It seems that movies and books offer two of the best respites from a world that seems increasingly flipped. Psychological hucksters like Dr. Phil run around trying to shamelessly promote themselves while claiming to "help" people, and people buy it. Voting machines are still not working and people seem so surprised as if the decay in intellectual ability and competence as a result of the deterioration of education did not exist. The question of why new machines would malfunction is never asked. I guess it is like asking why American cars break down so much. The correlation between learning and dysfunction is rarely made. Instead, people decry the importance of doing something about this "problem" because people, especially "indigent" voters should be able to vote. The State should make it easier for people to vote and no one should have to exert any effort at all like saving money--heaven forbid--in order to buy the proper identification to vote. Translation: the State should force the competent, wage-earning, and intelligent to pay for the rest. From each according to his ability to each according to his need.
In every so-called "public forum" common sense always seems to be conspicuously absent. So, if you have any common sense at all--common sense and no less a currency-- will invariably feel like you are standing in the middle of a great and barren wasteland where asylum patients run around gagging and cackling about trivial things. It's Alex in Wonderland, the few that ever notice don't care, and it leaves you in that place Hemingway said did not exist: a man's island.
So, movies seem to offer a very nice break from all of the madness. Movies are orderly. Good movies have a clean story line. Movies are exciting particularly when there are simple values at stake like good versus evil such as in the Dark Knight.
This need for someone or in this case something to believe in is all the more strong when so many people are as superficial and phony as counterfeit money--using up their societal currency of politeness and platitudes as freely as counterfeiters would. So, what about the people who deal in gold? Gresham's law applies equally well to people as it does to money: the bad drives out the good. So, when heroes come along even if they are imaginary it gives us something to believe in again even if only for a moment.
One cannot underestimate the power of heroes or convictions. Very often conviction and value are all that we have. It is true that not too many people want to think about such things. They are far too busy with gossip and drugs. But, if you are the type of person who tends to value seriousness, strength, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are you any less of a human? Isn't it perfectly legitimate to want something more from life than pizza, beer, games? Is it not humanly possible to be "social" and "pensive?"
Well, one of the things that makes the Dark Knight inspiring is not only that he fights evil and wins, not only he is strong and a maverick, but as he is portrayed in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, he is also a thoughtful, serious man. In other words, he ruminates. And, he kicks ass, "dude." That is a wonderful thing.
The true measure of a man is the size of his bank account or his penis, but in the size of his values and his ability to protect them. Warner Brothers makes some damn good films, still.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The Warrior's Creed
How can one live in these times, which very well might be the end times, without maintaining a state of readiness and a philosophy of war, a warrior's creed, if not for fighting then at least for self defense.
The Warrior's Creed: I will fiercely defend Life, Strength, and Value and combat any person, idea, or foe, that threatens them.
Circulating in the population for those with strong values is not a very appealing prospect even during these times that are supposed to full of "Christmas cheer." For the most part that "cheer" is nothing more than an illusion. On the whole people are malicious, self-centered, hostile, inconsiderate, petty, and extraordinarily childish. Where is the "Christmas cheer" in that? I realize that some will claim that one should "rise above" such things, and be the better man, blah, blah, blah. But why? Why must rational individuals work so hard just to get along in society? And, make no mistake about it, you must work hard and struggle every minute of the day because you will constantly confront what could easily be called the forces of evil, not evil in the strictly religious sense, but evil in the sense of the hideous gargoyles that persist in attacking the foundations of reason: they are the gargoyles of vulgarity, of indifference, of obnoxiousness, of self-indulgence, all of the things that the rational individual will confront each day.
Most people seem perfectly content with the superficial life, which makes it all the more difficult for serious men. Superficiality rules probably because it is safe. Holding a conviction makes one stand out and easily subject to ridicule.
For example, you will be easily ridiculed if you write a blog that does not regurgitate anything that is not currently popular. And, if you state an opinion that does not say "its all good" in some way, few will want to read. No one wants to hear that life in society is a sham and that people spend more time practicing graft than they do at practicing compassion. They have far too much of their lives, their glass castles, invested in society as it is. It cannot be false and fake. Can't it?
For example, I am developing a screenplay and building an acting career because I believe in the power of films to enlighten and inspire among other reasons. I am living in an apartment to save a little money right now. Apartment living is one of the worst experiences I have ever had. Why? People. There are more people in close proximity and when people are nearby they ridiculously believe that they have a right to know everything about you, to meddle in your affairs, to manhandle your property, and otherwise make a nuisance of themselves. It does not matter that I mind my own business and leave others alone. And, if I did not maintain a warrior philosophy with a willingness to fight any idea that would attempt to destroy my strength, will, and mental balance, I would probably accept the conventional party line that "they are just trying to be neighborly" when I catch them stealing my shoes--yes someone stole my shoes--cutting my clothesline, or keeping me awake at night with incessant radio playing. Now, most cogs would ask, "what did you do to them." In fact, once when I called the police one of the officers asked me this question, implying that there is some rational reason behind what people do. You would think that people like Hitler never existed to prove that people very often do things for irrational and unjustifiable reasons.
So, there I was, the person who called the police being questioned like a criminal because my "neighbors" in their attempt to be "neighborly" and deflect the attention from them onto me, said that I was the "bad" guy because I did not speak to them when they asked questions or say hello or because I put signs in my window that read "no trespassing." What all of these have to do with the reason I called the police: one of the obnoxious big mouths was trying to pick a fight with someone else.
Who would want to communicate with such people? As for the signs, who wouldn't want to put up a sign after coming home to find someone peering in your window. But, try to communicate such things to people at large and they'll simply say "it's no big deal." Well, it is precisely that kind of attitude that allows people to continue behaving poorly until it is too late. Again, I cite Hitler.
And, what happens when you try to work within the system? Well, for months my upstairs "neighbor" has been playing a radio loud enough to hear down the street throughout the night, and I mean throughout the night. Oh, did I mention that he is unemployed? Now, how he pays for an apartment, food, etc. might seem like a mystery until I mention that Welfare keeps such people alive and allows them to disturb the very people who keep them alive. It is insane.
So, I left a note on the slug's bike--an old rusty, bike from the 1920's that he rides in the rain, in the dark, and in the snow to buy booze. It was not an impolite note. It simply stated for him to lower the volume of his radio or use headphones. Later that day I found my note taped to a window in the laundry room with his scribble on it "Thanks." This was not thank you in the form of politeness, but in the form of malice. You know the kind that is popular in America where everybody's a smart ass, until they get their asses kicked and then it is poor me. This morning the note was crumbled and tossed at my door step. Now let's have a closer look at the "humans" that every one says are so "kind" and "good."
This individual took the time to take my note and re-post it with the scribble of a third grader on it. By the way, he is old enough to be my father. I should feel sorry for him? Bullshit. Instead of simply lowering the volume of his radio, he spent the time and energy just to send me a message, which I ignored as far as he is concerned anyway. To top it off, he crumbled the paper and held it all night just to dump it on my doorstep. Now, when this kind of petty behavior characterizes such a large part of the population, a malicious, indifferent, offensive behavior, what other philosophy would be appropriate except for that of the warrior? I do not say that it is rational to take a shotgun and blow his brains out. Although, it is certainly easy to understand why such violence is so prevalent. Again, everyone makes a big deal about the incidents at Columbine or Virginia Tech as if it is so difficult to understand why people snap when other storment them. I am certainly not advocating this type of violence and, clearly the perpetrators of these crimes had serious mental problems. But, many people do seem quite stupid to believe that peoplecan be abused indefinitely without any consequences. Abuse seems to characterize human relations more than anything else.
