On the higher tier, circuits 5-8 (in the Wilson/Leary model) are wonderful and definitely empowering and all that.
But I think that on the lower tier, circuit 4 has to win, if we want things to get better. We can't wait for everyone to open up their third eye.
We have to "shame the bad people". We have to tell people "No, you can't do that, no matter how much you're afraid(circuit 1) or angry(circuit 2), no matter how much it might 'make sense' from a real-politik standpoint(circuit 3). It's just plain awful and anti-social."
I know a lot of people are sort of "anti-moralistic", and in the context of religious sexual morality that makes sense. But there has to be some reason not to harm people, there has to be a line that you cannot cross "for the greater good" whatever the hell that means. You either see people as valid, self-owning individuals or you don't. And if you don't, you're objectively my enemy, even if we're friends on a direct, one-to-one level. I'll drink with you but come the revolution(which in my case is a revolution of self-defense), you'll have to pull the trigger yourself, don't expect me to acquiesce.
But I think that on the lower tier, circuit 4 has to win, if we want things to get better. We can't wait for everyone to open up their third eye.
We have to "shame the bad people". We have to tell people "No, you can't do that, no matter how much you're afraid(circuit 1) or angry(circuit 2), no matter how much it might 'make sense' from a real-politik standpoint(circuit 3). It's just plain awful and anti-social."
I know a lot of people are sort of "anti-moralistic", and in the context of religious sexual morality that makes sense. But there has to be some reason not to harm people, there has to be a line that you cannot cross "for the greater good" whatever the hell that means. You either see people as valid, self-owning individuals or you don't. And if you don't, you're objectively my enemy, even if we're friends on a direct, one-to-one level. I'll drink with you but come the revolution(which in my case is a revolution of self-defense), you'll have to pull the trigger yourself, don't expect me to acquiesce.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 03:19 pm (UTC)HOORAY!
Oh, wait. :)
Seriously, the sentiment is well-taken. In the case of my journal, I named myself this the way an old acquaintance went by the handle of "Issendai" -- as a humbling reminder that I haven't progressed much, and should.
I think bliss is an enormously useful sociopolitical resource and I do hold that some cultivation of it will be necessary for a lasting humane culture. But that's not possible with at the very least a code of behavior that says "Hey. Dumbass. That person's not hurting you, so leave them alone." It's not safe to cultivate a state of contemplative harmlessness in an environment full of opportunism.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 03:27 pm (UTC)exactly! Or at the very least it requires a certain reservation of self-protection and scepticism.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 03:28 pm (UTC)Oh, wait. :)"
hehe - I do want to see you "win" as well, in your own hero's journey.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 04:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 04:55 pm (UTC)ancient chinese secret
Date: 2006-09-20 05:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 05:03 pm (UTC)