Transcendentalists believe in non conformity, to never develop beliefs just because it’s an popular belief, it is closely intertwined with free thought to be able to isolate oneself in order to search within without outside influences like the government or media. In Conclusion by Walden, Thoreau clarifies every person should believe in their own beliefs and have their own thoughts at their own pace instead of following the mainstream. “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears the beat of a different drummer.” (Thoreau 239-241). Thoreau uses the beat of a different drummer as a metaphor for different set of morals and beliefs one person may have that sets them apart from his peers. One should question the majority and make his own decisions and form his own values rather than blindlessly following everyone else; it is not important nor relevant to anyone else but himself what pace and beat one walks through life with. A song that follows closely with the idea of not conforming is called Ready, Aim, Fire by Mali Music. “I’m on a rocket ship/And the destination of this rocket is to outer space/Guess I have to go there/guess I have to come here/yeah/I’m from the Earth but I’ve been taken to another place/And there are powers, even there but you can’t see them,/And they have lasers and beam guns/And they’re firing on my brain, but I say/Fire! Fire!/Ready, aim, fire!/You can’t shoot me down, no...” The lyrics of the song communicate a strong anger toward society trying to force him to conform but also the strong fight and will power refusing to become just another part of society, part of the system. He has his own mindset of what he wants to achieve and where he wants to be; he hates all the powers in society telling him what to think and what to want. He is determined to fight till the end and defend his own thoughts.
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