Listen to a reading of this article: You're not jaded; everything really is just as phony and vapid as it looks. I say this because if you are reading this it's likely the result of a personal quest for truth which has led to a gradual peeling away of the lies our society is made of. Your eyes probably found this text because you're the sort of person who's been trying to make sense of the world in a sea of propaganda and deception, which often results in a growing disgust not just with the power structures which oppress and tyrannize humanity, but with our entire civilization.
If I never read anything else, this essay would sustain my spirit for the rest of my time on this planet. Because it testifies to the one fact you can hold onto: all the lies, the deception and hypocrisy, the evil manipulation, point to one thing: it could not exist and be so carefully cultured and nurtured, like an evil, unnatural plant grown out of control that hides the sun and moon and sky, and tries to convince us that's all there is - so live with it - if there were not something wonderful it was desperately attempting to hide, disguise, kill. We were not born evil, we are not naturally ugly, and the universe does not seek to annihilate us. Our planet is wonderful, has it all: isn't that a clue to the truth? Even animals are totally wonderful to consider and behold in their power, grace, courage and good humour.
The ugly was invented by the ugly few who took control, and even their enforcing god is ugly and vengeful. But it is all built on a crumbling foundation that can't stand up to reason, love and fairness.
Reminds me of a quote attributed to Werner Heisenberg ... ''The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.''
The literal minded will see only what they are capable of seeing in that quote, but with an approach closer to Joseph Campbell's (The Power of Myth),that 'god' is the god of Spinoza, Emerson, and Einstein ... a metaphor for nature in its entirety. Your essay manages to say the same thing to me, but without the now irrevocably shattered and divisive words of 'god' or 'spiritual'.
A thread of thought I am seeing in comments to your other posts, more so than in the original posts, is that some sort of collective moral progress is possible ... either through an alternative ideology (-ism), or through mind-expanding drugs. Although JMHO, I don't think we social primates are neurologically wired to collectively mature as a species. We all begin life, not as little angels, but close to a fractal mirror of dark-triad (B-cluster) personality types — little narcissistic, opportunistic, psychopaths which have to be nurtured and educated, individually, to become mature, morally autonomous members of a community ... or not.
Various ''- isms'' may provisionally solve some problems but at the cost of creating others. Capitalism, for example, does not do a very good job of constraining the small but persistent percentage of dark-triad personality types in any population, and neither does it deal with some of the competing instincts in the more neuro-typical majority ... the tendency to depend on tribalism for identity, deference to authority, or a preference for loss-aversion behavior — even when that is not the best choice of strategy to solve a problem. Frans de Waal termed us 'the bi-polar ape'. I liked how you showed the dark side of 'the force' first, and the potential for the good in human nature as a counterpoint.
Cheers Cailin. Looking forward to see what directions your writing will lead.
Now, this is rich, for who to choose to represent the so-called free world.
Canadian Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is one of the likely candidates set to replace NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is leaving his post next year, according to an article by CBC published on Wednesday.
The selection of Freeland, grandaughter of the Ukrainian World War Two Nazi collaborator Michael Chomiak would raise eyebrows, not least in Russia. The politician has paid tribute to Chomiak’s legacy, despite knowing that he “was the chief editor of a Nazi newspaper in occupied Poland that vilified Jews during the Second World War,” according to the Globe and Mail newspaper.
She reportedly speaks Ukrainian at home and is a former Moscow bureau chief of the Financial Times. Freeland has been banned from Russia for a number of a years, apparently due to her strong support for the post-Maidan regime in Kiev.
Excellent writing! You've really captured the essence of what life is like for so many of us dealing with the constant propaganda/bullsh*t of the 21st century. I only wish I had half your optimism that eventually we'll all free ourselves from these mental cages and realize the truth of our existence on this planet. Time will tell.
This is fantastic Caitlin. Pretty much, from the first word to the last, describes how I feel every day.
Agreed.
That's why everyone confuses fake capitalism and blames it as if it were true free market capitalism.
Oh well, fake and stupid it really is.
Welcome my son
Welcome to the machine
Where have you been?
It's alright we know where you've been
(Pink Floyd)
Thank you, Caitlin, for putting it all together so beautifully. I absolutely agree with you.
