Human nature requires that we form some sort of bond or relate with others in the environment or the society where we find ourselves. It is one of the basic human instincts to want to belong somewhere or feel some sense of belonging. The process provides some warmth or reassurance to the individual that he or she is not alone. Thus oftentimes individuals tend to flow or move with the trend or prevailing beliefs or culture in the society. In a perfect world where everything works the way it should or people view things from the proper or right perspective, losing oneself in the flow of the society might have just been ok or acceptable.
However, this may be detrimental to the individual when the society is moving in the wrong direction or those piloting its affairs have selfish or mischievous agenda. In such situations one has to stand one's ground and not flow with the prevailing trend or the direction in which the society is navigating. If brave men of yore hadn't stood their ground even when doing so alone in order to correct a wrong notion or steer society away from error, mankind would probably have not achieved the level of progress or advancement it has attained today.
When one has an opinion or a position on a matter (different from what is generally accepted) with appropriate evidence or proof backing such stance, he or she should be ready and willing to weather the storm of opposition in order for the truth or right position to carry the day. This often comes at a price of loneliness or being out of place as one may even be deserted by once close comrades or even Kith and kin.
If you could travel back in time to ask some of the great scientists like Galileo and Newton about how they felt when stating their informed scientific view which ran contrary to popularly held beliefs, they would certainly tell you that they felt isolated or out of place. This was because their view was deemed radical and unacceptable at the time. But in no distant time, they were vindicated and their views accepted as being correct.
In a world where opinions are easily manipulated or guided to hold a particular view, it is heartwarming to have individuals who manage to see things differently irrespective of the hype or hysteria in the media space. I happen to know one of such persons and more often than not he turns out to be right because he understands how the media now sadly functions.
I respect people like him because they stick to their guns because of the information they have at their disposal or their own critical analysis of the issue at hand irrespective of the cristism or the personal attacks they may receive for holding such views. There are indeed not many of such folks around these days as most people only read the often misleading headlines without going through the details or the fine prints.
In the 2013 movie World War Z starring Brad Pitt, while the zombie apocalypse was ravaging the world, the Israelis had somehow managed to keep the undead at bay (that is until some overjoyed citizens decided to start singing praises through loudspeakers). This prompted Brad to ask one the Israeli official who took him on a tour as to how they had managed to succeed when the whole world failed.
The official stated that they had a system known as the 10th man principle which required an individual to state a minority opinion or a minority report of sorts (no matter how ridiculous it may sound) while seeking ways to safeguard the country from the apocalypse and that it was the opinion of this 10th man that was the key to their success.
My advise is no matter the circumstances or wherever you may be be never hesitate to state your opinion when it is an informed one and you are convinced about it because of the fear of being the odd one out as your opinion may just be what saves the day.
"It is (indeed) easy to stand with the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone" Gandhi
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for reading.
Its amazing article.