Isn't embracing some sense of being the other an essential part of being human? A way of recognizing and affirming our common humanity?

So why is Goth/Punk "alternative" and not mainstream?

I think this is related to my point about religion not having a role in public life in the West, which I make in reply to a post by wchurchill below.

A bomb, H bomb, Minuteman / The names get more attractive / The decisions are made by NATO / The press call it British opinion -- The Three Johns