Robyn's+reflection+on+The+Tyranny+of+the+Majority

REFLECTION ON TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY

America is a nation of conformists. Alexis de Tocqueville recognized that America's mores included conformity. He noted that in the American culture, it was hard to be original because it was hard to believe what others rejected or profess to believe what others condemn. De Tocqueville concluded that the tendancy of American's towards conformity was dangerous to future progress because of the difficulty of shaking a majority opinion once it had been conceived. As a result, if the majority opinion is an incorrect opinion, it becomes very difficult if not impossible for the majority to change its mind and reach a correct opinion at a later time. The music video, "Subdivisions" reflects on the inherent problems for high school students arising from the need to conform to the majority opinion. As its lyrics state, "conform or be cast out." Evidence of conformity exists in the vast numbers of girls who wear Ugg boots, Birkenstock clogs, Northface jackets, and Juicy Couture clothes. One only has to look at the fact that many high school girls dress, look, and act alike to realize that conformity is the prevailing social more in today's high schools.