Interesting story. In 1989, I was just fresh out of hs. And it was an interesting time, for all of us who remember it, I think. The fall of the Berlin wall, Mikhail Gorbechev and Michael Dukakis. The end of the Cold War, and the beginning of the 90’s.
In the Spring of 1989, I was taking a humanities class. And I had a very unique teacher, I think. Eccentric and avant-garde. He certainly never gave a boring lecture, that’s for sure.
Anyways, one day he gave us the following lecture, on “Entitlements” and “Injunctions”. It was so interesting, I copied it down, word-for-word and even saved it. In fact, the spaces that appear, are where I didn’t copy down what he was saying fast enough. Seriously.
Anyhow, I have literally racked my brain ever since then, trying to find out where he got it from, or what it is based on. I am assuming it is not copyrighted (or else, I would not share it in its entirety, of course).
What follows, is the document, as I have it saved on my computer. I am copying and pasting it verbatim. Obviously, it is meant to have a somewhat humorous aspect to it, as you will see.
Whatever you think of it, don’t blame me, in any event. As I said, I am only relating it exactly as I heard (and recorded) it.
Please read:
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This was copied down in humanities class on May 9, 1989 at the University of Michigan, Dearborn Campus:
“Entitlements” | “Injunctions”
1.) To live. | 1.) To die.
2.) To allow yourself to feel. | 2.) Don’t feel, suppress your feelings.
3.) To express the feeling. | 3.) Don’t express the feeling.
4.) Express appropriate feelings. | 4.) Express only certain feelings.
5.) Own the feelings you have. | 5.) Substitute one feeling for another.
6.) Have age-specific behavior. | 6.) “- - ? ? "
7.) Grow up. | 7.) Don’t grow up.
8.) Grow up to be an independent adult. | 8.) Grow up to take care of need.
9.) Take care of yourself. | 9.) Grow up to take care of everyone.
10.) Be human. | 10.) Be perfect.
11.) Be successful. | 11.) Take appropriate risks”. ,(?)"
12.) Succeed on your own terms. | 12.) " in others.
13.) Think for yourself. | 13.) Be confused.
14.) Own your own sexuality. | 14.) Own someone else.
15.) Touch appropriately. | 15.) Don’t touch (appropr.).
16.) Be open and close. | 16.) Be distant.
17.) Be healthy. | 17.) Be ill.
18.) Own your own weaknesses. | 18.) Be strong.
19.) Be congruent. | 19.) Be crazy.
20.) Own your own discomfort at others words. | 20.) "- ? ? "
21.) Be potent. | 21.) Be powerless.
22.) Be joyfully in the present. | 22.) Worry about the future.
23.) Face the truth. | 23.) Let’s pretend.
24.) You independently can make it. | 24.) Depend on others (?).
25.) My value [sic]in within me. | 25.) My value is in others.
26.) I will feel personally empowered. | 26.) I will need power over others.
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That’s it. As I’ve said, I am trying find the source of it (but assume it is not copyrighted, even if it is based on something else). And as I said, please don’t blame the messenger. I am only relating it as I recorded it at the time:).
:):)