“Civilized” is literally a euphemism for “domesticated human”, because it’s easier to set us in factories for 16 hours a day if we’ve already been housebroken through the public school system.
Reflecting on the phrase that 'civilized' equates to 'domesticated human' opens up a critical perspective on how societal structures influence our behavior and identities. The image text extracted in the article underscores a powerful warning about assimilation and colonization, pointing out that the process is akin to a form of genocide where identities are deliberately erased and replaced. This resonates with historical and ongoing realities where indigenous cultures and diverse identities have been marginalized through enforced norms and education systems designed to make people conform rather than express individuality. The metaphor of an elephant tethered by a stake, believing it is stronger than the wild, vividly illustrates how people can internalize limitations placed upon them. Many grow up accepting societal rules and roles without questioning the origins or impacts of these confines—whether in the form of public education pushing conformity or the labor demands of factories requiring long hours. Sharing from personal experience, the realization that education systems can serve as tools of social domestication often comes later in life. As students, many of us accept routines and structures without recognizing them as instruments shaping compliance. Only through questioning these routines can individuals begin to reclaim their autonomy and challenge the status quo. Understanding these dynamics enhances our awareness of identity politics and the subtle forces of assimilation that persist today. It encourages a critical examination of the narratives we accept about civilization and progress. Recognizing the reductive effects of certain labels and societal expectations is an important step toward fostering genuine freedom and diversity within communities, rather than continuing cycles of control and conformity.
