Yesterday, I went to the free clinic in town. I was having some bowel problems, and many signs were pointing towards a cancer of the colon. I will admit, I felt a little like a hypochondriac. I probably was at that time.
I walked in, and I saw so many people crowded into a small room. There was food that was reserved for people who would be going hungry that night. I realized something. I am in poverty. Which wouldn't make all that much sense, really.
I live in my parent's basement (not for long... once I get some money rolling in, it won't be very long before the move out date). It's a house in a very expensive part of the country. The house itself, despite all the major issues it has, is worth a pretty penny these days, even after the housing crisis. My dad makes enough to keep a roof over our heads, and some food on the table to feed himself, my mom, and the three brothers I have that still live here. And yet, I realized that while I have it good, I DON'T have the money to pay my own student loans and private debts. I don't have health insurance. I felt that I was actually living in poverty.
How is it possible to live both in the lap of semi luxury (well, luxury for this time and place), and yet, still not be an independent person?
Food for thought,
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Anarchy 102: Philosophical Anarchism
Ladies, Gentlemen, and Other:
There is one more thing that needs to be said before we move on. There is a difference between practical anarchy and philosophical anarchy. The one thing that I want you to take from this article is this:
We are not quite ready for practical anarchy. I am a philosophical anarchist. Meaning that an anarcho-syndicalist state will eventually happen, but right now, we need to prepare for it.
Revolution can't come from fighting. Not quite yet. We need to give Hollywood, Washington DC, Nashville, Pella Iowa, Philly, and the rest of the world a chance to catch up with us. As much as I hate to say it, there may be a full blown revolt happening within 20-30 years if the rest of the world gets left behind.
Naturally, I say this because while the common (wo)man can progress much further, and see through the veil of consumerism and two dimensionalism that is Hollywood and Washington. We just need to open our eyes a little wider, and see the world for what it really is.
It's early on a sunday morning. That's all I'll write for now.
Food for thought,
There is one more thing that needs to be said before we move on. There is a difference between practical anarchy and philosophical anarchy. The one thing that I want you to take from this article is this:
We are not quite ready for practical anarchy. I am a philosophical anarchist. Meaning that an anarcho-syndicalist state will eventually happen, but right now, we need to prepare for it.
Revolution can't come from fighting. Not quite yet. We need to give Hollywood, Washington DC, Nashville, Pella Iowa, Philly, and the rest of the world a chance to catch up with us. As much as I hate to say it, there may be a full blown revolt happening within 20-30 years if the rest of the world gets left behind.
Naturally, I say this because while the common (wo)man can progress much further, and see through the veil of consumerism and two dimensionalism that is Hollywood and Washington. We just need to open our eyes a little wider, and see the world for what it really is.
It's early on a sunday morning. That's all I'll write for now.
Food for thought,
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Anarchy 101
"The theory of anarchy is against all reason. Apart from the fact that it runs counter to some of the most cherished instincts of humanity, as, for instance, family life and love of country, it is evident that society without authority could not stand for a moment. Men whose only purpose would be to satisfy all their inclinations are by the very fact on the level of the animal creation. The methods they already employ in the prosecution of their designs show how the animal instincts quickly assert themselves. The only remedy of the disorder is evidently a return to right reason and the practice of religion; and, as a protection for the future, the inculcation of Christian morality in the education of youth."
- Catholic Encyclopedia "Anarchy"
Right... ladies and gentlemen, this is the reason why I write this first article here. Most of my other articles will be more specific, focused in on my ideas of this or that issue in the world today. I won't just talk politics, but also science, philosophy, religion, art, and other such things; the way I see it. I just ask, that with everything you read or hear, that you question it. Question me, question your teachers and professors, question your pastors, question the Catholic Encyclopedia, the President, the talking heads on the news, your parents, everything and everyone. That's not to say that they're not necessarily wrong, per se. Rather, the only way to find the truth is to question and use critical thinking skills that have developed over time.
That said, I would recommend this blog for those over the age of thirteen. I'll try to keep the bad language to a minimum, and not be too graphic about things. I say this, because mental capacities need to be developed and reasoning is developing during that age.
