Bong Hits for Jesus

A recent BBC poll recently put America as the number three country that is viewed poorly around the world behind Iran and Israel. This poll suggests a great deal about the world, the BBC, the media, the general intelligence level, and America not so much because America's foreign policy is flawed, but because few Americans exhibit the strength to stand against such attacks--or any attacks for that matter the battle in Iraq notwithstanding. No country, like no individual is perfect. While Hatred for America is not new, the extent to which American born natives seem malcontent with their "Fatherland" does seem to be unique to these times.

It is even more shocking how few people know much about America or the amazing but extremely well-conceived political experiment America was back in 1776. This is not some pitiful lament for bygone times, but strong praise for principles that empower the individual, and for an individual that is a beautiful thing. It does no good to recycle the past, but it is instructive to understand it most particularly when one considers that until America, most of the world understood human and political relations in terms of monarchy, feudalism, or some other type of collectivism. America was the nation to put into practice principles that advanced the idea that a Man is an individual and that he has certain rights that are not granted, allowed, tolerated, or restricted by anyone else including--and in the case of the founders particularly including--government. So, what we have now instead of a tyranny of the law is a tyranny of the mind, and it is a most insidious tyranny. It is not a tyranny that necessarily advocates a cause like the "Fatherland" or the "Proletariat." It is a tyranny that advocates nothing more than blind stupidity and holds ignorance and superficiality as things to which to aspire.

One cannot help but to look around at the kinds of people that have begun to populate America and not feel terribly alone. Aside from the usual homeless and mentally disturbed, the unkempt individuals, or the immigrants who have no pride or loyalty toward American principles, there seems to be a particularly low level of intellect on the part of a great many people. They speak in grunts and groans. They never look up. Their laughter is subdued and disingenuous. Just about the only thing that people express with any sort of passion is anger and malice. It is no wonder that a case like "bong hits for Jesus" then would now be before the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the land. Let us pause for a moment to repeat that: The Supreme Court of the United States of America. This is the supreme court of the land--hence the word 'supreme.' It decides the irrefutable--unless it overturns itself. There is no further appeal. Quite apart from the fact that the separation of powers was a positively brilliant creation and works towards its end extremely well, the Supreme Court of the United States like the President and the Congress have a certain awe attached with them: the history, the nation that stands behind them, the power, all make for quite spectacular concepts. It is unfortunate that they do not carry the luster that perhaps they should given the concepts behind their creation, but does that mean they should be belittled or defiled? Well, when a nation is populated with people, many of whom are immigrants with questionable loyalties, who have trouble reading, writing, spelling, and adding, it is not too difficult to see why even hallowed institutions lose their meaning. These words are not borne of hatred, but of sadness really because when one feels pride for American principles or rational principles in general, one often stands alone, and this fact speaks to the importance of the combat mentality, a mentality that is capable of defending itself and its ideals.
One of the cases currently before the Supreme Court of the United States of America concerns an individual who attempted to put up a sign that read "Bong hits for Jesus." And, now the country is abuzz with the case. However, what does it say about an individual, and even more so about a school system and a nation that students, who should be learning how to read and write, have time to put up meaningless signs? Furthermore, what does it say about a family, a "community," and a nation that such an act would be permitted to bleed valuable resources including time, money, and energy to debate childishness? People find it perfectly acceptable to argue, not about issues that affect the nature of existence, but over irrationality. Why?