As for myself, I will move very soon, and I refuse to respond to such infantile actions. These guys are real pussies, and I would not waste my time. But, it does show the kinds of things that rational people are up against in this world, particularly in America where so-called adults seem to have reached new heights in childishness. This is no doubt why my blog is big in foreign countries where people have a better understanding about human nature and are generally more philosophical about life. Americans tend to be quite dumb and lazy. And, lest you think that my situation is unique or a consequence of living in a bad neighborhood. The crime rate in my neighborhood is 40% of the average which is quite low, and it is a city of only 100,000. One of the Republican candidates for President, Mike Huckabee, once quipped: if your neighbor tells you not to vote for that Huckabee guy, then shovel your snow in his driveway. This from someone who is supposed to be a minister and in a party that advocates respect for the property of others. It's all bullshit, and it's everywhere. LSV.
The Warrior's Creed: I will fiercely defend Life, Strength, and Value and combat any person, idea, or foe, that threatens them.
Circulating in the population for those with strong values is not a very appealing prospect even during these times that are supposed to full of "Christmas cheer." For the most part that "cheer" is nothing more than an illusion. On the whole people are malicious, self-centered, hostile, inconsiderate, petty, and extraordinarily childish. Where is the "Christmas cheer" in that? I realize that some will claim that one should "rise above" such things, and be the better man, blah, blah, blah. But why? Why must rational individuals work so hard just to get along in society? And, make no mistake about it, you must work hard and struggle every minute of the day because you will constantly confront what could easily be called the forces of evil, not evil in the strictly religious sense, but evil in the sense of the hideous gargoyles that persist in attacking the foundations of reason: they are the gargoyles of vulgarity, of indifference, of obnoxiousness, of self-indulgence, all of the things that the rational individual will confront each day.
Most people seem perfectly content with the superficial life, which makes it all the more difficult for serious men. Superficiality rules probably because it is safe. Holding a conviction makes one stand out and easily subject to ridicule.
For example, you will be easily ridiculed if you write a blog that does not regurgitate anything that is not currently popular. And, if you state an opinion that does not say "its all good" in some way, few will want to read. No one wants to hear that life in society is a sham and that people spend more time practicing graft than they do at practicing compassion. They have far too much of their lives, their glass castles, invested in society as it is. It cannot be false and fake. Can't it?
For example, I am developing a screenplay and building an acting career because I believe in the power of films to enlighten and inspire among other reasons. I am living in an apartment to save a little money right now. Apartment living is one of the worst experiences I have ever had. Why? People. There are more people in close proximity and when people are nearby they ridiculously believe that they have a right to know everything about you, to meddle in your affairs, to manhandle your property, and otherwise make a nuisance of themselves. It does not matter that I mind my own business and leave others alone. And, if I did not maintain a warrior philosophy with a willingness to fight any idea that would attempt to destroy my strength, will, and mental balance, I would probably accept the conventional party line that "they are just trying to be neighborly" when I catch them stealing my shoes--yes someone stole my shoes--cutting my clothesline, or keeping me awake at night with incessant radio playing. Now, most cogs would ask, "what did you do to them." In fact, once when I called the police one of the officers asked me this question, implying that there is some rational reason behind what people do. You would think that people like Hitler never existed to prove that people very often do things for irrational and unjustifiable reasons.
So, there I was, the person who called the police being questioned like a criminal because my "neighbors" in their attempt to be "neighborly" and deflect the attention from them onto me, said that I was the "bad" guy because I did not speak to them when they asked questions or say hello or because I put signs in my window that read "no trespassing." What all of these have to do with the reason I called the police: one of the obnoxious big mouths was trying to pick a fight with someone else.
Who would want to communicate with such people? As for the signs, who wouldn't want to put up a sign after coming home to find someone peering in your window. But, try to communicate such things to people at large and they'll simply say "it's no big deal." Well, it is precisely that kind of attitude that allows people to continue behaving poorly until it is too late. Again, I cite Hitler.
And, what happens when you try to work within the system? Well, for months my upstairs "neighbor" has been playing a radio loud enough to hear down the street throughout the night, and I mean throughout the night. Oh, did I mention that he is unemployed? Now, how he pays for an apartment, food, etc. might seem like a mystery until I mention that Welfare keeps such people alive and allows them to disturb the very people who keep them alive. It is insane.
So, I left a note on the slug's bike--an old rusty, bike from the 1920's that he rides in the rain, in the dark, and in the snow to buy booze. It was not an impolite note. It simply stated for him to lower the volume of his radio or use headphones. Later that day I found my note taped to a window in the laundry room with his scribble on it "Thanks." This was not thank you in the form of politeness, but in the form of malice. You know the kind that is popular in America where everybody's a smart ass, until they get their asses kicked and then it is poor me. This morning the note was crumbled and tossed at my door step. Now let's have a closer look at the "humans" that every one says are so "kind" and "good."
This individual took the time to take my note and re-post it with the scribble of a third grader on it. By the way, he is old enough to be my father. I should feel sorry for him? Bullshit. Instead of simply lowering the volume of his radio, he spent the time and energy just to send me a message, which I ignored as far as he is concerned anyway. To top it off, he crumbled the paper and held it all night just to dump it on my doorstep. Now, when this kind of petty behavior characterizes such a large part of the population, a malicious, indifferent, offensive behavior, what other philosophy would be appropriate except for that of the warrior? I do not say that it is rational to take a shotgun and blow his brains out. Although, it is certainly easy to understand why such violence is so prevalent. Again, everyone makes a big deal about the incidents at Columbine or Virginia Tech as if it is so difficult to understand why people snap when other storment them. I am certainly not advocating this type of violence and, clearly the perpetrators of these crimes had serious mental problems. But, many people do seem quite stupid to believe that peoplecan be abused indefinitely without any consequences. Abuse seems to characterize human relations more than anything else.
As for myself, I will move very soon, and I refuse to respond to such infantile actions. These guys are real pussies, and I would not waste my time. But, it does show the kinds of things that rational people are up against in this world, particularly in America where so-called adults seem to have reached new heights in childishness. This is no doubt why my blog is big in foreign countries where people have a better understanding about human nature and are generally more philosophical about life. Americans tend to be quite dumb and lazy. And, lest you think that my situation is unique or a consequence of living in a bad neighborhood. The crime rate in my neighborhood is 40% of the average which is quite low, and it is a city of only 100,000. One of the Republican candidates for President, Mike Huckabee, once quipped: if your neighbor tells you not to vote for that Huckabee guy, then shovel your snow in his driveway. This from someone who is supposed to be a minister and in a party that advocates respect for the property of others. It's all bullshit, and it's everywhere. LSV.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Strength
In a previous post I wrote about Sex. One of the points made there was the importance of developing strength for health in one's life. Strength can lead to kind of man that Clint Eastwood portrays in High Plains Drifter. In the movie there is a barber scene. Three men wait to walk in to harass him when they think he is helpless. That says it all. The attitude that one has the right to harass someone else is a particularly prevalent idea these days. It is even more telling that the dirty bastards waited until they thought the High Plains Drifter was helpless before taking an action. That is all-too-common.