The folks at the catholic encyclopedia are seriously misguided on this subject. I'm certain it's not stupidity, but rather pointless dogma that blinds them and keeps them from seeing the true nature of the world. Perhaps I should begin with defining anarchy in a more practical way. It is definitely important that there seems to be more definitions of "anarchy" than there are anarchists themselves.
In it's most basic sense, anarchy comes from the Greek. A- means "without" and -archy means "rule, government." However, the first concise definition of "anarchism" comes from Petr Kropotikin, who, in 1910, wrote in the Encyclopedia Britannica a rather lengthy article, which can be found here. If you don't really want to read the article, the important part is this:
"the name given to a principle or theory of life and conduct under which society is conceived without government - harmony in such a society being obtained, not by submission to law, or by obedience to any authority, but by free agreements concluded between the various groups..."
We are conditioned to believe in the free market, corporatist capitalism, conservatism, and the like, because we don't know of anything better. We are told to be complacent by the mainstream media, by our governing authorities, by everyone with whom we come in contact! How can anarchism work, if we are afraid of living without bureaucracy, corruption, capitalism? We are told that we are free. But are we really? Here is your homework. Tell me, what does freedom mean to you? Why did you choose that definition? Because we are told that we are free?
Hear me out, just a little more, for me to give you my idea of anarchy:
Anarchy is simply the natural, logical extension of secular humanism. That's it. Since the Renaissance, the Western Civilization has made leaps and bounds, in spite of the church attempting to retain it's control over not just people's souls, but their natural instincts and their rational thought processes.
Food for thought,
Phoenix Rising
- Catholic Encyclopedia "Anarchy"
Right... ladies and gentlemen, this is the reason why I write this first article here. Most of my other articles will be more specific, focused in on my ideas of this or that issue in the world today. I won't just talk politics, but also science, philosophy, religion, art, and other such things; the way I see it. I just ask, that with everything you read or hear, that you question it. Question me, question your teachers and professors, question your pastors, question the Catholic Encyclopedia, the President, the talking heads on the news, your parents, everything and everyone. That's not to say that they're not necessarily wrong, per se. Rather, the only way to find the truth is to question and use critical thinking skills that have developed over time.
That said, I would recommend this blog for those over the age of thirteen. I'll try to keep the bad language to a minimum, and not be too graphic about things. I say this, because mental capacities need to be developed and reasoning is developing during that age.
The folks at the catholic encyclopedia are seriously misguided on this subject. I'm certain it's not stupidity, but rather pointless dogma that blinds them and keeps them from seeing the true nature of the world. Perhaps I should begin with defining anarchy in a more practical way. It is definitely important that there seems to be more definitions of "anarchy" than there are anarchists themselves.
In it's most basic sense, anarchy comes from the Greek. A- means "without" and -archy means "rule, government." However, the first concise definition of "anarchism" comes from Petr Kropotikin, who, in 1910, wrote in the Encyclopedia Britannica a rather lengthy article, which can be found here. If you don't really want to read the article, the important part is this:
"the name given to a principle or theory of life and conduct under which society is conceived without government - harmony in such a society being obtained, not by submission to law, or by obedience to any authority, but by free agreements concluded between the various groups..."
We are conditioned to believe in the free market, corporatist capitalism, conservatism, and the like, because we don't know of anything better. We are told to be complacent by the mainstream media, by our governing authorities, by everyone with whom we come in contact! How can anarchism work, if we are afraid of living without bureaucracy, corruption, capitalism? We are told that we are free. But are we really? Here is your homework. Tell me, what does freedom mean to you? Why did you choose that definition? Because we are told that we are free?
Hear me out, just a little more, for me to give you my idea of anarchy:
Anarchy is simply the natural, logical extension of secular humanism. That's it. Since the Renaissance, the Western Civilization has made leaps and bounds, in spite of the church attempting to retain it's control over not just people's souls, but their natural instincts and their rational thought processes.
Food for thought,
Phoenix Rising
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