Joyfully Subvert the Dominant Paradigm

“The way to subvert the dominant paradigm is to have more fun than they do 

and make sure they know it.”

Jason F. McLennan

I’ve been seeing the bumper sticker off and on for years, “Subvert the Dominant Paradigm.” One dominant paradigm over two millennia ago was that the earth was the universe’s center. Then Copernicus challenged that perception. In retrospect, we see how thoroughly absurd it is to hold a belief that cannot withstand scrutiny. Scrutiny, therefore, is the pathway to reality and the escape from delusion.

Today people are puzzled that many of us are avoiding scrutiny. Some of us are afraid, even terrified, that we could see the collapse of everything meaningful. Removing themselves from the center of the universe feels catastrophic for such folks. Copernicus published his findings, and the Roman Catholic Church banned his book.

Book banning has surged in the United States recently. When you consider the rejected titles you’ll find that they spotlight the existence of what, for many, is strange and unfamiliar. We can take the banning of books as a sign that frightened people are sensing that they are being de-centered. While this is genuinely distressing, we also know that truth is inevitable.

Instead of pulling our hair out, shouldn’t we dance more and laugh more? We should make sure they know it.

Just dance.

Just dance.