Now, this may be a movie. However, one can often learn more about life from a good movie or a good book than from all of the so-called teachers over an entire lifetime. Now, cultural conventions would say that Mr. Eastwood's character is the good guy and should fight "fair." Well, what does "fair" really mean? A very great martial arts teacher often says that "fair is a four-letter word." That sentiment is the best that I have ever been taught. It says it all. Too often concepts like 'fairness' and 'mercy' are used to allow individuals to escape the consequences of their own attitudes and action. For example, another point that my martial arts teacher taught us regularly was the fact that those who ask for mercy--in this case the concept that combatants should "be the better man" (oh! how often have I heard that bullshit) and show mercy to someone that tries to mug or rape you. The concept of foregiveness is also often used in similar circumstances.
My martial arts often made a point that I took very much to heart because it was only confirmed by my independent experience: if someone has to ask for mercy it is already too late; for why would one allow himself to commit an act that would require mercy? There is plenty of time for someone to show restraint. If he does not, then why should others compensate for it. The answer is rational people would not.
Mercy is based on the precept of altruism, that it is somehow noble to sacrifice one's values for the sake of others. This is a notion that dies hard. However, if life and survival are your primary goals, you would do well to question such concepts at their core. That of course requires a certain level of independence. And, independence of course requires strength, which brings us back to the main point of this entry.
Life and health greatly depend on mental strength because most of society's conventions seem contrarcy to independence and individuality. This is not to say that one must become as brutish as others seem to be. It simply means that self-defense and self-preservation should be your primary goals as it was for the High Plains Drifter. However, this is something you have to think about in advance. Otherwise, you will unwittingly go alone with society's program for your subjugation, and that often means the more you have to give, the more you are supposed to give; and similarly the less you are supposed to receive. When the mafia does things like this it is called extortion. Yet, somehow when people use guilt to make you feel bad for demanding quiet in a library, for not giving money to a bum, for not breaking your back to help the so-called meek, that kind of racket is perfectly acceptable. Well, I am here to say IT IS NOT.
The great thing about Clint Eastwood's movies, so many of them: Dirty Harry, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider, the list goes on, his character has his values firmly in place. He was not a bully. He was not tyrant. He was not a manipulator. But, he would not be manipulated because he defined his own values. This was the essence of so many of Clint Eastwood's characters, and it is the essence of strength and individuality.
Usually 'fair' means that one should follow the hand-me-down cultural precepts to the point of self-destruction so that while you are busy being "fair" and doing "the right thing" to "make things whole" the other guy is doing whatever he pleases. Now, if Mr. Eastwood's character in High Plains Drifter had fought "fair" he would be dead. No more movie. But, more than that he would not have survived in the world as it is. A lot of lessons come out of this. Not only does this show why it is important to question second-hand conventions, but it demonstrates that one would be better off taking a decidedly combative approach to life. It is not that one's life will be at stake in all situations. It does mean that it is better to be on guard at all times. The Japanese Samurai had a similar attitude. It was common for the Japanese Samurai to sleep with their swords. In some cases they even worked with colleagues to train who would attempt to attack them with real swords while they slept to keep them sharp. While you may not be able to do such things today, you most certainly can adopt a similar attitude for self-protection and self-preservation.
In High Plains Drifter, Mr. Eastwood's character had a piece of wood in his holster as it hung on a hook, while he had a beautiful single action revolver under the barber's bib. When the bad guys made a move, blam! blam! blam! Beautiful. Just what they deserved. Clint Eastwood's movies are so great not just because of what they can teach you about life, but because of the simplicity of the values they stress. He is also a fantastic actor and director.
The Development of Strength
One of the best ways to develop mental strength is through weight training. Without weight training and martial arts, I do not know how I would have come this far. One of the best exercises for the development of overall strength is the clean and jerk. While other full body exercises like the squat and the deadlift develop strength for health and combat, the clean and jerk also develops flexibility in addition to explosive power. What makes weight training tremendously useful in developing strength is when you fight hard to lift a new weight, your struggle will result in conquering the new weight. That not only builds strength, but it builds confidence. Never before have both more needed in a society that grows increasingly antagonistic toward rational values and rational individuals. LSV
Now, this may be a movie. However, one can often learn more about life from a good movie or a good book than from all of the so-called teachers over an entire lifetime. Now, cultural conventions would say that Mr. Eastwood's character is the good guy and should fight "fair." Well, what does "fair" really mean? A very great martial arts teacher often says that "fair is a four-letter word." That sentiment is the best that I have ever been taught. It says it all. Too often concepts like 'fairness' and 'mercy' are used to allow individuals to escape the consequences of their own attitudes and action. For example, another point that my martial arts teacher taught us regularly was the fact that those who ask for mercy--in this case the concept that combatants should "be the better man" (oh! how often have I heard that bullshit) and show mercy to someone that tries to mug or rape you. The concept of foregiveness is also often used in similar circumstances.
My martial arts often made a point that I took very much to heart because it was only confirmed by my independent experience: if someone has to ask for mercy it is already too late; for why would one allow himself to commit an act that would require mercy? There is plenty of time for someone to show restraint. If he does not, then why should others compensate for it. The answer is rational people would not.
Mercy is based on the precept of altruism, that it is somehow noble to sacrifice one's values for the sake of others. This is a notion that dies hard. However, if life and survival are your primary goals, you would do well to question such concepts at their core. That of course requires a certain level of independence. And, independence of course requires strength, which brings us back to the main point of this entry.
Life and health greatly depend on mental strength because most of society's conventions seem contrarcy to independence and individuality. This is not to say that one must become as brutish as others seem to be. It simply means that self-defense and self-preservation should be your primary goals as it was for the High Plains Drifter. However, this is something you have to think about in advance. Otherwise, you will unwittingly go alone with society's program for your subjugation, and that often means the more you have to give, the more you are supposed to give; and similarly the less you are supposed to receive. When the mafia does things like this it is called extortion. Yet, somehow when people use guilt to make you feel bad for demanding quiet in a library, for not giving money to a bum, for not breaking your back to help the so-called meek, that kind of racket is perfectly acceptable. Well, I am here to say IT IS NOT.
The great thing about Clint Eastwood's movies, so many of them: Dirty Harry, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider, the list goes on, his character has his values firmly in place. He was not a bully. He was not tyrant. He was not a manipulator. But, he would not be manipulated because he defined his own values. This was the essence of so many of Clint Eastwood's characters, and it is the essence of strength and individuality.
Usually 'fair' means that one should follow the hand-me-down cultural precepts to the point of self-destruction so that while you are busy being "fair" and doing "the right thing" to "make things whole" the other guy is doing whatever he pleases. Now, if Mr. Eastwood's character in High Plains Drifter had fought "fair" he would be dead. No more movie. But, more than that he would not have survived in the world as it is. A lot of lessons come out of this. Not only does this show why it is important to question second-hand conventions, but it demonstrates that one would be better off taking a decidedly combative approach to life. It is not that one's life will be at stake in all situations. It does mean that it is better to be on guard at all times. The Japanese Samurai had a similar attitude. It was common for the Japanese Samurai to sleep with their swords. In some cases they even worked with colleagues to train who would attempt to attack them with real swords while they slept to keep them sharp. While you may not be able to do such things today, you most certainly can adopt a similar attitude for self-protection and self-preservation.
In High Plains Drifter, Mr. Eastwood's character had a piece of wood in his holster as it hung on a hook, while he had a beautiful single action revolver under the barber's bib. When the bad guys made a move, blam! blam! blam! Beautiful. Just what they deserved. Clint Eastwood's movies are so great not just because of what they can teach you about life, but because of the simplicity of the values they stress. He is also a fantastic actor and director.
