by DM Zwack

Created on: October 01, 2009

Love is never easy, but it is always possible. In fact, this question does not make a lot of sense. In what way does pressure to conform to society's ideals prevent the presence of love? And what sort of love is being discussed here? Love of country? Platonic love? Romantic love? Fraternal love? Love between a parent and a child? Love of God or other types of religious adoration?

Certainly, people sometimes feel society imposes unrealistic expectations upon them. Some might feel pressured to love only those who look like them, or only those who live in the same neighborhood, the same state, or the same country. Interracial love, same-sex love, love between people of widely different ages, and the many other forms and shapes that fall under the broad and vague umbrella of the four-letter L word all pose various risks. But love is always a risk.

Even taking into consideration the idea that love can be rendered more difficult by societal mores and conventions, what has any of this to do with ideals? Ideals tend to be lofty, laudable, intangibles that most societies can't fully achieve; the key is to never stop trying. How do ideals like freedom, justice, liberty, and brotherhood interfere with love? If anything, they encourage it, even if they do so only in superficial ways.

One could conceive a scenario in which an individual neglected his or her family and friends, sacrificing love in order to acheive some purpose pertaining directly to societal ideals. But such an example would be purely anecdotal, not broadly applicable to the general population. In other words, no direct connection exists between a nebulous and unseen "society" insisting individuals conform to its ideals and love, or the lack of it.

Love is possible in the strangest of circumstances. Even if love were banned outright by a repressive government, that would not eliminate its existence. This does not mean everyone will find the love he or she is searching for, whether that involves a quest for patriotism and true love of one's home, or vibrant romantic love, or the unconditional love of friendship, or the soul-soothing love found in religion. Many people do not feel loved and may never. Others appear to be bursting at the seams with it. But the question here is not does society sometimes complicate love with unwritten rules and standards and send people mixed messages about whatever sort of love they seek, for that might be a valid, if subjective, claim. The question asked if love is possible at all. Only the most recalcitrant contrarian would claim love is impossible in our, or any, society, and even then one would have to employ very cynical means, such as insisting the love a mother feels for her child is somehow not genuine.

In short, there are no reasonable grounds to suggest love is not possible. It might be seem more unattainable for some than for others, but with the question so open-ended-it doesn't even specify which society and which ideals are meant to be such a hindrance to love-the only logical response is yes. Love is undeniably possible.

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