The dominant groups in a society affect culture which decides what’s taboo and who gets ostracized. They do this to keep themselves in power. That objective comes first, then they invent the motivation. This is the motivation behind both conservative and liberal movements.
- Citizenship for slaves and women’s suffrage massively affected the power balance and threatened the people in power.
- What examples are there of this today?
Eventually these oppressive elements of culture need to get exposed. But, they need to strengthen within those who harbor the iconoclastic views.Keeping things hidden is essential to freedom and individuality, until they can be cultivated and the timing is right to expose the abuses in power.
But, when these ideas hit the mainstream, humans being the hierarchical creatures that we are, they will become oppressive.
Consider the idea that when all things are equal, a person from a historically disenfranchised group should get preference in jobs, etc. over someone else.
Is that tenable?
Then the reverse ideology will enter the shadows until it gets properly cultivated. This cycle is endless.
The weakest, most hidden idea is inherently the most free. Society and culture are inherently oppressive, and their oppressiveness is directly proportional to their popularity.
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