Irrational arguments have been elevated to the level of legitimate debate and since the intellect of many people seems to be quite low, very few people seem to have the capacity to say "no, that is stupid," and simply leave it at that. The case of "bong hits for Jesus" had to be pushed through the court systems and argued every the step of the way. One wonders who is paying for all of this folly? It would not be terribly surprising to learn that it is YOU Mr. dumb taxpayer that is paying, or at least that is the implication: Americans are so stupid that they do not even realize when they are embroiled in an irrational and meaningless debate. That is the demeaning malcontentment that seems to be the undercurrent of so many conversations. The tone that many people use seems to suggest: I think that you are stupid. But, what if that is not true? How does one deal with the insult while maintaining some semblance of dignity? What is the truly intelligent person supposed to do in this case? How is he or she supposed to react? Why are so few people apt to stand against stupidity and loudly pronounce: "the emperor has no clothes!" Interestingly enough the answers to these questions are revealed in cases like "Bong Hits for Jesus." The student that brought this case to court, what do we know about him? Apparently instead of staying in his classroom and earnestly learning something that could benefit Mankind in some way the "student" was unrolling a banner and no doubt rolling a joint. One of the causalities of this incessant attack on intelligence and logic is that people rarely ask pertinent questions. People rarely seek substantial knowledge about things in order to enhance one's understanding. However, the fact that truth and reality are not popular does not change them. For, people like the "Bong Hits for Jesus" sign-waver become the FBI agents charged with finding spies, terrorists, and other criminals. They become the doctors, the lawyers, the scientists, the journalists, the writers, the actors, the politicians. In other words, the people like that boy who cried wolf with the sign become the nation. And, if they are nothing more than unkempt, hulking brutes that only know how to pursue urges not happiness and could never possibly tell the difference between the two, it not only bodes poorly for America, it makes the lives of the dedicated, hard-working, intelligent, goal-oriented people that much more difficult. Very little is said about this fact. But, that does not make profundity and those that seek it any less relevant. It just means that they must get aggressive about seeking it and protecting it for themselves. For, very few people are inclined to think in terms of fundamentals or to think at all. Instead, the nation is blinded with arguments about nonsensical things. It is the logical consequence of the obliteration of standards. The ability to differentiate diamonds from dung is an important human faculty. It is what allows humans to survive successfully. When all but a few people are willing to make distinctions and even more importantly to understand those distinctions then it is easy to see how so many people can equate "Bong Hits for Jesus" with freedom of speech, illness with health, crime with merit, irrationality with reason, the Iranian nation with the American nation and so on. This affliction of folly is not unique to America. The BBC poll mentioned above shows it. That so many people in the world could be so shallow as to categorize America with countries like Iran is not so much a reflection of American foreign policy as it is a reflection of just how superficial people are content to be.

How does one combat this? Or better still, is it even worth it to ask such questions? Often I ask myself these questions because if one has any honesty at all and is not content to simply smile and nod at things, these questions are inescapable. At the same time, no one seems to ask such questions or even care not only in the mainstream media, but in every day life. I have only met one person in my life, my martial arts teacher, who was ever concerned at all about big issues let alone wanted to discuss them to any degree. I have always known that people do ask important questions about reality and life, Nietzsche, Ayn Rand, Socrates, Isaac Newton, there are many others. But, in every day life one rarely meets such intellectual giants for that much needed spiritual and intellectual inspiration, the inspiration that allows one to keep on despite mountains of discouragement. There is only so much negativity that one can take before one just wants to give up on the world. What is the point of it all? What is the point in asking for reasons when people look at you as if the word reason is foreign and incomprehensible? What is the point in trying to find a better way to do things only to be confronted with people who just want to go shopping, watch sports, or drink beer? What is the point in giving a damn when no one else seems to? To appeal to ridiculously lofty ideals about "humanity" and "being a better man" or "rising above the fray" is just a lot of bullshit. One would have to be as stupid as a rock to blindly push forward and ask questions, attempt to understand, to show compassion while others are blowing bubbles up one's nose--or worse. The level of general discussion never strays far from the latest gossip or fad and if anyone is ever caught dead talking about something meaningful, it is generally oriented toward hostility of some kind. Why does kindness have to be phony and anger have to be real? Does it say something about the so-called human animal that people are better at expressing anger than any other emotion except perhaps orgasms? There is nothing inherently wrong with either one, but what does an intelligent bloke do who wants intellectual stimulation when all others seem to want is genital stimulation? How many times can one bang his head against a disparate cultural wall? It seems that the philosophy of combat oriented toward self-preservation and enhancement is the only logical choice for rational people. In other words as Winston Churchill said, "Fight On, if necessary for years; if necessary, alone."

This is not borne of negativity, but from a love rational principles and truth. It is the bastard offspring from the unlikely union of a desire to understand the world and the intense and frustration felt from encountering so many others who could care less.