The Development of Strength
One of the best ways to develop mental strength is through weight training. Without weight training and martial arts, I do not know how I would have come this far. One of the best exercises for the development of overall strength is the clean and jerk. While other full body exercises like the squat and the deadlift develop strength for health and combat, the clean and jerk also develops flexibility in addition to explosive power. What makes weight training tremendously useful in developing strength is when you fight hard to lift a new weight, your struggle will result in conquering the new weight. That not only builds strength, but it builds confidence. Never before have both more needed in a society that grows increasingly antagonistic toward rational values and rational individuals. LSV
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Sex
Yesterday I reread a book entitled Sex Without Guilt by Dr. Albert Ellis, and it occurred to me what is missing in life: freedom. In this book he talks about many things pertaining to how to enjoy sex like a relatively well-adjusted adult and relatively free from emotional problems. He makes a strong case for thinking seriously about adultery. Obviously everyone says that adultery is "wrong." Therefore, many people do it anyway and try to hide it. The point that Dr. Ellis makes that no one else ever has--at least not to me--is the behavior of trying to hide adultery is wrong not necessarily the adultery itself. This is an extraordinary assertion even in our times where many people--particularly women--consider themselves to be sexually sophisticated. In point of fact this is still a very prudish society that incessantly drills the virtue of marriage and of monogamy to the point that if people do freely engage in sexual relations, they try to keep it quiet. Dr. Ellis' point is revolutionary for another perhaps bigger reason: he implies a challenge to the dominating conventions, and that implies freedom. In other words, he does not accept the prevailing conventions like a mindless dolt vociferously protecting any challenge to the status quo like so many others. It is easy to understand why so many people protect conventions rather than questioning them. The moment questions a dominating cultural idea like one ought to be married before engaging in sex, one runs the risk questioning one's entire world view. That is too much for most people to handle. So, even though an idea may be utterly ridiculous, many people will accept it and attack anyone who presents an alternative. Such is the way of the "free" world.
Dr. Ellis is fantastic because his goal is mental health for people. It is a noble goal. It is a good goal to have in life. However, to have this goal often puts you at odds with a great many other people who have a vested interest in maintaining neuroses and other forms if illness. Did you ever ask yourself for example why so many women find so called "bad" boys attractive while rebuking the advances of clean, strong, intelligent men? Or, why those who build themselves up to be strong, rational, decent people are excoriated? Ayn Rand called it the hatred of the good for being good. It is that, but it is more. For, it seems that a great many people would prefer to hold onto their neuroses and other forms of illness, in other words to remain weak and decrepit, rather than exerting the effort to build themselves up to be strong and wise. Why? Inertia, laziness, indifference, call it what you will. But, in general people would rather not try than to try. Therefore, anyone with flaws is welcome, and the more flaws the better because no one wants to feel that you are better than them, that your "shit don't stink" as has been said more than once to me.
You see, you are not meant to be strong, confident, wise, intelligent, or clean. You are supposed to be like Forrest Gump . That makes people feel comfortable. But, this curious phenomenon makes one ask, why does strength make people uncomfortable? Moreover, why do so many people hate self-improvement?
If you are man with an earring--better yet two--tattoos, you drink, smoke, are overweight, use drugs, or anything to make "your shit stink" then you are a "real bro." The girls will love you. Employers will promote you. And, everyone will say what a "great guy you are." Why? Because it makes them feel less like losers. That is the stark truth of it. Knowing this is liberating in a sense. But, on the other hand it is extraordinarily frustrating; for what is the point of life if not self-enhancement and personal cultivation? What value does life have without an ideal? If you are to follow the dominant cultural attitudes, it is better for you not to have an ideal. That is the message. For, your reward for strenghth, health, intelligence, self-dignity, will be alienation. The less of these you possess, the more riches society will shower upon you. Most people take the riches discard the rest. In some case, I cannot say that I blame them. But, it does make it more difficult for those who desire to cultivate personal integrity and other important values like truth, justice, and common sense.
For these reasons and others, life, strength, and value are even more important for a healthy life. However, the only way to develop these elements, is to question cultural conventions. Does an idea like "adultery is wrong" seem rational just because a lot of people say so? It may in fact be wrong in certain situations, but it may not be wrong in other situations. Even more important, why does sex have to come with so many strings and requirements?
That does not mean one needs to engage in orgies everyday or make pornographic movies. On the other hand, why cannot sex be enlightened? If a man and a woman meet and decide to engage in sexual relations, why can't sex just be enjoyed for what it is without all of the hang ups, attachments, and other foolishness that usually goes along with it like courting, dating, romance, etc.? There is nothing wrong with these in and of themselves, but why do these have to be linked to sex every time. If a man and a woman are married, why does sex always have so many stipulations, the mood has to be "just right," the lights have to be off, it must be in bed, blah, blah, blah. Poppycock and boulderdash.
What is wrong with just "getting it on" and moving on if that is what one chooses to do? Granted most of the hang ups associated with sex are perpetuated by women, but why does it need to be that way? The answer is it does not need to be that way. That is one of the points that Dr. Ellis was making. But, to get to that place one must first accept that cultural conventions are assailable and should be rigorously questioned at all times.
In the another article about how women drive men to homosexuality--another revolutionary and challenging assertion--Dr. Ellis recounts a story of a homosexual man that told Dr. Ellis why he was a homosexual. I do not advocate homosexuality--and neither did Dr. Ellis--but I can certainly understand the sentiment. The man said that if he wanted to have sex with a man he could go to a bar, a bath, or some other meeting place, meet someone, and in not too much time engage in sexual relations with that person. Afterwards, if they did not want to continue with their tryst, they both went their separate ways. The homosexual man made a point in Dr. Ellis' article that he in fact enjoyed relations with women, but he despised all the time, money and energy it required to do the same thing that he could do with men in a more reasonable way. All of the reasons and machinations that explain why women make sex difficult is much to complicated to go into here. But, one thing can be said for such phenomena. There are an awful lot of cultural conventions that needlessly and endlessly complicate life.
The thing is, one needs one's strength to accomplish goals. One can ill afford to waste time chasing after paper tigers and flickering apparitions in the night. If you follow an idea, make sure that idea is rational and does in fact enhance your life. Ayn Rand chided readers to "check your premises." It is good advice. Just because "things are that way" does not mean that must be that way or that you must accept them as they are. You cannot change the world, but you can damn sure change yourself. LSV
Dr. Ellis is fantastic because his goal is mental health for people. It is a noble goal. It is a good goal to have in life. However, to have this goal often puts you at odds with a great many other people who have a vested interest in maintaining neuroses and other forms if illness. Did you ever ask yourself for example why so many women find so called "bad" boys attractive while rebuking the advances of clean, strong, intelligent men? Or, why those who build themselves up to be strong, rational, decent people are excoriated? Ayn Rand called it the hatred of the good for being good. It is that, but it is more. For, it seems that a great many people would prefer to hold onto their neuroses and other forms of illness, in other words to remain weak and decrepit, rather than exerting the effort to build themselves up to be strong and wise. Why? Inertia, laziness, indifference, call it what you will. But, in general people would rather not try than to try. Therefore, anyone with flaws is welcome, and the more flaws the better because no one wants to feel that you are better than them, that your "shit don't stink" as has been said more than once to me.
