I have agreed with the quotes I have put up so far, toady's quote I do not agree with, it intrigues me greatly and I agree with parts but not the whole idea. Today's quote is from Emma Goldman, a Lithuanian born Anarchist who immigrated to America in the 1880's.
"Anarchism stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government. Anarchism stands for a social order based on the free grouping of individuals."
Of course I disagree with the first part because religion, specifically Christianity, is a good thing.
But let's look at the last three statements. Liberation of the human body from dominion of property. I think I can agree with this after all we shouldn't be obsessed with our belongings.
Liberation from the shackles and restraint of government. I would pause and ponder this statement; on one hand I don't like government but on the other hand restraint of government is proper at times so maybe some government is necessary.
Anarchism stands for a social order based on the free grouping of individuals. At first I'm not sure how to take this, I mean if we all just lived as different gangs who fight each other for resources that would lead to bad things. But then I think, what are nations but organizations who compete with each other for resources and protect their people? What is the difference between a gang and a government? Well I tend to think that a just government is one that derives its power from the people. A gang derives it power from the amount of force they control, a government that does the same is a totalitarian government and those are bad.
So back to the quote, the author is saying that a social order where people decide what groups to be a part of freely is best. I think I can agree with that, I mean our government derives its power from the people and the people have to agree to be part of this group. So I think I would agree with this part as well.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
A Placid Island of Ignorance
Today's quote comes from Howard Phillips Lovecraft best known for his Cthuhlu series HP Lovecraft books ask us to consider the world around us a realize that we've barely scratched the surface.
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age."
I agree with Lovecraft that most of us live on a island of ignorance most people are happy to do so and live their entire lives not caring. So while I think this black sea of infinity is temporary I do think that we are the stewards of it and that exploring it will only reveal more of God's nature and I see no harm in that.
I think it's sad indeed that Lovecraft didn't realize that this placid island is only temporary and that beyond it there is an eternity waiting for us that is so much better.
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age."
I agree with Lovecraft that most of us live on a island of ignorance most people are happy to do so and live their entire lives not caring. So while I think this black sea of infinity is temporary I do think that we are the stewards of it and that exploring it will only reveal more of God's nature and I see no harm in that.
I think it's sad indeed that Lovecraft didn't realize that this placid island is only temporary and that beyond it there is an eternity waiting for us that is so much better.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Words of Truth
Today's author is the sole survivor of human experiments conducted by a totalitarian government. He then went on to extract revenge on those who conducted the experiments eventually causing the downfall of the government when he blew up the Parliament Building. Today's author is none other than a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. Today's author is V.
"Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense."
I will be the first to say that something is not horribly wrong with our country, but something is wrong. We are submitting more and more to the government because we are afraid. We fear terrorism so we allow the government to create new agencies that have almost unlimited power to spy on and arrest us. We fear disease so we set up an agency that has to approve every product on the market and can regulate virtually every industry. We can still say what we want but how long will that continue if we are afraid and are robbed of our common sense?
So how can we stop this slide down the slippery slope towards Totalitarianism? With words, we need to remind each other that war, terror and disease are temporary but a loss of freedoms and liberty are not. Words offer the enunciation of truth and an open dialog amongst concerned citizens will be the only thing that will save us; if it ever comes to Totalitarianism we will only need to look into the mirror to see who lets us fall.
"Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense."
I will be the first to say that something is not horribly wrong with our country, but something is wrong. We are submitting more and more to the government because we are afraid. We fear terrorism so we allow the government to create new agencies that have almost unlimited power to spy on and arrest us. We fear disease so we set up an agency that has to approve every product on the market and can regulate virtually every industry. We can still say what we want but how long will that continue if we are afraid and are robbed of our common sense?
So how can we stop this slide down the slippery slope towards Totalitarianism? With words, we need to remind each other that war, terror and disease are temporary but a loss of freedoms and liberty are not. Words offer the enunciation of truth and an open dialog amongst concerned citizens will be the only thing that will save us; if it ever comes to Totalitarianism we will only need to look into the mirror to see who lets us fall.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Vote
First off yes Magnus this is a day late but I felt that today would be a good day to post this quote from John Quincy Adams.
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."
Today I will be casting a vote for Bob Barr, I have been told by at least a dozen people that I am throwing away my vote and that I need to vote for McCain to keep Obama from winning. I disagree, I am voting for principal. Obama may be terrible but if I have to vote for a candidate I don't believe in to keep Obama from winning then that's the scary part.
So today I will not compromise and I will vote third party.
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."
Today I will be casting a vote for Bob Barr, I have been told by at least a dozen people that I am throwing away my vote and that I need to vote for McCain to keep Obama from winning. I disagree, I am voting for principal. Obama may be terrible but if I have to vote for a candidate I don't believe in to keep Obama from winning then that's the scary part.
So today I will not compromise and I will vote third party.
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