When I was growing up, Democrats liked to make a particular boast. They quoted Will Rogers, who said, “I belong to no organized party — I’m a Democrat.” Ha, ha, ha. You see, Democrats were a rambunctious and uncontainable bunch, too free-thinking to come together. That was the claim, anyway.

The thing was, the Democrats, when I was growing up, were so . . . organized. So disciplined. The Left in general, or “liberals” in general, seemed an ideological monolith. Political correctness was at its zenith, I think, and dissent could be very bad for you. Where I lived, conservatives were the daring ones — renegades, even. And they could never quite get it together, politically.

But I still heard this boast: “I belong to no organized party — I’m a Democrat.”

You hear some of that even today. Do you remember what President Obama said to an audience of his donors a while back? “Democrats are an opinionated bunch. You know, the other side, they just kinda sometimes do what they’re told. Democrats, y’all thinkin’ for yourselves.” (At that point, those thinking-for-themselves Democrats broke out into applause — for Obama, but mainly, I think, for themselves.)

Why am I getting into all this now, in this little post? I have written for today a column about “Journolist,” the now-defunct “listserv” of journalists (and others) on the left. One thing that struck me about their conversation was the need they felt to organize: to present a united front. Most people run in a herd, I suppose. It seems fundamentally human. That’s why so many of the greatest men and women are those who depart from the herd — who buck the zeitgeist of their time.

I know I’ve said this a million times: For years, I interviewed young applicants for jobs at National Review, and it was my habit to ask them how they became conservative. More than a few said — sometimes blushing — “I listened to Rush Limbaugh.” And some of them went on to say, “Behind my parents’ back.” For about 20 years, Rush Limbaugh has been one of the most subversive forces in America. Those who like subversion rarely give him credit for that.

I’ll conclude this lil’ post with a story I’ve told before — since I’m in a repetitive mood. Norman Mailer went to Berkeley to give a talk sometime in the late ’70s. He was then known as a great anti-feminist. I’m not sure that reputation stuck. Anyway, he said, “I know that about half of you here tonight hate my guts because of my stand on feminism. So let’s get that out of the way. I want you to hiss me. I want you to let all of your feelings toward me out. Come on, hiss me!”

And hiss they did — ferociously and in a chorus. Once the hissing finally subsided, Mailer leaned into the microphone and said, “Obedient bitches.”

Mamas, don’t let your sons and daughters grow up to be conformists — unless it be conformity to good. Is it okay to quote from the Bible? Does the First Amendment still cover that, along with porn and flag-burning? Is there some clause in McCain-Feingold I haven’t heard about? Anyway — “Be not conformed to this world.” Amen (or, for the squeamishly secular, “Hear, hear”).