Although I have had little
"training" in psychology, lately I
have developed a feeling that a
substantial number of people are
running around with what I would
call a "martyr complex". How else
would you explain the behavior of
the many individuals professing a
new and better life style, who
antagonize (with their appearance,
language, etc.) the very people
possessing the power to crush
them?
If I had developed
improvements which I thought
people could use to more fully
realize their life's potential, I would
be inclined to advertise this
knowledge (discounting any profit
motive). Either these people believe
they are martyrs fighting the
Establishment who is out to get
them (for God knows what
reasons); or they are very selfish
people, who will not share the
knowledge of their better way of
life.
For an example of such a
pseudo-martyr, I cite the author of
the recent C.D. article "A Night in
Your State Penitentiary." This was
an extremely interesting and
enlightening article with important
(sic) comments people should be
made aware of. I had little doubt as
to the author's intent until I read
his last sentence — "I can never
forget that it is precisely our money
and our apathy which feeds the
Fascist regime we call Justice in
America."
How can the author seriously
believe he can change a situation,
which desperately needs change,
when he antagonizes those very
people who have the power to
make the necessary improvements?
Perhaps he has no desire to work
for constructive change (seeing the
task as too difficult), and would
rather have his guilt feelings
"cleansed" by subjecting himself to
persecution — the natural result of
such an inflammatory remark.
Although it may be no less trite
than "the Fascist regime we call
Justice in America," it certainly is
less fallacious to say "you can catch
more bees with honey than you can
with vinegar."
Tom MacPherson
Commerce IV
