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In the face of the general disaster that constitutes the present United States of America, what should a conscientious American do?
First, I would strongly advise that he or she do nothing heroic. Bernard Shaw, as usual, was right when he wrote:
"We do not want good men and bad men any more than we want giants and dwarfs.
What we do want is a high quality for our normal: that is, people who can be much better
than what we now call respectable, without self-sacrifice. Conscious goodness,
like conscious muscular effort, may be of use in emergencies, but for everyday national use
it is negligible; and its effects on the character of the individual may easily be disastrous."
---George Bernard Shaw, Getting Married, preface
Moreover, when Americans try to be heroic, the result is usually disaster, since, in general, they lack the moral discipline, mental training, education and culture which are necessary for intelligent action.
Instead, I recommend Numan's Guide to Moral Action: "Don't just do something, stand there!"
As Lao-zi so wisely remarked, the Sage does not add to his knowledge, he subtracts from it!
The American, if he is to be fit to do anything, must throw away everything he "learned" about politics and society and history when childhood "education" was inflicted upon him or her. This garbage consisted almost entirely of lies and misinformation: an American who is to be worth anything must start out entirely afresh. Thorough research into the language and culture of at least one foreign nation is essential to expand the pitifully narrowed mental horizons of the average American. Living and working (but not in the American military or an American enclave!) for an extended period in a foreign country would be very advisable.
Above all, the conscientious American would school himself in the workings of the Brainwashing Machine so as to innoculate himself against the poisonous toxins which it generates in the mental apparatus of Americans. A good rule of thumb is that everything in the Mass Media and Info-tainment is lies, half-truths, misrepresentation, and only serving to increase the wealth and power of America's evil ruling class. One should cultivate a feeling of surprise when anything true appears in the Mass Media, and speculation as to what machinations are being served by so unusual an event.
Having de-toxified his mind and, despite his American education, having learned something about the world, the purified American should---do nothing! "They also serve who stand and wait." For many Americans, this would be the hardest part of the whole process. They are trained to be busy-bodies, constantly poking into things and interfering in what they do not understand and cannot help.
If history tells us anything, it is that societies have enormous inertia, which individuals, and even large groups of people, are powerless to alter. Our ancestors were, and we are, chained to a juggernaut which must inevitably careen over a cliff into the abyss. We are powerless to affect this inevitable fate. Perhaps, in the future, people will achieve the intelligence and cohesion of effort which are necessary to alter this characteristic of human civilization, but we are far, far from that happy change in human affairs.
It is not easy to reject comforting illusions and face these facts with clear eyes---especially for the mentally indolent American, so given to wishful thinking. But to rise above foolishness and the evil tendencies of American society, it must be done. Only then can the real preparation for a better future begin.
The purified, educated, cultured and morally elevated American will: criticize! Criticize! CRITICIZE! He or she will criticize with implacable rigor the sins of commission and omission of his unregenerate, depraved fellow citizens! He or she will join with other enlightened people for study, reflection and planning for a reformed society---but still they will do nothing! To attempt to reform a society as far sunk into corruption and degradation as that of the United States is a sure way to attract the wrath of the vampires and ghouls who rule this Empire of Folly, and be destroyed!
Instead, the wise will join together and prepare a "Plan B," to be implemented at an optimum future moment. Then, when the present ruling class have achieved their intricate ritual of self-destruction, instead of the usual chaos and anarchy that supervenes when a society collapses, the wise will have a program and an organization which may have some frail hope of advancing the cause of human improvement.
"Life is short, craft is long,
The opportune moment is critical,
The attempt is perilous,
And the judgment is difficult."
---Hippocrates of Cos
.
In the face of the general disaster that constitutes the present United States of America, what should a conscientious American do?
First, I would strongly advise that he or she do nothing heroic. Bernard Shaw, as usual, was right when he wrote:
"We do not want good men and bad men any more than we want giants and dwarfs.
What we do want is a high quality for our normal: that is, people who can be much better
than what we now call respectable, without self-sacrifice. Conscious goodness,
like conscious muscular effort, may be of use in emergencies, but for everyday national use
it is negligible; and its effects on the character of the individual may easily be disastrous."
---George Bernard Shaw, Getting Married, preface
Moreover, when Americans try to be heroic, the result is usually disaster, since, in general, they lack the moral discipline, mental training, education and culture which are necessary for intelligent action.
Instead, I recommend Numan's Guide to Moral Action: "Don't just do something, stand there!"
As Lao-zi so wisely remarked, the Sage does not add to his knowledge, he subtracts from it!
The American, if he is to be fit to do anything, must throw away everything he "learned" about politics and society and history when childhood "education" was inflicted upon him or her. This garbage consisted almost entirely of lies and misinformation: an American who is to be worth anything must start out entirely afresh. Thorough research into the language and culture of at least one foreign nation is essential to expand the pitifully narrowed mental horizons of the average American. Living and working (but not in the American military or an American enclave!) for an extended period in a foreign country would be very advisable.
Above all, the conscientious American would school himself in the workings of the Brainwashing Machine so as to innoculate himself against the poisonous toxins which it generates in the mental apparatus of Americans. A good rule of thumb is that everything in the Mass Media and Info-tainment is lies, half-truths, misrepresentation, and only serving to increase the wealth and power of America's evil ruling class. One should cultivate a feeling of surprise when anything true appears in the Mass Media, and speculation as to what machinations are being served by so unusual an event.
Having de-toxified his mind and, despite his American education, having learned something about the world, the purified American should---do nothing! "They also serve who stand and wait." For many Americans, this would be the hardest part of the whole process. They are trained to be busy-bodies, constantly poking into things and interfering in what they do not understand and cannot help.
If history tells us anything, it is that societies have enormous inertia, which individuals, and even large groups of people, are powerless to alter. Our ancestors were, and we are, chained to a juggernaut which must inevitably careen over a cliff into the abyss. We are powerless to affect this inevitable fate. Perhaps, in the future, people will achieve the intelligence and cohesion of effort which are necessary to alter this characteristic of human civilization, but we are far, far from that happy change in human affairs.
It is not easy to reject comforting illusions and face these facts with clear eyes---especially for the mentally indolent American, so given to wishful thinking. But to rise above foolishness and the evil tendencies of American society, it must be done. Only then can the real preparation for a better future begin.
The purified, educated, cultured and morally elevated American will: criticize! Criticize! CRITICIZE! He or she will criticize with implacable rigor the sins of commission and omission of his unregenerate, depraved fellow citizens! He or she will join with other enlightened people for study, reflection and planning for a reformed society---but still they will do nothing! To attempt to reform a society as far sunk into corruption and degradation as that of the United States is a sure way to attract the wrath of the vampires and ghouls who rule this Empire of Folly, and be destroyed!
Instead, the wise will join together and prepare a "Plan B," to be implemented at an optimum future moment. Then, when the present ruling class have achieved their intricate ritual of self-destruction, instead of the usual chaos and anarchy that supervenes when a society collapses, the wise will have a program and an organization which may have some frail hope of advancing the cause of human improvement.
"Life is short, craft is long,
The opportune moment is critical,
The attempt is perilous,
And the judgment is difficult."
---Hippocrates of Cos
.
