Hair!

in #liberty6 years ago

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How many times throughout history have bullies sought to humiliate and dehumanize their victims by forcing them to grow their hair long? I doubt this has ever been the case.

Yet, how many times has the opposite been done, where thugs and bullies sought to humiliate and dehumanize their victims by chopping off their hair, or even by shaving their heads? Over and over again this has been a tactic used by vile archators against their victims. It has been done in Nazi concentration camps, U.S. government's Indian "schools", prisons, etc. Some of you history buffs may have lots more examples I'm not aware of.

Why is this the case? What gives the bad guys this idea repeatedly throughout history?

I understand some people, many people, choose short hair or a shaved head. I would never seek to force them to grow their hair out, even though the opposite is so often the case.

This is why I see long hair as a way to feel my own liberty, and why I don't cut it off. To me, it would feel wrong. I would feel less free. It would feel like giving the bullies what they want. Plus, I just like long hair (on everyone, regardless of how they believe it looks on them).

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This is thought provoking idea.

It may be different from one culture to another, some may consider it an expression of free will which is very annoying to them, others may consider it an indication of indifference to society that don't encourage long hair specially for men. It may indicate luxury for others. So it is more effective when it comes to humiliation.
Moreover, forcing people to cut their hair is far easier than forcing them to grow it.

I prefer to keep my hair short because there is that annoying phase when it's long enough to be an annoyance but not long enough to do anyhting with it.

Facial hair is also worth considering, because beards and mustaches have historically been targets for government authoritarians too. In a combat or hazmat situation, it makes sense to shave if gas masks are likely to be needed in order to ensure full protection from equipment. There may be other situations where some beards could be a hazard. Otherwise, it's pure authoritarianism. I took one job that required me to shave my beard. Never again. It's fine to ask me to keep my beard trimmed and tidy for the sake of looking professional, but don't tell me I must have a bald chin.

The "annoying phase" doesn't last long. I suppose I went through it in the mid-80s. I don't remember it now. Last time I really got a hair cut was early July 1985.

Once in 2000 I let a girl who was in cosmetology school practice on my hair, and she cut off more than she intended, but it still wasn't short. And then she felt bad and felt she "owed" me, so there was that... ;)

Interesting topic sir,thanks a lot for sharing.

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