mad as a march hare

Another post from my phone......

Mad as a March hare. We have all heard the term. Nutty. Fruitcake. A freakin' loon. Tweaked. Messed up. Nut job. Batty. The names we call people that a differnt from us are endless, and none of them are enduring. The first time we meet someone we size them up to see what catagory we place them. The ones the play by the rules of society are the ones that get the praise and adoration. The ones the follow by their own rules get labeled with such negative terms as "crazy."

You will say that there are some people that are "touched" and this is true. Some people rightly deserve the title bestowed upon them. They have that distant wide-eyed look that tells you they are not only "missing the boat" on reality, but rather was not aware their was a boat to get. We also know a "mad woman/man" that fuctions relatively well in society but is rather unstable with personal relationships and everyday issues. These are the ones we should think of when we use those terms.

The problem arises when we use those terms for someone that lives differntly. Differntly because he/she chooses to build a house that is not cookie cutter and tradtional. Wears clothing unlike the typical person. Breaks societies unspoken rules of behavior. They shave when they are expected to be hairy and remain hairy when they should shave. Wear pants when they should wear skirts or womens clothing when they should wear mens. We chastise them for their ideas, because they must be wrong for they have not followed the rules. We dismiss their brilliance and refuse to let them shine.

These "nut jobs" hold the flame to humanity's fire and societital rule commitees run forth with thick blankets to smother it out. Throwing bile filled epitaphs, labels, and descriptions about these genius among us. They are called bi-polar, insane, and disturbed. These "good for nothing" people have much to offer. Literaure, art, design, scientists, music, and a score of other ways these "losers" contribute to your pleasure.

The next time you are faced with someone that does not follow the norms and follow the herd do one of two things. One, back off and say nothing and let it be. Two, support them either with words of encouragement, money, or see how you can help them make it happen.

These are not the crazy people, just misunderstood by those whose brains are not yet developed enough to think for themselves. Embrace the differences and enjoy the peace that comes with it.