I read today that in the latest revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the tome of all things psychiatric, that independent thinking (specifically if you happen to think that those in authority could be wrong) and grief will now mean a possible diagnosis of a mental disorder. I wonder whether this means that if I feel grief because I think independently, I would have more disorder labels placed on me with yet larger lists of medications that I should be taking, presumably to cure me and make me normal. If normal were to be considered as that which most people do, then not speaking one's mind, accepting one's status or fate in life and not daring to stand up to any authority figure would likely make one a normal-thinking person who would fit into society.

Taking this further, it has been my experience (as an abnormal person) that a normal person who is in a position of authority tends to use that position for their own gain while, through coercion and outright use of fear as a motivator, retains the position and keeps the normal lesser people from daring to be independent thinkers. Nor do these people of authority seem to have any grief over the amount of grief they cause others. I conclude then that this is normal behavior for these exalted beings and should not be brought into question, as they too are thinking like their peers. And they do not have to tolerate independent thought.

Since normal thinking on either level isn't likely to change, I suppose it might be best for someone who exhibits any independent thinking to just go to a psychiatrist, answer 20 questions on a form and get a prescription for something that will make sure that independent thinking dies and the ex-thinker becomes complacent and without thought. Or, perhaps not.