Individuality

The French culture, French writers in particular, seem to understand the challenge that individuality poses for human existence in modern society. Writers like Baudelaire, Nerval, Rimbaud, Eluard, Batailles, and Proust seem to understand the contradictions that exist for the individual most particularly when that individual has a heart that dreams. There comes in life a rude awakening when you believe in true love, sincerity, and the like because one quickly learns that both of these are extremely rare despite the fact that so many institutions promote the values of truth and love. The indoctrination in the art of deception--recall from a previous post that all warfare is based on deception--begins from a very young age when one is told to "smile like you mean it" even when you don't; to tell bosses how funny or smart they are when they are as dumb and humorless as rocks; to tell parents what they want here even though they are biggest hypocrites on earth; and to be kind to people who abuse you even when you hate them. Life among other humans seems to be rife with pressures to deceive, and some people are quite good at it. It is not the we want to be this way or have what would be no doubt called a "cynical" view of life. These views come from real-life experiences in college classrooms where we have been told not to study so hard. These views come from experiences with parents who gave gifts and cards that spoke of "love" and "family," but rarely seeing the actions from them to support it. Very often people are hypercritical of such "cynicism" not because they want to positive and inspirational in their outlooks on life, because they simply do not want to try too hard to be consistent. So, they repeat what they see so many others doing. They repeat the deceptions, the "white lies," the indifference, the disinterest, or worse the abuse. For somehow they see that as easier than the road to self-enrichment and improvement. Somehow meanness is easier than kindness; rudeness is more expedient than politeness; dirtiness is faster than cleanliness; slovenliness is quicker than restraint. In essence atrocious acts repeat themselves because for some reason people seem to prefer indulgence over all other choices. Indulgence is the human condition. Is it a necessary condition? I think not, but it is no doubt one of the most prevalent. And, the ones who suffer most are the innocent. The kind hearted people who may not have the constitution or desire to fight back, who may not see the necessity of the warrior spirit in survival, who simply may just want to live and enjoy life. Why must they be stepped on, pushed aside, or bullied? And, they will be just as sure as there are other people in the world. Why does individuality require blood and iron? More importantly, what does that say about the humans that live on this earth?

Have you ever pretended to be an alien? I have not had to work to hard to pretend since I have been called it so often. Why you may ask? No reason really except that I do not smoke, drink, or gamble, a rarity I am told among humans. In more reasonable settings such would be praised, and I when I encounter I do praise it. Although I rarely encounter it. But, even the praise garners strange looks. So, what does it say about a culture that alienates healthy lifestyles or rational thoughts?

Individuality is a struggle. It is the great struggle. Sometimes it feels like the weight of centuries hangs on one's shoulders in listening to the level of conversations and the topic of many discussions: hollow, mindless chatter about drugs, liquor, body parts, bodily functions, gossip and other miscellaneous trivialities. By themselves these topics are not necessarily repugnant. Sex for example, is a beautiful thing. However, these things do become boring when they are the center and focus of almost all conversations even supposedly "enlightened" discussions. When was the last time that you heard someone speaking about existence, human knowledge, history, geography, or the nature of God? One's interests need not even be that grand. How about other life-effecting issues like inflation, diet, nutrition, exercise, jobs, law, science, inventions, anything positive and enriching will do but even these are rare. It seems that the only escape one has is to books, art, or films if one has an interest in pondering life's many splendors or doing anything on this earth besides consuming, excreting, and imbibing, one can expect an infinity of solitude.

Dr. Robert Lindner author of the book Rebel Without a Cause: The Story of a Criminal Psychopath, once wrote that the one sign of a society's decline is the rise in the number of its psychopaths. It is not too difficult to see why. When the cultural fabric disintegrates, all kinds of anarchic behavior is encouraged. Now, this is not a column advocating traditions and conventions. Most conventions are asinine anyway. It is a column that presents the challenges rational individuals face in a crumbling environment. And, this environment is most certainly crumbling.


This is a sick society. Let us be frank. For, frankness is a most rare thing in a world grown fat with illusion. It is a society where public libraries are no longer great repositories of learning and erudition where the accumulation of the society's knowledge can be housed and enjoyed for posterity. No. Public libraries are now public latrines where aggressive vagabonds can wash themselves in toilets and other productive, tax-paying members of the same society are supposed to feel sorry for them. And, should courageous individuals stand up to such irrationality or simply complain without fear, these individuals not the homeless bums will endure public scorn and castigation. For it seems in an environment where indulgence is king, the strong among us are the only true subjects of the kingdom. These are not times where one can do battle with evil and live chivalrously with pride in one's actions. Chivalry? Ha! What the f--k is that?

