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[Portia]

On Saturday 21 October (times yet to be confirmed) I’ll be going to hear psychologist Dorothy Rowe speak at the Anarchist Bookfair in London, England. I might also go and listen to John Pilger who’s also speaking. Event info: http://www.anarchistbookfair.org

If you’re in the area and want to say hello, send me a PM. I’ll be wearing a pink carnation and carrying a copy of the Times newspaper (this is not true, I won’t do either of these things). This is the billing so far that interests me:

Dorothy Rowe (see http://www.dorothyrowe.com.au/setup.htm )

How Powerful People Manipulate Our Fear

“When people feel secure they have time to think critically about what is happening in society, but when they are afraid they accept almost without question what is said by the people who are supposed to be guarding their interests. Political leaders use this to keep themselves in power. Thus political leaders will use our fear of death by telling us that we have an enemy. They will use our fear of losing our sense of identity by warning us about the strangers who threaten our way of life. Thus patriotism and racism can be manipulated in the interests of those in power. Fear of death is a powerful fear, but fear of losing our sense of being a person is a far more powerful fear. If we do not recognise it in ourselves and how it operates we are putty in the hands of those in power.”

John Pilger  Discussing his new book "Freedom Next Time"

“In "Freedom Next Time" John Pilger recounts the personal testimonies of people on the receiving end of grisly western policies, both military and economic. His interviews with the voiceless and abused of Palestine, Afghanistan , South Africa , Diego Garcia and India , and his uncompromising debunking of western political hypocrisy, provide an indispensable corrective to the litany of disinformation we are fed by the media.”

Do you have these kinds of events in the US anywhere? California?

[mudpuppy]

Do you have these kinds of events in the US anywhere? California?

Portia,

Coastal California is a perpetual version of one of these events. That's why the rest of the state is so ambivelent about large earthquakes.

Thus political leaders will use our fear of death by telling us that we have an enemy.

Yes, we pitiful sheep need corrupt politicians telling us we have enemies. Airliners crashing into skycapers and trains blowing up are too subtle for us to get it on our own, as are chants of "Death to America" and threats to wipe Israel off the map.

Sorry, I'll miss it, P.
Anyway, I think that's the first day of quail season. I'll be the guy with the pink carnation and the shotgun.

mud

[WRITE]

 I’ll be wearing a pink carnation and carrying a copy of the Times newspaper (this is not true, I won’t do either of these things).

 

political leaders will use our fear of death by telling us that we have an enemy

political leaders, religious leaders, the passive-aggressive woman in the canteen who didn't make enough dessert for everyone....

It's a dangerous message here- you can go buy a gun and just about everyone sells ammunition...

first day of quail season. I'll be the guy with the pink carnation and the shotgun.

there's a cartoon breakfast image for the album, a disillusioned Elmer Fudd-puppy!

[moonlight52]

HI Portia

When mankind can find true sovereignty within them selves then mankind will not need governments.

Until the time mankind as individuals can govern their own behavior by knowing within them selves the value of each person on Earth and there fore know the true value of others I am afraid governments will be around.The "change must Be within every individual".

I am all for the flowers and all for everyone putting guns down and whatever weapon of choice.

And the Earthquakes are just doing there thing.

missed ya Portia

moon

[Portia]

 
I thought "who might reply to this?....Mud?" and you did excellent

the rest of the state is so ambivelent about large earthquakes

haha I laughed . Ooops. Tsk. haha! "Tree-hugging hippy crap" as Eric Cartman from South Park might say. Eric is still my hero even if he is a cartoon character. (((((((cartman))))))) he'd say: "stop hugging me, you hippy-loving pervert!"

Thus patriotism and racism can be manipulated in the interests of those in power.

I feel incredibly lucky to have been born in the UK. But I don't identify myself with my country. I am a product of this country but I don't feel i owe the country anything. If there was a 'death to the UK' threat - a really strong threat - I would leave, simple as that. Lucky me, I might have the opportunity to leave! Australia or Canada is where i'd head if I could. I'm not going to take responsibility for what the gov does. I'm not going to defend an idiology. I would defend people, but not an ideology. It's when defence becomes attack that it gets cloudy. Hitler's Germany? I'm glad I didn't have to decide to bomb Dresden, that kind of thing, that gets me thinking.

I'll be the guy with the pink carnation and the shotgun.

I've always wanted to learn to shoot, honest. Both a shotgun and a handgun. I haven't got around to it and now I can't learn to shoot a handgun in this country (well, not legally). Hey we had a drive-by shooting about a mile away last week, true. Nobody was killed but a gun in this little rich middle-class town, well, it will scare the horses.

Life sure is strange Mud. Can I come over and learn shooting? P with a shotgun - very scary thought

[Portia]

Write
the passive-aggressive woman in the canteen who didn't make enough dessert for everyone....

I’m not going there, oh no!  Look I brought my own muffin, thank goodness. <sneaks away to scoff muffin in private>


Hey Moon, thanks for missing me. ((((((Moon))))))

I am afraid governments will be around.

I don’t object to them Moon. I object to some of the things they do without going back to their electorates for a vote but I’m lucky to live here and have a vote .

The "change must Be within every individual.

Or at least some majority? I bet there’s a mathematical formula to show just exactly how many people need to be self-actualised for real change to take place! Probably not the majority, might even be around 25% - statistical stuff ?... If we had 25% to influence the 75%...the 75% being more easily influenced by group pressure….we could probably do it!! Dreamin. 

[moonlight52]

Portia,

I do not think you are dreaming the planet looks a mess but I believe we are birthing a new world where a MAJORITY of folks WILL understand the value of human life .

