Tis the Season
Tis the season for conforming. Perhaps nothing better defines the issue of conformity than the so-called holy season of Christmas. Brace yourselves, Druids , because some of the things I say here may shock and offend your religious beliefs. For the rest of you, go ahead and read. Christmas has nothing to do with organized religion. My favorite superhero has mused on the subject of guilt. Part of the reason we feel guilt is that we think we must conform to society's belief system, and the bigger the group, the more pressure there is on us to conform. Smaller groups can do it, too, but they have to consist of people with perceived power over us, like our boss or an IRS auditor. Few things in our lives personify conformity like the Christmas season. "What did you get?" is the biggest question that most of us will face when we return to work or school after the holiday. No one asks "What did you give ?", or if they do, they are asking it after the first ques...