What I did not understand was the effect of, the absolute crushing honesty of, the gravity-warping unseen nature of, the devoted soul. What is essentially the atomic bomb of emotion. As it is unseen, which is unexpected, which is surprising.
When memorizing something, it helps to get as many senses as possible into the mix. Write it down while speaking it out loud. That way, you will experience the kinesthetic, visual, and auditory. Thus do I appraise the taste of people. Gustatory as well as everything else. I don't mind. When we were little babies, most things were grasped through the mouth. The mouth leads down deep into the insides of a person. A kiss is a mining expedition. But of course there is more than one way into the body.
This spring is particularly surprising-- it arrived with great suddenness. The weather was appallingly bad-- rain, wind, dour skies, at one point in even hail. But then, out of absolutely nowhere, perfect, balmy weather, the kind we're renowned for. Too sudden to even get a bead on it. Oddly enough, people are sick lately. Things can change faster than we're ready for.
There is a way of acting-- I don't know whether it's good or bad-- to operate beyond known parameters. As Jung says, no human being is a tabula rasa. Any mother knows that one infant is different from another; we have a certain inbuilt personality. So when you're operating out beyond what is known, you're forced to rely on instinct, what is there to begin with. Damn, all this time and we haven't even begun yet. Frustrating... but the beginners are the experts...
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
My Anti-Fascist Reaction: An Incomplete Document
1. Right Wing: Fascists are fervently against: Marxism, Socialism, Anarchism, Communism, Environmentalism; etc – in essence, they are against the progressive left in total, including moderate lefts (social democrats, etc). Fascism is an extreme right wing ideology, though it can be opportunistic.
I hereby declare that one of the goals of my anti-fascist reaction shall be the transcendence of political labels in favor of personal character; and that whether one's policies are "conservative" or "liberal" shall be considered of very little importance when compared to the character of the individual. That being said, the anti-fascist reaction shall abjure no political movement of the left, but instead attempt to glean understanding from them with wisdom and understanding, not allowing itself blind reaction because of labels, but assessing any political or social movement, whether on the "right" or on the "left" by the beneficence or poverty of its ideas. Progress being recognized as one of the rights of humankind, no attempts to quell innovation and improvement will be dignified.
2. Nationalism: Fascism places a very strong emphasis on patriotism and nationalism. Criticism of the nation's main ideals, especially war, is lambasted as unpatriotic at best, and treason at worst. State propaganda consistently broadcasts threats of attack, while justifying pre-emptive war. Fascism invariably seeks to instill in its people the warrior mentality-- to always be vigilant, wary of strangers and suspicious of foreigners.
The love of the land of one's ancestors, of one's place of birth, and one's fellow citizens is beyond reproach. To that end, the anti-fascist reaction will not allow it to become sullied and transformed into blind, arrogant superiority. It is my hope that the wise one will recognize that to love something is to be not oblivious to its flaws, and that diligence and attentiveness will attend upon that love. The nation of one's inhabitance will not be above careful examination, and it is the duty of all to keep it in good working order. Those expressing a grievance with it will be respected, and their complaint will be given due consideration, not meaningless punishment.
3. Hierarchy: Fascist society is ruled by a righteous leader, who is supported by an elite vanguard of capitalists. Hierarchy is prevalent throughout all aspects of society-- every street, every workplace, every school will have its local Hitler, part police-informer, part bureaucrat. The absolute power of the social hierarchy prevails over everything, and thus a totalitarian society is formed. Representative government is acceptable only if it can be controlled and regulated, direct democracy (e.g. Communism) being the greatest of all crimes. Any who oppose the social hierarchy of fascism will be imprisoned or executed.
The anti-fascist reaction believes that no person should be unduly squashed by the exercise of power. Each person shall have the right to representation where they are subordinate, and the responsibility for recognizing the same among the persons he directs. No leader, from greatest to least, shall be considered above the duties and privileges that attend upon all, and any attempt to usurp power or place oneself in a tyrannical position shall be regarded as a shame and an aberration that must be addressed immediately. The intrinsic worth of all persons is recognized, and any granted authority is given on the predication of that irrefutable knowledge.
4. Anti-equality: Fascism loathes the principles of economic equality and disdains equality between the immigrant and the citizen. Some forms of fascism extend the fight against equality into other areas: gender, sexuality, minority status or religious belief, for example.
As has been previously stated, a love of one's land and of one's countrymen is natural and good-- and from this, the anti-fascist reaction recognizes this same love in the heart of others, whether of a different country, background, society, or other sphere. An ocean between people does nothing to erase the similarities between them, and a person's skin or manner of dress will do nothing to lower them in the eyes of the true anti-fascist. Resentment and cruelty towards women being recognized as one of the scourges of history, they shall be regarded with all due respect and the kindness that is a human being's birthright. It shall not be given to others to say whom we may love, or how-- it is the love itself that shall be the focus, and if it be abundant and good, why then no harm may come of it.