Wow! I needed to hear this prospective.
Thank you!
If it were merely fake and stupid I might just ignore it, but
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/09/07/john-pilger-silencing-the-lambs-how-propaganda-works/
JOHN PILGER: Silencing the Lambs — How Propaganda Works
September 7, 2022
Leni Riefenstahl said her epic films glorifying the Nazis depended on a “submissive void” in the German public. This is how propaganda is done.
TITLE SAYS IT ALL.
If I never read anything else, this essay would sustain my spirit for the rest of my time on this planet. Because it testifies to the one fact you can hold onto: all the lies, the deception and hypocrisy, the evil manipulation, point to one thing: it could not exist and be so carefully cultured and nurtured, like an evil, unnatural plant grown out of control that hides the sun and moon and sky, and tries to convince us that's all there is - so live with it - if there were not something wonderful it was desperately attempting to hide, disguise, kill. We were not born evil, we are not naturally ugly, and the universe does not seek to annihilate us. Our planet is wonderful, has it all: isn't that a clue to the truth? Even animals are totally wonderful to consider and behold in their power, grace, courage and good humour.
The ugly was invented by the ugly few who took control, and even their enforcing god is ugly and vengeful. But it is all built on a crumbling foundation that can't stand up to reason, love and fairness.
The perfect articulation of just what I needed. I can now get through another day.
Thanks Caitlin! - this article really speaks to me more than usual - I needed the reminder that I am not alone - much appreciated.
I like this one Caitln.
Reminds me of a quote attributed to Werner Heisenberg ... ''The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.''
The literal minded will see only what they are capable of seeing in that quote, but with an approach closer to Joseph Campbell's (The Power of Myth),that 'god' is the god of Spinoza, Emerson, and Einstein ... a metaphor for nature in its entirety. Your essay manages to say the same thing to me, but without the now irrevocably shattered and divisive words of 'god' or 'spiritual'.
A thread of thought I am seeing in comments to your other posts, more so than in the original posts, is that some sort of collective moral progress is possible ... either through an alternative ideology (-ism), or through mind-expanding drugs. Although JMHO, I don't think we social primates are neurologically wired to collectively mature as a species. We all begin life, not as little angels, but close to a fractal mirror of dark-triad (B-cluster) personality types — little narcissistic, opportunistic, psychopaths which have to be nurtured and educated, individually, to become mature, morally autonomous members of a community ... or not.
Various ''- isms'' may provisionally solve some problems but at the cost of creating others. Capitalism, for example, does not do a very good job of constraining the small but persistent percentage of dark-triad personality types in any population, and neither does it deal with some of the competing instincts in the more neuro-typical majority ... the tendency to depend on tribalism for identity, deference to authority, or a preference for loss-aversion behavior — even when that is not the best choice of strategy to solve a problem. Frans de Waal termed us 'the bi-polar ape'. I liked how you showed the dark side of 'the force' first, and the potential for the good in human nature as a counterpoint.
Cheers Cailin. Looking forward to see what directions your writing will lead.
— steve
I'm so with you Caitlin.
Now, this is rich, for who to choose to represent the so-called free world.
Canadian Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is one of the likely candidates set to replace NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is leaving his post next year, according to an article by CBC published on Wednesday.
The selection of Freeland, grandaughter of the Ukrainian World War Two Nazi collaborator Michael Chomiak would raise eyebrows, not least in Russia. The politician has paid tribute to Chomiak’s legacy, despite knowing that he “was the chief editor of a Nazi newspaper in occupied Poland that vilified Jews during the Second World War,” according to the Globe and Mail newspaper.
She reportedly speaks Ukrainian at home and is a former Moscow bureau chief of the Financial Times. Freeland has been banned from Russia for a number of a years, apparently due to her strong support for the post-Maidan regime in Kiev.
Excellent writing! You've really captured the essence of what life is like for so many of us dealing with the constant propaganda/bullsh*t of the 21st century. I only wish I had half your optimism that eventually we'll all free ourselves from these mental cages and realize the truth of our existence on this planet. Time will tell.
The Simpsons advertising for Ukraine proxy war is almost too much to bare. OMFG
Do we need a passport to get out of Absurdistan? Where can we go for asylum?