Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “There
are some things in our world to which I’m proud to be maladjusted.” Dr. King, no doubt, was referring
to being creatively and necessarily maladjusted with respect to a variety of important societal
issues of his day and can be applied to others in our day (and in relation to the the society at large (das man).• Racial equality
• Religious tolerance
• Economic fairness
• Peace
• Ecological sustainability and energy security
• Individual liberty
• Fighting psychiatric profiling and human rights abuses in the mental health system
• Transparent and corruption-free government
• Community and family values
How might we briefly define those who are creatively
maladjusted?
First,
critical thinkers: The creatively maladjusted focus on a problematic area of
society (something to which people of good will simply can’t be adjusted) with
critical thought, examining the history of a bad idea, its extensions and
consequences—the better to weed it out, roots and all.
Second,
architects of alternatives: Not
merely content with tearing down an existing structure, the creatively
maladjusted offer alternatives and are willing to demonstrate those
alternatives with good cheer and positivity in public places. They believe that
loving and strident public action is the foundation of a true non-violent
revolution.
Thirdly, believers
in humanity: Most importantly of all, the creatively maladjusted resist the
pressure to dehumanize any and all of their fellow humans. They believe in the
inherent uniqueness and worth of every individual and demonstrate this belief
in every action they take.
Thus,
creative maladjustment is a natural human response to oppression, an organic
and highly adaptable way to oppose injustice.