You see, you are not meant to be strong, confident, wise, intelligent, or clean. You are supposed to be like Forrest Gump . That makes people feel comfortable. But, this curious phenomenon makes one ask, why does strength make people uncomfortable? Moreover, why do so many people hate self-improvement?
If you are man with an earring--better yet two--tattoos, you drink, smoke, are overweight, use drugs, or anything to make "your shit stink" then you are a "real bro." The girls will love you. Employers will promote you. And, everyone will say what a "great guy you are." Why? Because it makes them feel less like losers. That is the stark truth of it. Knowing this is liberating in a sense. But, on the other hand it is extraordinarily frustrating; for what is the point of life if not self-enhancement and personal cultivation? What value does life have without an ideal? If you are to follow the dominant cultural attitudes, it is better for you not to have an ideal. That is the message. For, your reward for strenghth, health, intelligence, self-dignity, will be alienation. The less of these you possess, the more riches society will shower upon you. Most people take the riches discard the rest. In some case, I cannot say that I blame them. But, it does make it more difficult for those who desire to cultivate personal integrity and other important values like truth, justice, and common sense.
For these reasons and others, life, strength, and value are even more important for a healthy life. However, the only way to develop these elements, is to question cultural conventions. Does an idea like "adultery is wrong" seem rational just because a lot of people say so? It may in fact be wrong in certain situations, but it may not be wrong in other situations. Even more important, why does sex have to come with so many strings and requirements?
That does not mean one needs to engage in orgies everyday or make pornographic movies. On the other hand, why cannot sex be enlightened? If a man and a woman meet and decide to engage in sexual relations, why can't sex just be enjoyed for what it is without all of the hang ups, attachments, and other foolishness that usually goes along with it like courting, dating, romance, etc.? There is nothing wrong with these in and of themselves, but why do these have to be linked to sex every time. If a man and a woman are married, why does sex always have so many stipulations, the mood has to be "just right," the lights have to be off, it must be in bed, blah, blah, blah. Poppycock and boulderdash.
What is wrong with just "getting it on" and moving on if that is what one chooses to do? Granted most of the hang ups associated with sex are perpetuated by women, but why does it need to be that way? The answer is it does not need to be that way. That is one of the points that Dr. Ellis was making. But, to get to that place one must first accept that cultural conventions are assailable and should be rigorously questioned at all times.
In the another article about how women drive men to homosexuality--another revolutionary and challenging assertion--Dr. Ellis recounts a story of a homosexual man that told Dr. Ellis why he was a homosexual. I do not advocate homosexuality--and neither did Dr. Ellis--but I can certainly understand the sentiment. The man said that if he wanted to have sex with a man he could go to a bar, a bath, or some other meeting place, meet someone, and in not too much time engage in sexual relations with that person. Afterwards, if they did not want to continue with their tryst, they both went their separate ways. The homosexual man made a point in Dr. Ellis' article that he in fact enjoyed relations with women, but he despised all the time, money and energy it required to do the same thing that he could do with men in a more reasonable way. All of the reasons and machinations that explain why women make sex difficult is much to complicated to go into here. But, one thing can be said for such phenomena. There are an awful lot of cultural conventions that needlessly and endlessly complicate life.
The thing is, one needs one's strength to accomplish goals. One can ill afford to waste time chasing after paper tigers and flickering apparitions in the night. If you follow an idea, make sure that idea is rational and does in fact enhance your life. Ayn Rand chided readers to "check your premises." It is good advice. Just because "things are that way" does not mean that must be that way or that you must accept them as they are. You cannot change the world, but you can damn sure change yourself. LSV
Friday, October 12, 2007
Luciano Pavarotti
This is a sad day. Luciano Pavarotti has died. It is sad not just because he was a great singer, but because of the joy that he brought to the world through his singing. He had an exuberance that came through in his music. He brought joy to the world, and that is wonderful thing. It is extremely rare to find happiness in this world. Yet, he seemed to be able to encapsulate it in the way that he sang. This is ever more important as time goes by because it seems that maliciousness and obnoxiousness are the overwhelming traits these days. It is beyond compassion or understanding. People seem grossly mean and increasingly cold in the way that they deal with each other. People shrug when such things happen, and if you stand against what seems to be injustice, you are marked as the troublemaker, and people are quick to threaten you with anything that they can: jail time, law suits, violence. Justice is irrelevant, it is only who is the blame that counts. It is not surprising then that many people, particularly teenagers want to give up. It is often difficult to see the point of trying in a world that does not seem to care very much about decent things, happy things. This is what makes people like Luciano Pavarotti so great. Through his art, his talent, and sense of life, we can be reminded that there is still love and goodness in the world, and quite possibly something to hope for.
Grazie infinite, for all of the hours that would have been otherwise full of solitude, disappointment, and longing. You were a friend to me through your music, and you will be greatly missed...Ave Maria LSV
Grazie infinite, for all of the hours that would have been otherwise full of solitude, disappointment, and longing. You were a friend to me through your music, and you will be greatly missed...Ave Maria LSV
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Radiohead
Bravo! for Radiohead. I am not particularly a fan of this group. However, I am a fan of entrepreneurship and independence. This group has shown the enormous potential that the Internet represents in releasing their latest recording online without a major record label, which means on their own terms. That is a cause celebre. While we normally focus on fundamental values and ideas in Reason and Combat, the fact that this group demonstrated independence in releasing its music, is an inspirational thing. Therefore, it is worth mentioning. Inspiration is an important part of Reason and Combat.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Blackwater
Recently private contractors in Iraq have come to dominate the news because of a situation involving the company Blackwater. There is a widespread public outcry against the company because of its alleged violence toward "innocent" Iraqi citizens. It is impossible for anyone who was not directly involved to say with any certainty exactly what happened. For our purposes it matters less exactly what happened. In such cases, the whole truth is rarely revealed. For example, who really shot JFK? It is clear that rational individuals who also happen to be law enforcement personnel or active military are in impossible situations in places like Iraq. At the same time, it is also true that those with the power to maim and kill, rarely show restraint if they can get away with it. This is not really a reflection on law enforcement or military personnel so much as a reflection on people in general. The Blackwater fiasco is no different from what takes place in America on a daily basis to many individuals. It is not always so dramatic, but it is nevertheless discouraging.
Private contractors circulate in Iraq to supplement and support the military. Iraq is a cauldron of chaos with sectarian violence, insurgency, terrorism. That these kinds of wild events happen is not at all surprising, most particularly when there does not seem to be any clear strategy for engagement or military involvement in Iraq at least not for the long term. While the Blackwater situation is unfortunate and extreme, it is not much different in principle than what happens in other circumstances where a disjointed, incomplete philosophy leads to tirades, outbursts, and other forms of destruction. The strategy of "no strategy" is perfectly acceptable these days as a guide for human action. This has a direct impact on individual life as the Blackwater affair shows quite well. For, individuals, both Americans and Iraqis, were involved in the affair.
In one of the "For Dummies" books, Rich Tennant brilliant depicts the situation through humor. It is interesting that humorists and comedians often have a better stethoscope on society than so-called "intellectuals." He writes:
This is a "dot-com" company Stacey. Risk-taking is a given. If you're not comfortable running with scissors, cleaning your ear with a knitting needle, or swimming right after a big meal, then this might not be the place for you.
