Reply #68: Ah yes, frankness [View All]

You were very lucky. Most humans, and especially most human parents, are too frightened to be honest, especially to their offspring. You certainly had a head start on most.

Please read the essay. It is not meant to terrify. It is meant simply as a plea for people to get real, come to grips with what has happened, and especially to understand that nothing we are experiencing today is novel -- all this bullshit has been lived through countless generations -- now its just our turn. That's not good news, but it is factual.

Even at your young age -- I think you are ready to understand the attraction of authoritarianism for so many other people. You and I are willing to take on the pain of thinking about things carefully, which is something THEY never experience, because they live in exact certitude of EVERYTHING; they never experience the mechanisms of the thought process (a higher primate function) -- they have a kneejerk, instinctual (or brainwashed) reaction to things. When populations like that get momentum -- time to get ready for crazy times.

*They* don't get depressed. They go and kill people, without any qualms. A very significant difference between authoritarians (i.e. extremist Republicans, Jihadists, doctor killers, etc) and We the Thinkers. There is probably a genetic basis for this shit....

Feeling pain, and anger, is NORMAL during these times. Being exhilarated and gleeful during times like these is ABNORMAL, psychopathic.

Just as individuals can be psychopathic, so can whole nations -- if injustice is not confronted.

My very best wishes to you, my dear -- you are a fine gal and we're lucky to have you. Hmmm -- maybe a Obama/Revolutionary Acts ticket in 2008....