So, it is Saturday ... 19:39 o'clock ... to say: It's dark outside. And due to my SDA upbringing I'm ... like ...
intrinsically coded to see the beginning and end of Sabbath as when the Sun sets; And not midnight. Which is to say
that I'm trying to remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. Which means ... generally ... that that's where I get
to have fun with my Clarity.
And I suppose that God did inflict some psychic damage upon me to get me to realize or rationalize that more thoroughly.
Going as far as to "say" ... that me being so shy to dive into it sometimes is a disappointing symptom of weakness.
And yea. Welcome ye, ye new formed Identity Crisis ... come in and wreak your havoc.
But that was some while ago.
Anyway ... it's not all that. I got clapped by Radahn ... like, how hard can it be? ... then watched some Videos, someone
brought up Tolkien and I watched some Tolkien interviews. I mean, it's a bit of a Joke of me to say that I was him - but
also I'm not. I'm curious. Like, my better reason and judgment tell me that I should write it off as a joke because there's
no way for me to confirm or deny. So, what could I possibly do beyond that? And so I do that.
But also I never really sought it out.
So I watched some Tolkien interviews to find myself in there, maybe ... and the first thing I realized is that when I just
'watched him talk' ... it felt very strange. But when I started to 'listen' to what he was saying ... that I recognized a
lot of myself within him actually. Like ... I go on these tangents with lots of unnecessary details; Start to stumble over
words when my mind is leaps ahead of me or just ... maybe not all that willing to divulge certain bits of information or
if I'm not too sure myself. I might start with a sentence, and then kind of have to "yada yada" myself to an end.
And yea, Tolkien is very blunt sometimes in the way he presents himself; Like ... very casual ... very simple ... and it
seems like Tolkien takes some kind of pride to do that; Mixed with a little bit of surprise I would say. But a kind of
surprise he's used to. I'd say. "People tend to overthink" ... I would say.
To his fondness for Beer I cannot say much. I know in my culture, British beer is like ... what Pineapple is on Pizza to
some people. I don't know. But I do know that the common beer drunk here isn't really my flavor. Well, not talking of the
Wheat/White beer. But well ... my "drug" at the moment is Mango juice/lemonade.
It's strange ... because looking at him I don't feel like I'm looking into a mirror. And that's like ... what I would be
looking for. Or what I tried to see. So, best I could find are like ... faint similarities in the way he conducts
himself.
So, what I got out of this is ... yea. Maybe.
Then I watched other stuff. Video Games and Politics ... and there a thumbnail caught my attention. Something along the
lines of "Was Tolkien Naive about Evil?" - and, I didn't watch it because I felt like I already had enough material to
write this next piece.
But I may have to say that ... if I may just lean into it for a bit ... that You won't find a lot of what I care about in
my work. As he said at one point: The things he wrote in advance usually turned out to be gibberish by the point he got
there. Which is to say that ... the narrative, the world and the characters ... they are like their own thing and as that's
the focus, it's really more like a Puzzle than a matter of expression.
And I suppose that the concept of expression as we have it today is one that ... is relatively new. Like, speaking of
impressionism at first, then modern art ... it's similar but different. Different in the way we live our lives and the
freedoms we have. The idea, the urge to create and the processes around it sure are much older than that ... but the
ability to just pick up a pen and write for instance ... hmm.
I'm getting lost here. Maybe for the most part because ... I have to think about this:
I mean, this guy's whole legacy boils down to ... "being THE artist". Everything about it is just ... so ... "raw" - I feel
inspired, I'm at awe, I feel confirmed, encouraged but also challenged. And I suppose that's what he did, intentionally or not.
To boldly go where no man has gone before ... and creating these visuals that then moved people to ... fill them with life?
As to truly demonstrate ... well, this concept of 'expression'.
Anyway ...
So ... moving on ...
Socialism
To do the thing for it to be done. Well, this is ... I suppose ... one way to talk about "the narrow path". Well, outside of
the context of Christianity. It's like a line You have to walk - and to the left and right of it are winds so strong, that
even the slightest deviation has the potential to carry you off and away.
It's one of the "classic" movie villain tropes ... where they try to do the good thing, but around so many corners and with
so many ifs and buts that what they end up accomplishing is the exact opposite.
Finding Your way to the proverbial Tree of Life is a similar struggle. The goal is easy - there's no physical challenge per
se - but yet, what You think or perceive to be true, but more so: What You allow Your heart to be swayed by ... does have the
final say in where that journey ends.
And the only way to make it easier, is to demonstrate ... some kind of success I suppose. To get there - to be there - and
to then - be able to tell the tale.