The picture with this caption shows several fat people throwing objects, running with scissors, cleaning their ears with needles, etc. Most people look at such a cartoon, laugh, and then shrug comfortably going back to their football games or television shows. There is nothing wrong with these forms of entertainment, unless they are used as a means to escape reality, which is often how they are used. It is the desire to escape reality as a viable philosophy of life that seems the characterize these times. This is probably not the first time in history when such was the case, but we are living through these times. So, it is worthwhile to understand the philosophy that leads to wild insanity.
Negligence is the ultimate form of evasion. Negligence leads to Iraq. Negligence leads to the Blackwater affair. Negligence leads to the situation that Mr. Tennant describes. The problem for rational individuals is that negligence is the socially acceptable philosophy governing human affairs and cultural moors. I have worked for a major "high-tech" company that is consistently ranked as one of the best places to work. I was shocked, in a sense, to see chronological adults firing off toy guns and otherwise cutting it up like five-year old children. "They were just having fun" you say. Well that is precisely the point. The attitude that there is a proper time and place for "fun" of that sort is an adult, mature, rational attitude. Similarly, the attitude that such "fun" is okay in the workplace, despite the fact that it may be a dominant attitude, is irrational. Not only does this kind of behavior show disrespect for the company who is paying these "adults" to work and to take the work seriously, it shows disrespect to the customers. Now before you leap to the conclusion of blaming the employees--or leap to the conclusion of blaming Blackwater employees--remember that the company tolerates this behavior and condones it by not firmly taking a stand to stop it. But, that is precisely the point. Few people desire to take a firm stand for anything. It is the logical result of not wanting to think things through and of allowing a philosophy of negligence to guide human action.
How did this happen? It has been a long time in the making. Essentially it is the result of the growing dominance of a particular type of philosophy that believes humans are powerless to know and understand the world. If one is powerless to understand the world around him, then why try? Just get drunk, get doped, or "veg" out. The other result of this type of thinking is the unfortunate situation in Iraq where people are perfectly content with getting involved in chaotic, confusing, volatile situations and remaining in such situations. In other words, without a standard or a model of balance and equilibrium with which to compare it to, the frenetic situation seems perfectly "normal." The value of reason and the process of thinking things through is what leads to an integrated view of existence where balance, calm, logic, and strength are the desired goals. People do not seem to feel as uncomfortable with illogical circumstances. It is impossible to study and learn in a stadium filled with 60,000 screaming football fans. This is understood. However, it is equally impossible to concentrate in a public library, the intellectual depository for human civilization, with high-volume chatter, screaming or homeless people wandering around intimidating patrons. Now, why is one easier to understand than the other? It would not be more difficult to understand the relationship between such things if critical thinking was not given such a low value to so many people. Nor would it be difficult to see how events like the one involving Blackwater could transpire. Most importantly it would not be difficult to see why the intellectual capacity and advancement of the population declines. The two go hand in hand. Advancement requires focus. Focus requires concentration. Concentration requires a certain amount of peace and quiet. And, this logical train of thought requires the ability to think and analyze, which of course in turn depends on what was just stated. It is cycle, a logical interrelatedness.
For most people a wild state of affairs is perfectly acceptable. For most people seem to have very little ambition or desire for self-improvement or learning. However, for rational, intelligent people, who want to think and understand these kinds of situations can be murder, intellectual assassination.
The Blackwater affair indicates a great deal about the status of society and quite possibly the status of Western if not human civilization. It is that serious. When a civilization begins to crowd out its thinkers and innovators, it decays. The reason that ideas and inventions flourished during the Renaissance, was because enlightenment was a high value. "Light"--not darkness--being of course an important of the word. Chaos, confusion, and negligence are the equivalents of darkness. When these become acceptable standards, the results are predictable: a wild, frantic, terror-filled, existence. "We will use terror to achieve political ends." The first thug who comes along and proclaims such things, people blankly stand on the sidelines, nod, and reply "that seems reasonable." Cole Porter was prophetic in his song "Anything Goes":
Times have changed, And we've often rewound the clock, Since the Puritans got a shock, When they landed on Plymouth Rock. If today, Any shock they should try to stem, 'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock would land on them. In olden days a glimpse of stocking Was looked on as something shocking, But now, God knows, Anything Goes. Good authors too who once knew better words, Now only use four letter words Writing prose, Anything Goes. The world has gone mad today And good's bad today, And black's white today, And day's night today, When most guys today That women prize today Are just silly gigolos And though I'm not a great romancer I know that I'm bound to answer When you propose, Anything goes When grandmama whose age is eighty In night clubs is getting matey with gigolo's, Anything Goes. When mothers pack and leave poor father Because they decide they'd rather be tennis pros, Anything Goes. If driving fast cars you like, If low bars you like, If old hymns you like, If bare limbs you like, If Mae West you like Or me undressed you like, Why, nobody will oppose! When every night, The set that's smart Is intruding in nudist parties in studios, Anything Goes.
The world has gone mad today And good's bad today, And black's white today, And day's night today, When most guys today That women prize today Are just silly gigolos And though I'm not a great romancer I know that I'm bound to answer When you propose, Anything goes
If saying your prayers you like, If green pears you like If old chairs you like, If back stairs you like, If love affairs you like With young bears you like, Why nobody will oppose!
And though I'm not a great romancer And though I'm not a great romancer I know that I'm bound to answer When you propose, Anything goes... Anything goes!
This is not a question of being prudish. For, it is better to have an open mind, and Reason and Combat most certainly encourages erudition. However, at the same time reason is an important element for this column and for life. Common sense and the ability to integrate reality for individual survival is the essence of Reason and Combat. Therefore, clarity, health, strength, substance, life, all of the things required for a constructive, goal-oriented life are of paramount importance for us. When you are living in a world where "Anything Goes," where extreme violence can brake out at any time--and usually does--where wild, high-volume furor transpires in places of learning like classrooms, libraries, and places of employment, it makes life more akin to a soldier's life than anything else at least for the rational individual.
The combat soldier leads a solitary life. In battle, a soldier has only his wits, his values which are determined by his philosophy, and his training to ensure his survival. Similarly, the rational individual has only his wits, his philosophy, and his fighting spirit to ensure health, happiness, and survival. In an environment where anything goes, rational ideas are not welcome because they get in the way of indulgence or a "good time." Therefore, the rational individual is not welcome. In such situations people are very happy to encourage self-doubt, recrimination, and ultimately dementia. Standing up for yourself is not permissible. All kinds of smears will be thrown at you: unfriendly, scary, intimidating, hostile. Often the implication, especially if you are a man, is that you should be incarcerated. So that, any form of independence, whether anger has anything to do with it or not, alienates you. This is often enough to get people to get in line and tow the mark, but for the courageous few who do not, it can be an arduous road, much like the soldier's journey: treacherous, uncertain, and isolated. Very often you have a choice to make: self-annihilation, or self-defense. Obviously the latter is the more rational of the two and the only real alternative.
Self-defense is firmly rooted in the philosophy of war. In other words, to survive in an environment where anything goes, where a false sense of entitlement encourages anyone at anytime to harass and distract you, you have to attack the root cause of such bellicosity. But, to do that, you have to be willing to fight for your ideas and convictions at least intellectually. To do that, you have to first value ideas and convictions. And, to do that you have to have already though critically and logically about the matter.
