The Pschology of a Uniform

[Ewan]

What makes a seemingly normal member of society, a son, a daughter, cousin, brother, sister, pull on a uniform and become an automaton following corrupt govt dictate.

They used to be part of a family, a community. They went to school, formed friendships, shared happy times and sad.

Now they wear a uniform, khaki or blue, or green or grey. They have a badge, perhaps a gun, at least a stick of some design or other. A new family.

They round people up in times of unrest, sometimes beat them, certainly restrain them and throw them in cells.

Does not one of them ever question? Wait! These people are really upset about something. Something the Govt has done perhaps, so upset they are protesting, trying to make their small voices heard.

I have to hit them. My brother. My sister.

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How does that work?

[TomKat]

Just think of the all the projections and thoughtforms that accumulate on the wearer of any uniform, especially one of authority. Makes it kind of hard to maintain a sense of self. You become a What rather than a Who.

[thepainterdoug]

EWAN This subject has always fascinated me . I did an entire art series, paintings on this very subject. How a uniform changes us, both the wearer and the perceiver. The illusion is powerful.

im going to post some of them. This one i did related to religion, but the concept applies to all.

"NAKED DECISION".Oil on canvas, reflects on a woman's decision to put on the Nuns uniform again .

[Sue (Ayt)]

Posted by Ewan (here)
What makes a seemingly normal member of society, a son, a daughter, cousin, brother, sister, pull on a uniform and become an automaton following corrupt govt dictate.

They used to be part of a family, a community. They went to school, formed friendships, shared happy times and sad.

Now they wear a uniform, khaki or blue, or green or grey. They have a badge, perhaps a gun, at least a stick of some design or other. A new family.

I have noticed that for some, sadly, this new family can be preferable to their family of origin.
I would suggest that early trauma coupled with the new identity of the uniform can create a dangerous authoritarian type person.

[rgray222]

Posted by Ewan (here)
What makes a seemingly normal member of society, a son, a daughter, cousin, brother, sister, pull on a uniform and become an automaton following corrupt govt dictate.

They used to be part of a family, a community. They went to school, formed friendships, shared happy times and sad.

Now they wear a uniform, khaki or blue, or green or grey. They have a badge, perhaps a gun, at least a stick of some design or other. A new family.

They round people up in times of unrest, sometimes beat them, certainly restrain them and throw them in cells.

Does not one of them ever question? Wait! These people are really upset about something. Something the Govt has done perhaps, so upset they are protesting, trying to make their small voices heard.

I have to hit them. My brother. My sister.

--------------------------

How does that work?

The wearing of a police or military uniform is more of a statement on the larger society than it is on those that wear them.

The image of a guy in China during the Tianamen Sq uprising standing in front of several tanks with his groceries comes to mind. This image had a profound effect on myself and I suspect many others around the world.

[Satori]

For what it’s worth:

I posted elsewhere on this forum a more detailed account of this event in my life, but in 1971 when I was an infantry soldier in the 82nd Airborne Div. stationed at Fort Bragg North Carolina, several units were sent to Washington DC on May 1, 1971, to help quell anti war (Vietnam) protests. About the second day we were there, in DC, our Captain (Barr was his last name) ordered that live ammunition be issued.

I’m proud to say that I was among a few men (there were no women in the infantry then) who challenged that order and prevented what might have been a blood bath if the order had been carried out and someone started a Kent State.

So, wearing a uniform does not mean one has checked his or her humanity at the door before entering. At least not then, and not everyone, even now—I trust.

[thepainterdoug]

I will say it over and over again, as we complain about our reality and our fate. Its the Human being itself thats the problem.

WE, for the good of the whole, created a "society" with a general agreement on behavior to protect the whole.
There are those who will not co operate. And they may steal your food, your car , your wife and children

And so we need those to step up and volunteer to protect those, from these types. And they are called soldiers, police and so on.

so no matter how you slice it, its reality. as Jim Morrison said, when you defeat the authority, you become the authority.

Revolution ? you win? now your in charge . New boss , same situation

[Valerie Villars]

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

Pete Townshend of The Who

Doug, you are one of the most prolific and varied artists I have ever seen. What a wonderful gift.

[Sue (Ayt)]

Posted by Valerie Villars (here)

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

Pete Townshend of The Who

Doug, you are one of the most prolific and varied artists I have ever seen. What a wonderful gift.

LOL Val, because that same line popped in my own head while reading Doug's post!

[thepainterdoug]

Thanks very much Valerie!!

Heres another. Sister Sindy oil 40x50