These are dangerous times where the strong are supposed to suffer willingly in silence while compensating others for the void their indulgence creates. So, if you go to the library to read and to learn, you will likely encounter strange beings. That is they will seem strange to you but normal to everyone else. For, who is to say what is normal right? But, these beings will be objectively strange. They twist and jerk and writhe to themselves in sputtering noises with not even a pretense of learning. They are strange in the sense that there is an objective standard of normalcy as measured by life. Life requires that one remain focused to learn. Life--and reason--require that one have control over himself so as not to disturb others from learning. But, in this society it is perfectly "normal" to attempt to do multiple things like driving while searching for candy on the floor of one's car, or "studying" while the radio and t.v. are on blast. So, when a crackpot comes to a library yelling, arguing, or laughing out loud, most seem to think that it is no big deal. Dude, lighten up. He is just having fun. To which my response is not a word, but a hearty gesture: two middle fingers. Drop dead!

It is a a big deal to anyone who would like to learn. A moron would not understand that, and moron is the level to which a great many people aspire, a moron and no more.

You do not have a right to quiet and peace while you learn because that is "unreasonable." But, a dirty, rotten, unemployed maggot enjoys full luxuries and protection. After all, he is just frustrated because he had a bad day. Porn is his outlet, that and emotional outbursts. You, you have no rights sucker. You have to work all day long and creatively pursue your goals. Why do you need a full night's sleep. Homeboy just wants to party. You must learn to compensate for his inadequacy. Marx said so and that form of sacrifice is still very much avante garde: from each according to his ability to each according to his need. You are not supposed to admonish someone for poor behavior. He has needs. You don't. Just accept it into your life like incurable cancer. Otherwise, it is you who will be deemed the alien and out of place. You who will be slapped in handcuffs for standing up for your rights. Oh, it is perfectly acceptable to take to the streets for global warming or the death penalty when some obscure killer is about to be fried, even if it is a farce and you are full of crap or just there to get laid. For, the best looking chicks always give it up for a cause. You don't have to be sincere anyway. Just appear to be.

How dare you go to the library fully expecting to learn and and improve yourself. Shame on you! the library is no place to learn. It is a corral for mental patients. They have to have somewhere to go after all. You should know better. Be like the rest of us. Have a beer and watch the game. Lighten up 'bro.'

A great teacher of martial arts called this kind of horse dung "bullshitsu."

It is no wonder that Americans know so little about history, philosophy, mathematics, geography, or any other field of learning besides sports statistics and which star is pregnant. It is no wonder that many others in the world see America as a nation of cry babies, who get angry at having to wait for things that take time like city planning, global trade, and caution; yet will wait on a line at the post office for forty-five minutes and never see the irony in their illogical tiraids.

Robert Ringer, a very wise thinker, wrote a book called Restoring the American Dream. It is a noble book for those who still dream, a Herculean feat in itself because the weight of the world bears down on optimism and curiosity like a fat giant until it is no more than a smithereen, that is unless one has the strength of Hercules to combat it. So, to be a dreamer in these times requires not only strength, but the fighting spirit. It also requires the ability to recognize the that there is a fight and a fundamental conflict of values at stake. I mention the book because it is good, but also because it highlights a sentiment that is easy to have. It is understandable that one would think the dream originally established in 1776 could be restored. It was a magnificent dream. The first of its kind in a world that had known only barbarism and other variations of slavery. It was a dream that gave legal protection to the pursuit of happiness and life, a dream that said a man's life is his own and does not belong to the land or his lord. One must understand something of history to understand just how special this dream was. Unfortunately, that dream will never be restored. And, quite frankly to speak of its restoration can only be an exercise. This is in no way a reflection on Mr. Ringer who was absolutely correct in his sentiment. This is rather an observation of the times. For, the level of the general mentality is far too low for there to be the possibility that the dream could ever be restored. These are times when middle aged men sit in libraries hitting on high school kids and watching pornography. There is no way that a society that offers that as its best could ever restore the dream and the promise it made. Again, this is not a column for moralistic condemnations. It is a simply a observation of the prevalence of such things. When sex, drugs, and alcohol are all that people can talk about it is because they have very little else of value to say, which means that they think of very little else. That is not the indication of a society that can restore an American dream. It is the sign of a society where most people would not even know what it means.