It has a lot to do with individual fear and not contributing to fear in general and within one's self.
Maybe it will be a process like going from government with a capital G then to government with a small g and then when we as people on this beautiful planet will finally get it and behave.............................................and be kind and good in our hearts
that would take everyone or at least a good majority.

Here's looking at the big picture.......................
Thanks for thinking BIG

MOON

[mudpuppy]

If there was a 'death to the UK' threat - a really strong threat - I would leave, simple as that. Lucky me, I might have the opportunity to leave! Australia or Canada is where i'd head if I could.

Unfortunately that only works by relying on the people in Australia and Canada not picking up and leaving. If everybody in relatively free societies picks up and leaves when faced with an existential threat, in a few decades your choices on where to move will not be a lot different than moving to Riyadh or Kandahar. Try attending the anarchist convention in downtown Damascus and you might come to appreciate the 'idealogy' in which you are presently swimming a little more.

You are invited to come and learn to shoot anytime. However, be advised, mudpuppy season is permanently closed and there is a substantial fine for shooting one.

mud

[WRITE]

I bet there’s a mathematical formula to show just exactly how many people need to be self-actualised for real change to take place!

Margaret Mead said Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has...

It's holding on to our individual vision and getting around our limitations to reach higher goals which is tricky.

Actually I made a breakthrough on that note this morning, I worked around my butterfly mind to write this year's family Christmas poem and simultaneously took notes for several different projects...something I really struggle with because of the way my mind jumps about and I find it hard to focus- particularly when I'm really creative and I guess manic.

And that's another thing...I had sort-of put away my bipolar diagnosis since I didn't need any meds and was managing things with lifestyle changes, but a certain level of mania is creeping back in. The cycle I guess. I'm really aware of it, and almost prepared to have to medicate if I can't calm it. Already I took a pill last night and doubled my sleep, that was getting dangerously low again.

But I soooooo enjoy the creativity and energy, and hate the side-effects of permanent medication. So still some resistance there to be aware of if I go sailing off into the distance...

In my real life people tell I am manic by how many words I speak a minute and how often I finish their sentences! Here I guess you can tell by how much I am typing and if it's unusually long and frequent and passionate.

When I am manic it's like I lose my balance and start fluctuating and it gathers a momentum...can I focus and prevent this? Now is a big test of that...

When mankind can find true sovereignty within them selves then mankind will not need governments.

very true.
Right now ambivalence/agitation swings people one way then another.
The Chinese yin-yang philosophy is all about a balance in flux...if only we could focus maybe the world can calm down and be a bit less bipolar.

[WRITE]

Try attending the anarchist convention in downtown Damascus and you might come to appreciate the 'idealogy' in which you are presently swimming a little more.

 

Yup- a world in which we all want the same has to first be a world where we can all have the same...

( and now I have a Damascus municipal swimming-pool full of people of different ideologies arguing image in mind...goodness I wish I could draw cartoons, I'd have a field day!

Oh and by the way people who were wondering on a practical level why some posts get ignored- this happens too, someone posts whilst you were writing yours and you just displace them at the bottom of the thread and it's easy to overlook unless you have time to go back! )

[Portia]

Moon
It has a lot to do with individual fear and not contributing to fear in general and within one's self.
I love this. especially the ‘not contributing’. How true!

Mud
You are invited to come and learn to shoot anytime. However, be advised, mudpuppy season is permanently closed and there is a substantial fine for shooting one.
I thought you knew Mud, I’m a fully-paid up member of the Mudpuppy Appreciation Society. You didn’t know that there was one? It’s a secret society, even from you! Rule number one is never shoot a Mudpup (Rule two is to defend Mudpups).

Write
But I soooooo enjoy the creativity and energy, and hate the side-effects of permanent medication. So still some resistance there to be aware of if I go sailing off into the distance...

Well…if you’re not putting other people at a disadvantage, and you aren’t hurting yourself or your son, and you’re not say, spending your life savings down at the local casino….if you stop yourself doing anything remotely dangerous…well: is there a huge problem? I always have thought: if a mental ‘abnormality’ (that’s a conversation in itself) doesn’t worry or upset you and it factually doesn’t impinge on others, hey, what’s the problem? You have access to a level of creativity that some might swap their ‘normal’ mental states for. Oh yes!

Yup- a world in which we all want the same has to first be a world where we can all have the same...

And we can have what’s available to all. We have to want that. Not want all the crap we have now. Fridge magnets. Designer clothes. Snobbery. Vanity. Etc etc….

I wish I could draw cartoons,    I bet you could. ?!

[Gaining Strength]

WRITE

Thanks for this

Margaret Mead said Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has...

Thanks for this WRITE.  This really helps me.  I needed some words of hope that can help me move out of fear.  These are great words of hope and a strong incentive.

Gaining Strength.

I'm going to borrow this for an exchange with Jacmac on another thread - hope you don't mind.

[WRITE]

if a mental ‘abnormality’ (that’s a conversation in itself) doesn’t worry or upset you and it factually doesn’t impinge on others, hey, what’s the problem? You have access to a level of creativity that some might swap their ‘normal’ mental states for. Oh yes!

 

I wish I could draw cartoons,    I bet you could. ?!

 

words of hope that can help me move out of fear.

I put the Desiderata somewhere recently, these words from it speak clearly to me:

whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[portia smile]

 

I put the Desiderata somewhere recently

...now where did I leave it? In the fridge ....<peers in fridge>..nope....hmmmm in the cupboard?...

I read it (again). I like the line about 'beautiful' at the end? Where's it gone?

Good weekends all

[Hopalong]

I went to an interesting talk tonight: Is the U.S. Becoming a Theocracy? by the founder of
www.theocracywatch.org

Quite chilling, but inspiring too. Clarifying.

(Hi, Portia.  When I get over there one day, would love to go to a lecture with you.)

Hops