What is so great about people? It seems that the longer one lives on this earth, the more one realizes how disturbing people actually are. It is not that everyone is is a nuisance, but in general, it seems particularly in America, people grow to be uncouth, uncooperative, obnoxious, brats. When one is small, one has the hope and dreams encapsulated in the beautiful song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," from that wonderful movie The Wizard of Oz. Such songs and such movies were golden American creations because of the joy and hope that they gave to open hearts. Now it seems the culture is full of overweight, snarling, malcontents that are hostile toward everything, dissatisfied with everyone, and generally belligerent. How did a culture go from that to this so quickly? The hope encapsulated in songs like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is what makes music and movies gigantic. In fact, without them some of us may not have survived as long as we have. Movies like the Wizard of Oz give you some much needed inspiration to deal with an increasingly hostile and apocalyptic world. It is unfortunate that more movies do not engender the wholesome values that give one the spirit to carry on. Perhaps one can only really expect to find that type of inspiration in literature these days. Heroes are important, particularly now. For heroes give one strength, an antidote, an alternative to what one normally sees and hears. When you watch and learn about people such as Frank Sinatra or Sean Connery, particularly if you are a male, you have a sense that strength and common sense in life are possible. In fact, they are desirable. Heroes are critical because almost no one teaches you such things, a few writers maybe, but for the most part one is encouraged to be a mindless dolt. For example, when Frank Sinatra sings about "Blue Skies," you have the sense that there are those in the world who do maintain and understand the concept of optimism. For, despite the fact that so many people flap their gums about "positive thinking" there are very few things that people do which are consistently positive. Just look around at the war and other conflagrations that exist in for any additional proof you may need. Therefore, it seems that art and philosophy are the kinds of things that one can turn inward toward for a much needed sanctuary, a respite from the mindless mayhem that is touted so much as a goal. Just about every societal institution makes it seem that life among men is brilliant. So, why then do so few people seem to mature past the age of five? At five little kids fill their lives not with curiosity, but with infantile games and cliques. "We don't want you play with us. You are not a part of our gang." How little things change when so-called neighbors ten, twenty, thirty years or more later say precisely the same thing. "You can't be in our country club. You don't belong here, blah, blah, blah." "What school did you go to? What is your zip code? So how much money do you really have in the bank? Human superficiality does not seem to evolve, and the promise of in songs like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" often goes unfulfilled. That is until you fill it. Superficiality only becomes more entrenched with time, at least for a large percentage of the population it seems.
If, on the other hand, you grow up as you should and become an adult, that is when your troubles begin. Because when you grow up and strive to fulfill the promise of"Somewhere Over the Rainbow," cliques will not matter anymore. Appearances will be irrelevant. Skin color will tell you nothing. One's educational level will be meaningless. The type of car one drives superfluous. Ideas, character, self-restraint, intelligence, ingenuity, these will become the guiding lights of life. Unfortunately, when one lives by the light of these values, one typically lives in isolation. For a great majority of the "rest" of the population, these are nothing more than floating abstractions. One must be prepared for that, and the only philosophy that seems to adequately prepare you for the long hard road that such values will undoubtedly necessitate in this life, is the philosophy of war, the fighting spirit, but these values are worth fighting for. These values give one a working definition for concepts such as worth. So, while it may be easier in the short time to follow one's whims and let mass hysteria guide one's life, in the end it leads to feeble, repugnant, brutish individuals and an extremely superficial life. Not very appealing is it? LSV.
Private contractors circulate in Iraq to supplement and support the military. Iraq is a cauldron of chaos with sectarian violence, insurgency, terrorism. That these kinds of wild events happen is not at all surprising, most particularly when there does not seem to be any clear strategy for engagement or military involvement in Iraq at least not for the long term. While the Blackwater situation is unfortunate and extreme, it is not much different in principle than what happens in other circumstances where a disjointed, incomplete philosophy leads to tirades, outbursts, and other forms of destruction. The strategy of "no strategy" is perfectly acceptable these days as a guide for human action. This has a direct impact on individual life as the Blackwater affair shows quite well. For, individuals, both Americans and Iraqis, were involved in the affair.
In one of the "For Dummies" books, Rich Tennant brilliant depicts the situation through humor. It is interesting that humorists and comedians often have a better stethoscope on society than so-called "intellectuals." He writes:
This is a "dot-com" company Stacey. Risk-taking is a given. If you're not comfortable running with scissors, cleaning your ear with a knitting needle, or swimming right after a big meal, then this might not be the place for you.
The picture with this caption shows several fat people throwing objects, running with scissors, cleaning their ears with needles, etc. Most people look at such a cartoon, laugh, and then shrug comfortably going back to their football games or television shows. There is nothing wrong with these forms of entertainment, unless they are used as a means to escape reality, which is often how they are used. It is the desire to escape reality as a viable philosophy of life that seems the characterize these times. This is probably not the first time in history when such was the case, but we are living through these times. So, it is worthwhile to understand the philosophy that leads to wild insanity.
Negligence is the ultimate form of evasion. Negligence leads to Iraq. Negligence leads to the Blackwater affair. Negligence leads to the situation that Mr. Tennant describes. The problem for rational individuals is that negligence is the socially acceptable philosophy governing human affairs and cultural moors. I have worked for a major "high-tech" company that is consistently ranked as one of the best places to work. I was shocked, in a sense, to see chronological adults firing off toy guns and otherwise cutting it up like five-year old children. "They were just having fun" you say. Well that is precisely the point. The attitude that there is a proper time and place for "fun" of that sort is an adult, mature, rational attitude. Similarly, the attitude that such "fun" is okay in the workplace, despite the fact that it may be a dominant attitude, is irrational. Not only does this kind of behavior show disrespect for the company who is paying these "adults" to work and to take the work seriously, it shows disrespect to the customers. Now before you leap to the conclusion of blaming the employees--or leap to the conclusion of blaming Blackwater employees--remember that the company tolerates this behavior and condones it by not firmly taking a stand to stop it. But, that is precisely the point. Few people desire to take a firm stand for anything. It is the logical result of not wanting to think things through and of allowing a philosophy of negligence to guide human action.
How did this happen? It has been a long time in the making. Essentially it is the result of the growing dominance of a particular type of philosophy that believes humans are powerless to know and understand the world. If one is powerless to understand the world around him, then why try? Just get drunk, get doped, or "veg" out. The other result of this type of thinking is the unfortunate situation in Iraq where people are perfectly content with getting involved in chaotic, confusing, volatile situations and remaining in such situations. In other words, without a standard or a model of balance and equilibrium with which to compare it to, the frenetic situation seems perfectly "normal." The value of reason and the process of thinking things through is what leads to an integrated view of existence where balance, calm, logic, and strength are the desired goals. People do not seem to feel as uncomfortable with illogical circumstances. It is impossible to study and learn in a stadium filled with 60,000 screaming football fans. This is understood. However, it is equally impossible to concentrate in a public library, the intellectual depository for human civilization, with high-volume chatter, screaming or homeless people wandering around intimidating patrons. Now, why is one easier to understand than the other? It would not be more difficult to understand the relationship between such things if critical thinking was not given such a low value to so many people. Nor would it be difficult to see how events like the one involving Blackwater could transpire. Most importantly it would not be difficult to see why the intellectual capacity and advancement of the population declines. The two go hand in hand. Advancement requires focus. Focus requires concentration. Concentration requires a certain amount of peace and quiet. And, this logical train of thought requires the ability to think and analyze, which of course in turn depends on what was just stated. It is cycle, a logical interrelatedness.
For most people a wild state of affairs is perfectly acceptable. For most people seem to have very little ambition or desire for self-improvement or learning. However, for rational, intelligent people, who want to think and understand these kinds of situations can be murder, intellectual assassination.
