"Sameness"

So I know I'm a bit behind, but I'm finally reading "The Giver" by Louis Lowry. I have to admit, the more I get into the book the more disturbed I am by it. I'm a little more than halfway through, so maybe this post should have been put off to when I've actually finished the book, however I felt it was worth delving into a bit early.

This ideal community, that is the setting for the book, is based on the idea of sameness. No one makes their own decisions, not on the job they will have, not on the spouse they will spend their life with. These decisions are left up to a committee to make, a committee that studies each individual and makes the "best" decision for that person, the "correct" decision. The main character, Jonas, makes the comment of how "scary" it would be if people were able to make their own decisions, if people had the possibility of making the "wrong" decision. Imagine a world of only "right" decisions, one where everyone avoids all conflict and things that are "uncomfortable". Pretty hard to do in today's society. I will admit that there are days when I would love a world without decisions, one without uncomfortable moments, however, would that really be living? Would I really appreciate the gifts that God has given me, that of free will to make my own decisions, right or wrong? The gifts of the spirit, wisdom, understanding, wonder and awe, right judgement, knowledge, courage, reverence, would these even mean anything?

The book also talks about everything being adjusted for the sake of sameness, for efficiency. "Climate Control" was used to avoid troublesome things like snow and rain. Colors caused too much conflict, too many decision had to be made as a result therefore colors became no more. The more I find out about this fictional community the more aspects of today's world are visible. I feel that there continues to be repercussions for those that are "different" that too many are trying to conform to what they feel is the "norm" what the media is portraying as the norm. It's the idea of being programmed to think and act a certain way and that is what truly scares me. It makes me want to research, want to learn all I can. To gather information from as many sources as possible in order to get the truth, the facts. That's one of the reasons I love the Catholic church, if I'm seeking answers there are always places to look, revelations and facts to back it up. There is solid reasoning.

Image from here

So to conclude for the moment, go out and be yourself. Be proud of your differences, of the person God has made you and the person you are becoming. Be confident. Be-you-tiful!