And you may realize ... it's less so about the goal. The accomplishments or ... some high concept whatever - but about things
within. But then again ... abstract art doesn't necessarily help with the real problems we face. Or does it?
Well, not sure if I can answer that today. But ... throughout the past year, violence has become a more dominant topic here;
And for me. Mostly because I felt ... wrong about my stance on the matter. Or weird at least. Maybe because I controlled myself
to "stick to the script" - which is the tale of Christian Pacifism - while the world around me changed more and more into what's
prophesied in Timothy. The Good teaching would no longer be heard ... and the ugly face of Fascism showed itself.
For here, let's define Fascism as follows: The antithesis to Christianity. Not merely the opposite, but the silver bullet. The
hard-counter. To proverbial water to the proverbial fire creature.
I watched the first half of this video:
and then decided to write this. It is to shed a different light on my narrative here - not to supplement or support it per se.
But often things are more complicated than a simple narrative can provide. However ... if there's a solution, a way, call it what
you will ... it doesn't matter how complicated it is. Over time there's a tendency for things to become easier and more accessible.
But if that way is so old that most people forgot all about it and the rest has a woefully wrong idea of most of the critical parts
of it ... you might as well have to reinvent it.
And violence, as a topic, is a bad way to get started on that matter. So, "Socialism" - as per the headline - for what I'm writing
here - is merely that. A different angle into the topic. And while it might seem that I really only have a handful of topics, the
truth is that I really only have ONE topic. Well, sort of.
But so, if You wonder what God and Jesus have to do with it, the matter is this: You're overthinking it! You're "politicking" over
whether or not a fact should be known ... or kept hidden. You may see the implications on the world as we know it and say: Yea,
some truths are better kept hidden - and for better or worse, the world as it is today kind of makes my point on that matter for
me.
Anyway.
Violence ... . I once read a verse that said something along the lines of turning the plowshares into swords. But I don't know
where. I haven't bothered reading through all the Prophets again ... and wrote it off as "I may misremember". Then I saw how
Fascists would run on the same narrative, openly or not, and see what harm it causes. So ... my take away was clear. Take out the
good juice and lean against it.
And so it's time to take out that good juice again, I suppose.
I mean: I believe I eventually arrived on a pretty good ... philosophy. And whenever I see people arriving at that same end, I
delight over it. So the previously shared Genetically Modified Skeptic video.
The main idea is to not create a society that is counter to what we want or need. Simple!
But that's what we see these days as "the rise of Fascism". We might also use the words: Conservative and Republican. I'm consciously
leaving Nationalism out of this. So, these people are fueled with hate, all their minds are set on is violence and destruction.
And the question any sane person would eventually ask themselves is: OK, but ... where will it end? What is the mechanism by which
we determine that we're done? Or, more importantly: If we determine that we're done, what are the mechanisms by which we could then
stop and reshape the entirety of society to where it should have been in the first place?
I mean, the thing is: The people who wield the power in those systems, I'd say that they already are very much where they want to
be. You say "we're done?". Well, that sounds like treason ... "You filthy commie".
Then some bomb goes off, a new Terrorist organization pops up, legitimate or otherwise; And nothing has changed at all.
But then the alternative is Christianity, which is like ... kind of weak against bullets I suppose.
Maybe.
So, time for a Tangent about Gandhi and the power of non-violent protest. Well, in Gandhi's times they didn't have TikTok.
I mean, we did the thing. "We" - though by that I'd mostly refer to the Influencers that'd get into the debate ring for Left Wing
causes - heavily leaned into non-violent outreach, clearing up misconceptions, speaking for the truth and social cohesion and all
of that good stuff. It didn't stop them from further smearing us, discriminating us, poling jokes at our expense, waving around
with Guns and threats of violence while acting like they're the peaceful ones.
And for me, eventually, the point came where I had to say to myself: Well, I'm an imperfect human being, bound to Sin and ask for
forgiveness on a semi-regular basis ... so ... time to get dirty!
Because ... the pacifistic narrative has a point. A good one. It helps us bridge the divides, come together as a people, work
together and all of that good stuff. And maybe, yes MAYBE, we are ... by and large ... at a point where we could in deed do without
Police. If the socio-economic conditions were right. And we definitely should have all that we need in order to produce those
conditions. And eventually it's just those that call it a pipe dream due to whom we're not getting there. And no, that's not the
part where I scream angrily while wielding a hatchet.
This is the part where we ignore them.
To me ... this aspect of left-wing philosophy is like saying: Well, now that we have cars we don't need legs anymore. Matter of
fact, legs are evil because they kick people, hence, let us saw off our legs.