The Blackwater affair indicates a great deal about the status of society and quite possibly the status of Western if not human civilization. It is that serious. When a civilization begins to crowd out its thinkers and innovators, it decays. The reason that ideas and inventions flourished during the Renaissance, was because enlightenment was a high value. "Light"--not darkness--being of course an important of the word. Chaos, confusion, and negligence are the equivalents of darkness. When these become acceptable standards, the results are predictable: a wild, frantic, terror-filled, existence. "We will use terror to achieve political ends." The first thug who comes along and proclaims such things, people blankly stand on the sidelines, nod, and reply "that seems reasonable." Cole Porter was prophetic in his song "Anything Goes":
Times have changed, And we've often rewound the clock, Since the Puritans got a shock, When they landed on Plymouth Rock. If today, Any shock they should try to stem, 'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock would land on them. In olden days a glimpse of stocking Was looked on as something shocking, But now, God knows, Anything Goes. Good authors too who once knew better words, Now only use four letter words Writing prose, Anything Goes. The world has gone mad today And good's bad today, And black's white today, And day's night today, When most guys today That women prize today Are just silly gigolos And though I'm not a great romancer I know that I'm bound to answer When you propose, Anything goes When grandmama whose age is eighty In night clubs is getting matey with gigolo's, Anything Goes. When mothers pack and leave poor father Because they decide they'd rather be tennis pros, Anything Goes. If driving fast cars you like, If low bars you like, If old hymns you like, If bare limbs you like, If Mae West you like Or me undressed you like, Why, nobody will oppose! When every night, The set that's smart Is intruding in nudist parties in studios, Anything Goes.
The world has gone mad today And good's bad today, And black's white today, And day's night today, When most guys today That women prize today Are just silly gigolos And though I'm not a great romancer I know that I'm bound to answer When you propose, Anything goes
If saying your prayers you like, If green pears you like If old chairs you like, If back stairs you like, If love affairs you like With young bears you like, Why nobody will oppose!
And though I'm not a great romancer And though I'm not a great romancer I know that I'm bound to answer When you propose, Anything goes... Anything goes!
This is not a question of being prudish. For, it is better to have an open mind, and Reason and Combat most certainly encourages erudition. However, at the same time reason is an important element for this column and for life. Common sense and the ability to integrate reality for individual survival is the essence of Reason and Combat. Therefore, clarity, health, strength, substance, life, all of the things required for a constructive, goal-oriented life are of paramount importance for us. When you are living in a world where "Anything Goes," where extreme violence can brake out at any time--and usually does--where wild, high-volume furor transpires in places of learning like classrooms, libraries, and places of employment, it makes life more akin to a soldier's life than anything else at least for the rational individual.
The combat soldier leads a solitary life. In battle, a soldier has only his wits, his values which are determined by his philosophy, and his training to ensure his survival. Similarly, the rational individual has only his wits, his philosophy, and his fighting spirit to ensure health, happiness, and survival. In an environment where anything goes, rational ideas are not welcome because they get in the way of indulgence or a "good time." Therefore, the rational individual is not welcome. In such situations people are very happy to encourage self-doubt, recrimination, and ultimately dementia. Standing up for yourself is not permissible. All kinds of smears will be thrown at you: unfriendly, scary, intimidating, hostile. Often the implication, especially if you are a man, is that you should be incarcerated. So that, any form of independence, whether anger has anything to do with it or not, alienates you. This is often enough to get people to get in line and tow the mark, but for the courageous few who do not, it can be an arduous road, much like the soldier's journey: treacherous, uncertain, and isolated. Very often you have a choice to make: self-annihilation, or self-defense. Obviously the latter is the more rational of the two and the only real alternative.
Self-defense is firmly rooted in the philosophy of war. In other words, to survive in an environment where anything goes, where a false sense of entitlement encourages anyone at anytime to harass and distract you, you have to attack the root cause of such bellicosity. But, to do that, you have to be willing to fight for your ideas and convictions at least intellectually. To do that, you have to first value ideas and convictions. And, to do that you have to have already though critically and logically about the matter.
What is so great about people? It seems that the longer one lives on this earth, the more one realizes how disturbing people actually are. It is not that everyone is is a nuisance, but in general, it seems particularly in America, people grow to be uncouth, uncooperative, obnoxious, brats. When one is small, one has the hope and dreams encapsulated in the beautiful song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," from that wonderful movie The Wizard of Oz. Such songs and such movies were golden American creations because of the joy and hope that they gave to open hearts. Now it seems the culture is full of overweight, snarling, malcontents that are hostile toward everything, dissatisfied with everyone, and generally belligerent. How did a culture go from that to this so quickly? The hope encapsulated in songs like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is what makes music and movies gigantic. In fact, without them some of us may not have survived as long as we have. Movies like the Wizard of Oz give you some much needed inspiration to deal with an increasingly hostile and apocalyptic world. It is unfortunate that more movies do not engender the wholesome values that give one the spirit to carry on. Perhaps one can only really expect to find that type of inspiration in literature these days. Heroes are important, particularly now. For heroes give one strength, an antidote, an alternative to what one normally sees and hears. When you watch and learn about people such as Frank Sinatra or Sean Connery, particularly if you are a male, you have a sense that strength and common sense in life are possible. In fact, they are desirable. Heroes are critical because almost no one teaches you such things, a few writers maybe, but for the most part one is encouraged to be a mindless dolt. For example, when Frank Sinatra sings about "Blue Skies," you have the sense that there are those in the world who do maintain and understand the concept of optimism. For, despite the fact that so many people flap their gums about "positive thinking" there are very few things that people do which are consistently positive. Just look around at the war and other conflagrations that exist in for any additional proof you may need. Therefore, it seems that art and philosophy are the kinds of things that one can turn inward toward for a much needed sanctuary, a respite from the mindless mayhem that is touted so much as a goal. Just about every societal institution makes it seem that life among men is brilliant. So, why then do so few people seem to mature past the age of five? At five little kids fill their lives not with curiosity, but with infantile games and cliques. "We don't want you play with us. You are not a part of our gang." How little things change when so-called neighbors ten, twenty, thirty years or more later say precisely the same thing. "You can't be in our country club. You don't belong here, blah, blah, blah." "What school did you go to? What is your zip code? So how much money do you really have in the bank? Human superficiality does not seem to evolve, and the promise of in songs like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" often goes unfulfilled. That is until you fill it. Superficiality only becomes more entrenched with time, at least for a large percentage of the population it seems.
If, on the other hand, you grow up as you should and become an adult, that is when your troubles begin. Because when you grow up and strive to fulfill the promise of"Somewhere Over the Rainbow," cliques will not matter anymore. Appearances will be irrelevant. Skin color will tell you nothing. One's educational level will be meaningless. The type of car one drives superfluous. Ideas, character, self-restraint, intelligence, ingenuity, these will become the guiding lights of life. Unfortunately, when one lives by the light of these values, one typically lives in isolation. For a great majority of the "rest" of the population, these are nothing more than floating abstractions. One must be prepared for that, and the only philosophy that seems to adequately prepare you for the long hard road that such values will undoubtedly necessitate in this life, is the philosophy of war, the fighting spirit, but these values are worth fighting for. These values give one a working definition for concepts such as worth. So, while it may be easier in the short time to follow one's whims and let mass hysteria guide one's life, in the end it leads to feeble, repugnant, brutish individuals and an extremely superficial life. Not very appealing is it? LSV.
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