Dear Discussion Group,
Eric Pridmore wrote about the tendency in formal ceremonies, religious and
otherwise, to demand precision movements and timing of certain stock
phrases. He wrote:
> Maybe I'm off base here, but I wonder if these kind of formal events
don't become places where we try to "model" normative behavior or at least
model some ideal notion of normative behavior.
I wonder if it is rather seeking "conformity", rather than an out-an-out
"normalisation". The difference between normative behaviour, and behaviour
that conforms is, I believe qualitatively different, with the latter
denoting allegiance to some societal beliefs that help to unite, and the
former referring to a sinister process of moulding individuals to the will
of some powerful group.
My guess is that, like most aspects of societal life, the points of view of
people with disabilities did not enter into the considerations of those who
devised such rituals, and "tradition" has taken over. It would be better,
in my view, to re-devise the rituals to accommodate difference (gender,
race, disability etc.) than to just plump for the "free-form" ceremony.
Michael Bleasdale
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