Was walking in town and passed by an open field and a wall decorated with graffiti. Some graffiti is quite elaborate and creative, but I still object to the vandalizing of anyone's property. There has to be a better outlet for artistic expression.
My best guess on where this kind of behavior comes from (as a strictly human perspective) is that it's an effort in creating individual significance. I tend to think graffiti, tattoos, rap music, fashion (especially alternative dress styles), piercings and shocking behavior (e.g. gangs) spring from a conscious/unconscious awareness of having no roots. My 25 years in law enforcement (and 45 years in Christianity) has brought home an obvious human tendency: people will do something(s) outwardly as an expression of what they wish was true inwardly (i.e. a desperate desire to be significant and/or to be noticed). If I'm right, then it reveals we live in cultural deserts, where people -- especially youth -- are wandering through life aimlessly. In my opinion, the religious world is just as desperate as the pagan world, as people try to liven-up something that looks like true spirituality by changing externals (clothing, jewelry, traditions, architecture, music, knowledge, endless activities, projects, etc.). I think this is one of the great measures of genuine spiritual rebirth: external ornaments and attention-getting behaviors go missing, while internal qualities of peace, humility, kindness, gentleness, faith, mercy, wisdom and commitment to justice become an individual's defining ornaments of worth. If my interpretation of the world is correct, then things are really screwed up and getting worse.
My best guess on where this kind of behavior comes from (as a strictly human perspective) is that it's an effort in creating individual significance. I tend to think graffiti, tattoos, rap music, fashion (especially alternative dress styles), piercings and shocking behavior (e.g. gangs) spring from a conscious/unconscious awareness of having no roots. My 25 years in law enforcement (and 45 years in Christianity) has brought home an obvious human tendency: people will do something(s) outwardly as an expression of what they wish was true inwardly (i.e. a desperate desire to be significant and/or to be noticed). If I'm right, then it reveals we live in cultural deserts, where people -- especially youth -- are wandering through life aimlessly. In my opinion, the religious world is just as desperate as the pagan world, as people try to liven-up something that looks like true spirituality by changing externals (clothing, jewelry, traditions, architecture, music, knowledge, endless activities, projects, etc.). I think this is one of the great measures of genuine spiritual rebirth: external ornaments and attention-getting behaviors go missing, while internal qualities of peace, humility, kindness, gentleness, faith, mercy, wisdom and commitment to justice become an individual's defining ornaments of worth. If my interpretation of the world is correct, then things are really screwed up and getting worse.
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