One can forget

I was aware of being alternative-minded decades ago … when I was in my twenties, thirties.

But you live your life and operate within the domain you’ve gravitated toward, surrounded by the standards, values, mores, ideologies common to that particular milieu … and the sense of alternativeness kind of fades.

So I was just for some reason thinking about those wars that they conduct. About how young men are drafted or cajoled to be the soldiers fighting those wars. And I remembered:

There wasn’t a chance in a million I’d let myself be subject to that utter insanity. Are you kidding? Whatever those crazy people think they’re doing, it ain’t impinging on my life in any way, shape, or form. Not an issue, not a consideration.

I had arrived at that alternative-mindedness by 17 and my thoughts about armies and wars and martial engagement haven’t changed an iota since. I’ve kind of forgotten that disdain for militarism is not universal.

Like . . . militarism, religion, patriotism, consumerism . . . are those things still around? Really?? (oy vay)