But alas, political discourse is a shitshow. Once You're in the mud it's difficult to get out of it again ... as most likely
You have to fend off a plethora of talking points, whataboutisms, strawmen and all of that, that have been sprinkled throughout
our cultural Zeitgeist; That just float around like creepy demon eyes.
It's discussion for the purpose of not doing anything.
It's a circlejerk that really only benefits those that have a side-gig.
And yea, that's the point where ... I start gnashing my teeth and instruments of death and destruction start to have a particular
shine to them that's starting to become more and more attractive.
And that's because inevitably the Conservative "I'm the most peaceful person on the Planet" person will make it about violence
and how You Libtard are an L for Your L takes on the matter. To say, the atmosphere of words and emotional tensions are like a
highway to hell in and of itself. So, in this instance I want to shift attention to: The Spiritual World!
Violence? Yes! Like ... violent rejection. No physical harm required.
Because ... to really get out of the mud, we have to ... get out of the mud. But if mud is everywhere ... and we say it's mud
although most likely it's something else ... we first have to clean up. And yea, if a guy comes up to gaslight us into not
doing that while maybe even hiding shovels and such ... yea ... blood on the dancefloor baby!
But how?
Well, the story is quite simple! Actually! The answer is: SOCIALISM!!!
Sort of. I mean ... I call it socialism here. But what I mean isn't Socialism as in how someone would define it that would
want to have Christianity and Socialism be entirely different things; But what I mean is Christianity in how it is SocialIST.
Like, they may be separate things but there's enough they have in common still.
So, to come together, sensibly, as people with good intentions ... . But then again ... it would seem like whether we're for
or against violence ... is important. But ... that too is a way of overthinking it. Because, we'd have to have this discussion
every time ... we'd have to have it. Like these days. The last time around we didn't get rid of Fascism without violence.
And this time around ... they don't really seem willing to just let go on basis of a polite request either.
So, how does socialism help?
Well, perhaps we should call it 'Neo Gnosticism' instead.
The thing is: If You have a guy that's built strong, is into Military stuff, likes Survival stuff and all that ... I feel like
telling them what they could do for society is like telling a Dog how to Bark.
And so I believe that the narrative around how the left is like ... trying to emasculate men ... there's a lot of truth to that.
The narrative of how the left is trying to sell out the western world to desert terrorists tho ... that's the kind of shit
fascists say in order to radicalize You.
We could call it ... an evil scheme. An evil scheme that capitalizes on one fundamental truth of our kind: Ego. It's a story
I've heard a few times ... coming from all possible sides of the political Kaleidoscope. Person wants to do right by someone,
gets ostracized by some loudmouths of "the community", feels like they can't be themselves 'there' ... leaves to "the other
side".
So, in a way ... what's happening in the USA right now is ... that. The kernel of truth within the Republican party is entirely
about the use of force that some on the left would want to deny them. Although that side is most likely blown so far out of
proportion it's almost laughable. It's like ... if some lefty were to start a thought experiment on the feasibility of getting
rid of law enforcement, some right winger would run with the narrative that ... I don't know. They come up with stuff that's
so wild ... I must concede. I shall not try to replicate that.
I mean, there's that story where some Father stalked and harassed their trans child ... which is like this famous right wing
talking point about some poor father that's criminalized for not using the right pronouns or something.
So, on that front it's fair to say that WE ... leftists ... we absolutely CANNOT care about "the optics". There is no way to
tell what crazy narrative they're going to spin out of what. They will however find a way; And if it's contradicted in the
sentence prior and after ... it doesn't matter.
If it contradicts itself ... "even better" ... it would seem.
But on the other hand ... truth DOES matter. Now, it's not like we absolutely cannot lie either. If you build Your house on
solid rock but there's a grain of sand on that rock somewhere ... it's still going to be pretty solid. And we do live in a
world where such things have to be pointed out I'm afraid.
So, was Tolkien naive about evil?
Well, sort of?
I mean, Frodo arguing to spare Saruman while throughout the book countless creatures had to give their lives to bring about the
good ending ... may seem a bit hypocritical. But the argument he presents, You may find, is still very much the one I try to
bring to You here. It's the mentality that counts ... in a manner of speaking.
It's what society is, or has become ... and what it has to be ... that should be at the heart of this discussion.
Because ... that's the issue.
Where are we? Why is it failing? What can be done?
And sorry, no sorry, but Fascism CANNOT be the answer! No sorry!
I hope that this clarifies it!
Like ... I had the authority to do so.
But, it should really speak for itself.
Am I wrong?