5. Religion: Fascism contains a strong amount of reactionary religious beliefs, hearkening back to times when religion was strict, potent and pure. Nearly all Fascist societies are Christian, and are supported by Catholic and Protestant churches.
The anti-fascist acknowledges the authenticity of each person's spiritual quest, and their right to seek meaning wherever they choose, fearless of the hatred or censure of short-sighted demagogues. No person shall be judged inferior based on their spiritual understanding, nor shall they attempt to belittle that of others, but as with all things, the goal is a growth of knowledge and understanding. Any use of religion to oppress, inflict harm or ignorance upon others, acquire unearned authority, or justify hateful acts will be recognized as anathema to the aims of the anti-fascist.
I hereby declare that one of the goals of my anti-fascist reaction shall be the transcendence of political labels in favor of personal character; and that whether one's policies are "conservative" or "liberal" shall be considered of very little importance when compared to the character of the individual. That being said, the anti-fascist reaction shall abjure no political movement of the left, but instead attempt to glean understanding from them with wisdom and understanding, not allowing itself blind reaction because of labels, but assessing any political or social movement, whether on the "right" or on the "left" by the beneficence or poverty of its ideas. Progress being recognized as one of the rights of humankind, no attempts to quell innovation and improvement will be dignified.
2. Nationalism: Fascism places a very strong emphasis on patriotism and nationalism. Criticism of the nation's main ideals, especially war, is lambasted as unpatriotic at best, and treason at worst. State propaganda consistently broadcasts threats of attack, while justifying pre-emptive war. Fascism invariably seeks to instill in its people the warrior mentality-- to always be vigilant, wary of strangers and suspicious of foreigners.
The love of the land of one's ancestors, of one's place of birth, and one's fellow citizens is beyond reproach. To that end, the anti-fascist reaction will not allow it to become sullied and transformed into blind, arrogant superiority. It is my hope that the wise one will recognize that to love something is to be not oblivious to its flaws, and that diligence and attentiveness will attend upon that love. The nation of one's inhabitance will not be above careful examination, and it is the duty of all to keep it in good working order. Those expressing a grievance with it will be respected, and their complaint will be given due consideration, not meaningless punishment.
3. Hierarchy: Fascist society is ruled by a righteous leader, who is supported by an elite vanguard of capitalists. Hierarchy is prevalent throughout all aspects of society-- every street, every workplace, every school will have its local Hitler, part police-informer, part bureaucrat. The absolute power of the social hierarchy prevails over everything, and thus a totalitarian society is formed. Representative government is acceptable only if it can be controlled and regulated, direct democracy (e.g. Communism) being the greatest of all crimes. Any who oppose the social hierarchy of fascism will be imprisoned or executed.
The anti-fascist reaction believes that no person should be unduly squashed by the exercise of power. Each person shall have the right to representation where they are subordinate, and the responsibility for recognizing the same among the persons he directs. No leader, from greatest to least, shall be considered above the duties and privileges that attend upon all, and any attempt to usurp power or place oneself in a tyrannical position shall be regarded as a shame and an aberration that must be addressed immediately. The intrinsic worth of all persons is recognized, and any granted authority is given on the predication of that irrefutable knowledge.
4. Anti-equality: Fascism loathes the principles of economic equality and disdains equality between the immigrant and the citizen. Some forms of fascism extend the fight against equality into other areas: gender, sexuality, minority status or religious belief, for example.
As has been previously stated, a love of one's land and of one's countrymen is natural and good-- and from this, the anti-fascist reaction recognizes this same love in the heart of others, whether of a different country, background, society, or other sphere. An ocean between people does nothing to erase the similarities between them, and a person's skin or manner of dress will do nothing to lower them in the eyes of the true anti-fascist. Resentment and cruelty towards women being recognized as one of the scourges of history, they shall be regarded with all due respect and the kindness that is a human being's birthright. It shall not be given to others to say whom we may love, or how-- it is the love itself that shall be the focus, and if it be abundant and good, why then no harm may come of it.
5. Religion: Fascism contains a strong amount of reactionary religious beliefs, hearkening back to times when religion was strict, potent and pure. Nearly all Fascist societies are Christian, and are supported by Catholic and Protestant churches.
The anti-fascist acknowledges the authenticity of each person's spiritual quest, and their right to seek meaning wherever they choose, fearless of the hatred or censure of short-sighted demagogues. No person shall be judged inferior based on their spiritual understanding, nor shall they attempt to belittle that of others, but as with all things, the goal is a growth of knowledge and understanding. Any use of religion to oppress, inflict harm or ignorance upon others, acquire unearned authority, or justify hateful acts will be recognized as anathema to the aims of the anti-fascist.
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