literature

To Be Different

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Literature Text

1. The First Scientists

A single flame burned in the night.
After a hundred thousand years of avoiding it in fear, one man approached.
Others ran from him in shock
Claimed it was death to touch the flame
But they were silenced as he held the torch aloft

Into the darkness he brought the light, and into the cold he brought the warmth.

A single grain grew in the soil.
After a hundred thousand years of destroying it in ignorance, one man approached.
Others stood around in surprise
They claimed it was a waste.
But they were silenced when more began to rise.

Into the wild he brought order, and into a world of hunger, he brought food.

But if the myths tell us true
Then Prometheus was bound in pain
For challenging the dark with light
And challenging the gods with the flame
Cain was banished from his lands
His gifts ignored and disgraced
For challenging the hunter with his grain
And natural chaos with order
The Light of God was cast from heaven
And will always be condemned
For the good it brought to man

The tale is repeated whenever change must come. Always remember that they killed Socrates, and Galileo they locked away.
You can blame religion, you can blame a king, you can blame almost anything. But it is far too common to be the fault of one man.
Those who are the most guilty are those who tremble in fear when there is something new to say.


2. Re-Ordered

A boy sits alone in the classroom. Eyes once filled with light stare blankly at the wall. A week ago he would run and scream, eager to see all he could see. Now he is unmoving, and drool drips down his chin. His mind is blank and empty, a state he had never known before.
But it is an improvement they say. He is like the others. He does nothing to disrupt the class, no arguments with the teachers, no ideas to challenge what is taught. A creative mind, filled with wonder and adventure, was simply too much for him to handle. Now it is gone, and he can rest in silent, unmoving peace.
His mother’s eyes fill with tears. She knows he will never be the same. Her child is gone, replaced with a machine. His wild mind she love so much is now forever tame. Others gather and ask “why are you so sad? Why must you cry? Can’t you see the order now in his eyes?” His mother, unwilling to look bad, lets out a long sigh and claims it is tears of joy that she cries.

3. Labels

We have a thousand labels
Autism, dyslexia, Asperger’s, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizoid, synthisia
With a bottle they can end what is different
And make everyone the same
But if Einstein was autistic
Perhaps it was for the best
When science he raised up
And lies he put to the test
If Newton was alive today
One thing is sure as hell
He’s a strange one they all would say
A label they would make
And pills would work their spell
With his label, his mind would go away

4. The Priest

The Priest stands alone. No one will come to hear him, the days of religion are gone. It is not what they want to do. To be religious is to be eccentric, and nothing can be worse.
To be different is to be wrong. A message of acceptance has no place. The good Samaritan would never last in out world. He looks around, and wipes the tears from his face. But he is not finished yet.
He closes a book, and begins to write a new one. Fear, loathing, death, and judgment are common to all. He creates a target of those who disagree. A single, specific figure is created for all to see. If you can’t match it, you will never be free. To those who are different, the fires of hell await. Only the select few can ensure their fate. Now they will listen.
Where love has failed, hate will succeed.

5. The King

Atop his throne the King presides, in a golden chariot he rides.
The people all gather round, to hear the words from the crown
But he knows his place is not secure, the people’s love is not sure
For four years he has his place, but then a new challenger he will face
So with lies and fear he condemns, and his opponents reign he surely ends
“They will change too much” he claims, and those who argue he kills with shame
But love is limited and gone to fast, while hate can forever last
So a new enemy must be made, and the King’s debt must be paid
For all that is wrong someone is blamed, and their lives ended like a game
Thousands march off to fight, being told that they are right
We all learn to fear what is new, and money comes to the select few
Monarchy, Nazi, Communist, Terrorists, we don’t understand why but we hate the list
And thousands die to guns and knives, believing that right is on their side
Even if we know it is wrong, we will never argue with the throngs
And we let the king deliver his lies, we fear that to argue is to die
As a list of dead appears on a screen, hatred grows and for revenge we scream
The King will cry that it’s a shame, but we know who deserves the blame

6. Neuro-typical

You may say that I am strange. You may reject me for a difference, hate me for who I am. I will take it, we all know I won’t argue back. Stupid, weird, anti-social, whatever. Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
I will listen to you, but here me now. I know I am different, but I know I am not worse. I don’t hate, I don’t discriminate. I never intend any harm. Tell me it’s strange to want to be alone, and I will still stick with my writing and unplug my phone.
You are Neuro-typical. There is nothing special about you. You are not smarter, not dumber, not kinder, not crueler, not more balanced, not more twisted, then almost anyone you will meet. You are cursed with normality. You will never achieve any more or less then anyone beside you. You are the same as anyone else, and you like it. The world is made for you. Anyone who doesn’t fit into your world is taken out of it. You will be accepted anywhere. And you are the cause of all of the world’s problems.
I tell you you must always remember this. If we were all the same, the world would never change. To create change, one must see things differently. To see things differently, one must think differently. And yet those who are different are always condemned. Society will always hate the deviant while using his gifts.
So don’t look down on those who think differently. They may seem strange. They may seem out of it. They may not fit in. But you owe more then you can imagine to “disordered” minds.
A few related works I made into one. I might take parts of it, perhaps "The King" and make it its own work.

Btw, before people say it, yes I am aware lots of people truly do suffer from disorders and need help. Also, I am not claiming to be some kind of misunderstood genius, this isn't necessarily all about me.

Alright there is something I should point out that isn't as clear as I thought it was. A few people asked about the changing styles and themes. Each one is related to the main idea of people being afraid of what is new or different, and how others suffer for it.
Each portion's style is reflective of the topic matter. "The First Scientists" is written in very dramatic narrative poetry, like an old legend or the Iliad. "Re-ordered" ordered is more plain and simply a description, reflective of the loss of creativity and difference in the boy's mind. he is, now, plain. "Labels" is written using short phrases which reminded me of instructions for medicine, or scientific descriptions (lacking scientific words, of course). "The Priest" is meant to sound like the dark descriptions common in some of the more frightening religious texts. "The King" is very rhythmic, like a war song or propaganda. "Neuro-typical" is meant to sound like a rant, perhaps someone with a disorder ranting in anger.
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lovelymars908's avatar
This was so interesting to read!! I liked your writing style! My favorite was Re-Ordered.