Likewise, most people celebrate the holiday they grew up with and commence in merrymaking in the ways that are familiar to them. There is nothing deviant about it, in their mind. However, for those coming from a different tradition their neighbor’s celebration can seem strange or even frightening. Those who practice different beliefs or celebrate in ways different then one’s own may even be thought of as deviant, simple because of the differences in their style of rejoicing. While there is a general presumption that all people are celebrating in kind, the reality is not that simple.
In earlier articles, I’ve stated deviance is norm breaking. Norms are informal social rules. There are social rules about religion, holidays and even celebrations. For example, think of the reaction people get if they say they don’t like this season, the names they are called: Scrooge. Grinch. Not exactly “nice” characters you’d like to invite over for dinner.
Through the holiday season, I challenge students of crime and deviance to see their world in new ways. Image your celebrations and holiday as deviant. Imagine what your surroundings would appear as if you held a different tradition or came from a different background. How differently would this season feel and appear?
How gluttonous does eating feast appear if you believe fasting is scared? Why kiss under a particular plant? Or spin a top as a celebration?
If you did not celebrate any of the holidays of this season, what would it feel like to walk in stores? Listen to the radio? Watch the television?
If you were truly poverty stricken? Starving? Terminally ill? What would the world feel like?
It is by being able to practice the old adage of walking a mile in another person’s shoes that we begin to understand our own fears and the thoughts and behaviors of others. It is through this understanding that we can understand that which we call deviant. Also through this understanding we can assess whether our concerns or fears are grounded or are simply based in alternatives that were foreign to our experience.
Alternatives, in religion or any other aspect of life, offer us growth. Offer us change. Offer us intellect. Only that which is harmful is really a problem. In examining those things we consider deviant, one of the initial questions that I hope people ask themselves is: sure this is different, it breaks my informal social rules, but does that really matter? Does it really cause me harm? My wish for this holiday season is that all will get the gift of perspective and be able to see deviance as merely difference.
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