I have noticed recent trends in the discussion of society in general. We have on one hand a segment of people seeing humanity subverted by corporations into virtual slavery. Exploitation by the system!
That topic reminds me of the Hippies who were saying that exact same thing back in the early 60s...
On the other hand we have people of recent, decrying the level of vitriol in social discussion and suggesting it leads to violence...
Now this sets up a silly scenario. Complain about your oppressors nicely! That is hardly human nature.
In cases of oppression, either real or perceived, it is historically the pattern that the oppressed would rise up preferring war over oppression, and saw war as the remedy for and relief from oppression.
But there are a couple of notable exceptions. Gandhi resisted oppression non-violently and in his footsteps we find, perhaps the most remarkable American, Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. Imagine the discipline it took and the courage that it took not to lash out in violence in the face of real oppressions that tore at the souls of its victims.
Jesus spoke of turning the other cheek. I think there are times more common that we face soul devouring words more often than real oppression. The tongue is an unruly thing almost universally. How do we respond?
I think it is important to realize that if there were men who took the high ground even in the face of real oppressions, instead of making war, and had the constitution to be voices of reason in the face of institutionalized insanity, then shouldn't we have at least the capacity to respond to unruly words with maturity and adult calm? Somebody needs to be the adult. So why not have the courage to not fear unreasonable or even vitriolic words, but rise above them with a magnanimous spirit..?
I always have Reason as my foundation. When it is unshakable and worthy of defense, then it is a firm ground to stand on.
ReplyDeleteVatic : So why not have the courage to not fear unreasonable or even vitriolic words, but rise above them with a magnanimous spirit..?
ReplyDeleteCBB : It is my nature to offer my own tender sensibilities to those who pick up rocks. :>)
"Walk softly and carry a big stick"
ReplyDeleteTheodore Roosevelt.
The "system" wants obedient workers, profits, and domestic tranquility. Other than that ...it does not care what happens to you. The Hippies had a point. Dr. King had a point. The "Hippies" were right that peace is better than war. And love is better than hate. They were wrong about drugs.
ReplyDeleteReasonableness in the face of oppression is a good first defense. It might keep you breathing. Other than that...
ReplyDelete" You can get more with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone"
Al Capone
Stay out of trouble Bryson. There is very little that you can do to change things alone.
ReplyDeleteI've been to the most dangerous places in the world...without a gun.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have lived to enjoy this current reality while Al Capone degenerated into something he may not necessarily have wanted to be in.
I think guns will be out in the next generation. It's on its way to becoming obsolete. The only thing that makes it necessary is idiocy, fear and hate.
Well Ridge...that is a nice thought.
ReplyDeleteI plan to keep a gun just in case you are wrong.
Tex: Let see if "hate, fear and idiocy" will be obsolete by the next generation.:)
ReplyDeleteJerome: Stay out of trouble Bryson. There is very little that you can do to change things alone.
ReplyDeleteV: Being an untribal spirit with the deepest drive for autonomy, rallying support for my causes is not my forte'. I am consigned to face things with stoic persistence and self relience. Fortunately, by holding the values of love based rightousness and other such idealistic ideas, it is very easy for me to stay out of legal trouble.
Facing the lesson that build character, by suffering with oppression or oppressors, is tough. I look up to the Lord sometimes with a spirit full of angst or anguish when he allows me to have such character building episodes in life. But I slog on through hoping I get the responses right with a consistency that the Lord approves of, so that I will have preparation and substance of character fit for the high calling of my destiny with Him.
Jerome: The "system" wants obedient workers, profits, and domestic tranquility. Other than that ...it does not care what happens to you. The Hippies had a point. Dr. King had a point. The "Hippies" were right that peace is better than war. And love is better than hate. They were wrong about drugs.
ReplyDeleteV: Yes those Hippies did have a point. It was a movement led by idealistic youth a bit influenced by a new breed of acedemics. Unfortunately the hippy movement was overtaken by hedonistic types and the human need for tribal identity, that is expressed strongly in youths.
Personally, I think the estblishments response to drugs is wrong man! It has lead to the futile attempt of social repression expressed as "the war on drugs". Man it is the establishment that is more painful to society in the "war" on its citizens, than any pain caused directly by drug abuse. (grin) But that specific institutionalized oppression is just a segment of the overall topic of oppression and the responses to it.
