The planet Earth is just one piece of sand on the beach we call the Universe. Hence, it is really hard to think that we are the only inhabitants of this immense structure. This explains the many searches for life on our neighboring planets, the alien image in pop cultures and all of the dubious alien-abductions and UFO’s. That is why until we don’t encounter those green, round-headed creatures, we try to find, or rather create aliens among ourselves.
Sadly, it is human nature to feel superior to others – to alienate. Therefore, just by being a foreigner, having a different religion, different color of skin, or simply by belonging to a different clique, a person can be alienated. However, in my article I would like to concentrate on the people of different sexual orientation: homosexuals and society’s outcasts: prisoners.
Lately, a person’s sexual orientation has become an important part of the person’s identity; namely, society puts too much stress on it. People get tagged – they become straight or gay, a distinction that is simply too vague. Yet, the alien among these two is the homosexual. Why? Simply because they are ‘different’ (whatever that might signify) and because they do not follow nature’s canon. And instead of accepting that difference, society chooses to alienate them. An example of this is the death penalty for homosexuals that existed during the French Revolution and the horrible treatment that they received in the concentration camps during World War 2. Why? Just because they were homosexuals.
On the other hand, the prisoners are psychologically and physically alienated – they are put into prisons and segregated from society. This is an example on how society punishes people for their wrongdoings – puts them between four concrete walls, in a world guided by routine. Also, the only communications that they have with the outside world are letters and the few visits that they have the right to. And after their ‘stay’ in the prison they are expected to reintegrate into society; however, that is not an easy task for they have been turned into E.T. and they will act like the alien. At least for the first few months.
Thus, in order to satisfy the people’s hunger to be someone different, someone alien, society has created aliens among us. Everyone has felt like an alien at least at one point in their lives, you know that feeling when you are in a room full of people, and yet you feel completely alone? Not a very comfortable feeling, eh?
I wonder about the following:
ReplyDeleteby being alienated, or feeling alienated, as you describe in your piece, are we proverbially alone? or is the very notion of the alienation process one that has a surrendering universal effect? Meaning: if all of us, at one point or another have been alienated, have felt alienated, then where is 'the lone-some-ness' in it?