We North Americans have an uneasy relationship with authority. We admit that we need it to order our lives in community, yet we are suspicious of it at the same time. “Question authority” is an adage that appeals especially to the young, as they struggle to find their own place in the world after moving out of the parental home. But some would go even further, as the image above indicates: “Stop believing in authority; start believing in each other.” At first glance, this sounds appealing. We should all look out for our neighbours and readily co-operate with them for the common good.