Non violent resistence to drug enforcement is what is gradually moving the nation toward abolishment of marijuana prohibition, as we see in in many states which are becoming increasingly tolerant in leau of a senseless and repressive prohibition and the pain of legal enforcement.
Personally, I have no need or desire for drugs, specifically marijuana. But let's face reality here! We are making a big deal out of small stuff. We have regressed into using the establishment like a big monkey on our backs man!
Think about it: It is those constructive social devients which by their experience with such recreational use, has furthered our knowledge of the benefits of Marijane for medicimal alleviations. If not for the devients and peaceful rebels, we might not yet realize that it helps glaucoma, eating disorders, elevates the psyche of those with issues, alleviates the side effects of cancer treatments, and generallly transforms agitaters into flower children. Ever see a guy get arrested while high? He smiles alot and just goes with the flow! Ask a cop how the same guy would act if he wer drunk instead? In fact cops ought to be high when they arrest people so that won't get trapped in the vice of police brutality man! Cops could use a good mandatory joint or two a day. It would also imporve their mental health in the face of the stresses they face each day. Escalations of conflict would be greatly reduced man. The cops would become healers as opposed to storm troopers.
I think rationlist should be ordered by the courts to smoke once a week, so that they can snap out of their limited perspectives and social abrasiveness. Those cat's could use some catnip man! I mean they are the establisment types! Right man? The backbone of the institutionalized oppression by power driven egomaniacs who want to dictate, man!
Shalom and Peace Bro'!
Tex: Let see if "hate, fear and idiocy" will be obsolete by the next generation.:)
ReplyDeleteV: Every act of evil is slice of insanity however subtle it seems.
In the gun debate, you hear New York establisment fat cats talking about nuances of terms between hunitng and assualt guns. Excuse me, but didn't the founders want an armed citizenry just in case the establishment got out of hand and started sending in the proverbial redcoats to give muscle to all their "ministries"? I think so! People who want to take over for the rest of us, are the ones who want the guns of enforcement, and the unarmed and compliant sheeple. The concept of a ruling citizenry enforcing the concept of public servants in public office, is just so counter intuitive to those fat cat ego maniacs. But that's America man! It's what we are!
What we need is real justice from law enforcement and the courts, so that a beautiful girl like my wife can walk down any street at night without fear, and our children can play into the night without concern. But we just slap them on the wrist and register the predatory 10 percenters as "sex offenders". You know, there is a cheap remedy for that brand of insanity. The price of one bullet. In this case, there is no reasonable non violent response to those who hold our freedoms hostage to their predations.
But we hassle a kid with a joint, and turn around and pander to men who want to marry a man so they can have a human sex bondage. Tell me insanity isn't everywhere in the establishment Tex.
V:But we hassle a kid with a joint, and turn around and pander to men who want to marry a man so they can have a human sex bondage. Tell me insanity isn't everywhere in the establishment Tex.
ReplyDeleteTex: That happens even if they don't get married.
They were born with a mental illness and are not willing to believe that their attraction to the same gender is a sickness. Instead of the science community, looking for a cure to help them become normal....They let them be. Sad, when you think about it....Even a Gay man has to accept he is attracted to other men before he can feel comfortable with his illness.
Congratulations to Egypt, the peaceful Protesters who had the courage to face fear and uncertainty in the face of oppression. What a testament to the human spirit and the courage of the moral majority reflected in the Egyptian people. We all held our breaths and hoped for your success. You have shown the spirit of our American forefathers in resisting oppression. But you did so in the power of your souls without arms. You Egyptian people have been Magnificent!
ReplyDeleteBryson
I think non violent resistance to oppression by an elected government is a moral and preferred solution.
ReplyDeleteI think necessary violent resistance to a dictatorship is moral but not preferred.
Jerome: I think non violent resistance to oppression by an elected government is a moral and preferred solution.
ReplyDeleteV: Jerome, something that has been bugging truckers and the scales of justice need leveling, is the CSA 2010 regulations. It is a reporting system imposed upon the trucking industry in which the Drivers have no due process and are considered guilty if reported. Check into it, because it is oppression, I say it's illegal, and is causing damages to Truckers in that opportunities are being denied them on the basis of the snitch system. This shades of Facism Modus Operandi stuff has got to be ended for remedy and the protection of American values. The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is fighting it. I think the American Trucking Association is also fighting it. But all Americans should be fighting the implementation of a snitch system in which there is no due process before penalty is imposed.