many people can truly grasp anything for life? People in prison, serving a life sentence, have explained that it took years coming to terms with that sentence, and that others never do. I wasn't thinking about a life sentence the day I was married. I loved the woman in that moment and was willing to commit/share my life with her. That's it.

Tradition is the foundation which we build upon, it provides hope, however it also can be destructive by preventing diversity and advancement. I would never pretend to understand another person well enough to demand that they change their traditions. But how ill-advised is it to persist with ancient rituals without respecting the changes that have occurred since 1250 CE? The world is continually changing, redesigned by advancements in technology, the surge and collapse of religions, and by the integration of our civilization. If the essence of our awareness and tradition remains immobile, we are condemning ourselves with disparaging principles.

The question “Why?” is precarious. It challenges long-established and convenient traditions and forces people to consider new suggestions or contemplate information that is contradictory to long standing tradition. It is peculiar how people think: They question all knowledge except for the knowledge that they really agree with or the knowledge they never think to doubt; they camouflage themselves with tradition and beliefs documented in age-old document, ignoring the alternatives.

I remain suspicious of singular and fashionable teachings. As we have seen, traditional practices such as marriage, however we attempt to uphold them, disintegrate like skyscrapers during an earthquake.

humanity
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About the Creator

Burt

I have decided to share some of my journal entries with those who wish to read. These entries reflect my experiences, thoughts, feelings, and opinions during my time incarcerated.

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