The modern American mentality is far too malicious and the ideas that people tend to entertain are far to corrosive for a restoration. To most the American dream represents getting a lot of money without doing much work. Wealth does not matter, only money. In fact, few people understand the difference between concepts like wealth, merit, or trade all fundamental to a basic understanding of the American dream. This is one of the things that makes contemporary times so antagonistic to the rational mind, which has to be a tiger mind. For, while the rational individual is living his life based on concepts like trade--exchanging the basic courtesy of politeness for example--others could care less. So, predictably the rational individual locks horns with the world, and if he follows conventional thought, he will be mauled. For, others will constantly strive to tell him to cut off his horns and abandon the values that give him the strength of clarity such as reason, reason, or emotional health, while they indulge in whatever whims they choose.


These are times that writers like Ayn Rand are enormously helpful for living a reasonably sane life. For, without the intellectual ammunition that writers like Ms. Rand provides, life would truly be the Wasteland that T. S. Eliot describes.

It is very easy to wonder "what's the point of it all" when so few people seem concerned with substance or value and so many deride you for desiring them. However, when you have a solid philosophy upon which to build your understanding of the world and yourself, you become strong.

Ayn Rand was one of the greatest helpers of Man. It seems that the best rational individuals can do in the present environment is to read people like Ayn Rand and Robert Ringer not so much to change the world or win others over to the side of reason. Who wants them anyway when all that they offer is petty and small. Life is far too short for that. Besides, it is a lost cause. Instead, it is far better to read these good authors for some much needed intellectual ammunition so that as one pursues his own goals he can do so without the self-incrimination that so many others will incite him to practice.

The Way of the Warrior

The way of the warrior sounds harsh, but only in an environment that has made many people, especially men, soft with years of promoting illusions and triteness. The warrior philosophy is simply the philosophy of war modified and adapted to apply to real life situations for those who find themselves alienated in a culture that places a great emphasis on banality. Sex, money, power, fame, all of these come relatively easy to those who are perfectly content with surface living: reality shows, amateur Internet streaming, even blogs are not immune. A quick survey of the wealth of information available online will leave one awestruck at the possibilities and dumbfounded to see so few venues offering anything but light hearted banter. And those for whom substance is king, where can they turn? Where can they gain much needed moral support? Their sanctuaries are limited.

For example, after 9/11 no one can go to an airport without hearing the warnings to notify authorities if one notices any unattended baggage. By now the reasons should be clear. It is a well known practice. However, if one takes security seriously and reports such suspicious activity, there is a great risk of seeming 'suspicious' one's self. This kind of absurdly upside down surreality is mind boggling to rational individuals. At best one encounters indifference toward attempts to be cautious, and whoever pushes the matter becomes the target for scrutiny. People whose minds still differentiate, integrate, evaluate, and act appear to others as threatening anomalies. Not only does this cause undue frustration, alienation, and discouragement, it sends a very clear message that strength, prudence, concern, and caution are irrelevant in today's setting.

Objectively, these are of course all very relevant. But the absurdity of it all creates a powerful internal conflict for a great many people for whom reason and common sense are still guiding lights. The poor reaction that a rational individual typically endures whenever he exercises any kind of reasonableness, is one of the primary reasons for the warrior philosophy. One must be prepared to stand alone for one's convictions as a soldier must stand alone on the battlefield even among comrades. Therefore, the strength and preparedness that the warrior philosophy advocates, are helpful for living in today's world most particularly when many cultural outlets seek to short circuit one's natural tendency toward self-preservation. Everywhere that one turns there is one authority or another proselytizing helplessness. One is meant to blank out and let others control his destiny and provide for his security. Life has become the great battlefield for rational individuals because so many people are hostile to reason and common sense.

The value of strength is an important aspect of the way of the warrior. A warrior must not only be physically strong, but mentally and psychologically strong. To see a demonstration read the survival manuals published by the U.S. Air force and the U.S. Army. A significant amount of time is spent in both publications discussing the mental aspects of survival. Coping with alienation and deprivation is one of the keys to combat survival. It also happens to be one of the keys to life success in today's climate. If one maintains a rational value system, one will have to learn to cope with the isolation that will inevitably follow from the conflict between a rational value system and the very popular emotionalism. To do that one must understand the way of things and cultivate values like strength, pride, tenacity, and conviction something made very difficult in today's climate without an independent point of view.