People are People – That's the Problem

Winter – Wk 4: Words Create Reality | MAGA vs. BLM | Birds of a Feather Chirp Together | Starving in a World Beyond Tribal Boundaries

What’s so funny ‘bout peace, love, and understanding? Well, you can start with the silly slogans and go from there.

MYTHOS – Words Create Reality

The ancients believed mere words could alter the fabric of reality, no sticks and stones required. You only have to find the magic word. Ever since the first caveman uttered an outlandish wish into his campfire, and it came true, this conviction has inspired ritual magicians and medieval witch-burners alike.

The notion surfaces again and again in religious texts.

According to the Mandukya Upanishad, composed during India's Axial Age, the sacred Om is the original sound pervading all of Creation. It's like cosmic background radiation in modern astronomy—only magic. Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains echo the sound in unison to give power to their rituals.

“Ooooooooooommm...”

In the West, the Holy Bible makes a similar claim. The Torah begins with our divine source speaking the world into existence, one component at a time (Gen 1:3): “And God said, 'Let there be light.' And there was light.”

In the story’s next chapter, a Hebrew storm god grants the first man the awesome power of naming Creation (Gen 2:19):

“Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.”

In ritual magic, to know a thing's true name opens the possibility of wielding power over it. This is sort of like searching an obscure topic on Google. The secret remains hidden until you've formulated the proper magic words.

The same logic applies to the power of online speech—in web publications or on social media—particularly negative commentary about Good Guys and positive commentary about Bad Guys. The idea is that one's thoughts are given material reality through words—especially the written word—and can alter the fabric of our social lives, thereby shaping our physical conditions.

If you snuff out a person’s ability to speak, you destroy their power to cause change. Ultimately, this is magical thinking. And as far as I can tell, it's true.

ETHNOS – MAGA vs. BLM

The differences between those who chant “Black Lives Matter” and those chanting “Make America Great Again” are obvious. One group is on the right side of history. The other is evil. One is based on abstract moral principles. The other holds together through cheap slogans, half-truths, and racial loyalty. You know this is true because their opponents say so.

When the group on the right side of history raises a ruckus and invades a government building, it's just another step on the long road to progress.

When the evil group does the same, even with far less destruction, it's time to bring down the full power of the State to crush any possibility of further resistance.

How do you know which is which and who is who?

Ask yourself who has the most power—at present—and the answer will be clear.

— — —

MACHINA – Birds of a Feather Chirp Together

Everyone hates the idea of a police state until the cops are cracking skulls on their behalf. That's why all summer you heard advocates of limited government cheering on the militarized police. It's also why you now hear those who cried “FIGHT THE POWER” calling for the Highest Earthly Power to crush their enemies.

It's just human nature. Every man wants to be king for a day, and kings are not beholden to consistency.

In our postmod techno superstate, one of the most potent weapons any Power has at its disposal is digitally enhanced mass conformity. When everyone takes their cues from a handheld telescreen, an aspiring Power must dominate the contents of those devices.

If you can compel a subculture to repeat the same words, you’ll soon have them thinking the same thoughts. From there, coordinating their actions is easy peezy, lemon squeezy.

People joke about the impossibility of herding cats, but it's an out-dated metaphor. All you need is a good laser pointer, and they're yours.

What do you want them to do? Love you? Vote for you? Give you money? Attack your enemies? Lynch undesirables? Acquiesce to your unchallenged supremacy?

Just say the word. Your wish is their command.

RELIGARE – Starving in a World Beyond Tribal Boundaries

As the Powers That Be hurl unquestioned accusations at half of the country, the message coming down from that peaceable, ultra-tolerant, non-partisan establishment appears to be stick to your tribe, because nobody else has time for you or your story.

It's no place for an honest conversation, to be sure, because sectarian life demands unwavering conformity. If you want to remain a member of your tribe, I'd suggest denying obvious realities whenever necessary. If your tribe doesn't like something, just pretend it's not real.

When your tribal leaders speak, start nodding. If they love, you love. If they hate, you hate. Any time you open your mouth, say what they want to hear. They'll reward you for it. Just look around.

Anyone who strikes out on their own may glimpse the broader Truth, if only for a moment, but that's about it. Truth doesn’t put food on the table.

Your tribe feeds and shelters you. Their acceptance comforts you. In a hostile world, they're the only ones who have your back.

For those living in a social structure held together by half-truths—otherwise known as “human culture”—speaking the whole truth is more trouble than it's worth. If you want to impress your tribal fellows, never miss an opportunity to express love for what they love, or to spit hate at what they hate.

Speak as they speak. Do as they do. Historically, that means crushing rival tribes, neutering their men, defiling their women, and burning their children and livestock on a sacrificial bonfire.

Maybe you think that's not fair. Well, get over it. Right or wrong, true or false—all of that is irrelevant in a polarized world. Just be sure to join the tribe preferred by the Highest Power. Their world will be your salty, squirming oyster, and it'll taste like victory as it slides down your throat.