Dodge Ball and Me

Once dodge ball was ubiquitous.  Almost every middle school in the nation expected students to play this game.  In gym classes, two teams would be organized to throw soccer balls at one another, with the last student who remained untouched declared the winner.

This diversion was regarded as great exercise and an excellent way to encourage competition.  But, with the rise of liberalism, this activity came to be regarded as barbaric.  Instead of promoting cooperation, it urged teenagers to inflict symbolic injuries.  This would not do.

I, however, loved dodge ball.  One reason was that I was good at it.  Because I was neither very big nor strong, I wasn’t going to be a star in football or basketball.  I was nonetheless quick and agile, and hence well equipped to get out of the way of a ball aimed at me.

Still, it was another ability that ensured I was generally one of the last players standing.  It was my strategy.  I did not play the game the way most of my peers did.  Almost all of them gathered together in a defensive cluster.  Their idea was to protect themselves behind a wall of others.

As for me, I stood alone.  My aim was to be as far away as I could.  This was judged foolish in that it apparently defied the other side to take me out.   After all, I was a well-defined target.  Why not show me I was vulnerable?

But that is not usually how it worked out.  The opposition habitually aimed at the target rich scrum.  They calculated that if they missed one person, there was a good chance of hitting another.  In this, they were correct.

Moreover, the crowd made it more difficult for individual players to recognize when they were targeted.  Because others obscured their view, they might not see the ball coming.  This made it difficult to react appropriately.

With me, it was different.  Because I stood alone, it was absolutely clear when someone aimed at me.  Furthermore, I had the room to get away.  With no one standing next to me, there was no one hindering my lateral movement.  This permitted me to take advantage of my agility.

Why do I bring this up?  My teenage days are far behind me.  Besides, no one has directed a dodge ball at me in decades.  Nor do I expect kudos for modest achievements that occurred ages ago.  So what is the point?

As I ponder the changes that have come upon our society, like others I have contemplated what the future holds.  My conclusion is that liberalism is about to expire and will be replaced by “social individualism.”  Since our society is becoming more complex, it will be necessary for more people to be self-motivated experts.

Yet those who are self-directed need the courage to make independent decisions.  If they are to make full use of their skills, they must be willing to take risks.  Although their autonomous choices could be wrong, they cannot otherwise bring their abilities to bear.

If so, more people need to be capable of operating as individuals.  They will require the personal fortitude to stand alone, even though they might be blamed for their mistakes.  Just like me, when I played dodge ball, they will often have to separate themselves from the crowd.

Rugged individualism was once a hallmark of what it meant to be an American.  The pioneers of yore took amazing chances to bring our nation’s potential to fruition.  But the same is true of us.  If our country is not to fall into decline, we must be the one’s to save it.

Nonetheless, many people find individualism frightening.  They are afraid that if they stand out, they will become a target.  In fact, they may.  But this need not make them defenseless.  If they remain alert, and know what they are doing, they too can get out of the way.

As for myself, I enjoy the idea of being a sturdy individual.  I want some of my triumphs to be my own.  That, however, does not mean I am unwilling to work with others.  To the contrary, I am pleased to contribute to common causes.  Why, indeed, can’t our nation be a tapestry of hardy individuals dedicated to their own and each other’s welfare?

Melvyn L. Fein, Ph.D.

Professor of Sociology

Kennesaw State University