tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039161489041752842.post5272180276620421250..comments2024-03-16T08:04:53.086-05:00Comments on Dredd Blog: Convergence - Fear of Death SyndromeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039161489041752842.post-74048341768509546042010-03-08T06:43:09.153-06:002010-03-08T06:43:09.153-06:00The governments of the world seem to be like peopl...The governments of the world seem to be like people who suck their thumbs in adulthood for some reason.<br /><br />Perhaps <a href="http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/07/thumb-sucking-for-power-and-pleasure.html" rel="nofollow">they could not stop the habit of thumbsucking</a> just as they cannot stop the march toward war with other nations and war with the earth.Randyhttp://artwanted.com/artist.cfm?artid=3388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039161489041752842.post-14301659738047351212010-03-08T06:28:33.055-06:002010-03-08T06:28:33.055-06:00disaffected,
"we're already witnessing t...disaffected,<br /><br />"<i>we're already witnessing the early stages of breakup for the American empire</i>"<br /><br />Sad but true. I wanted the U.S. to go on up from its apex into leading the world out of the death spiral caused to a large extent by the fear of death.<br /><br />If we as a world, as the human species, had worked together led by the U.S. or U.N. toward neutralizing our damage to the earth so it could heal, that would have set the stage for "the age of reality".<br /><br />A time when we all found our place in this cosmos, on this planet, and in our individual nations, from which place we addressed the universe around us as cosmic adults.<br /><br />As it turns out and as you observed several times over the past month, it does not look good for my hoped-for world view at this time.Dreddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673418865926403671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039161489041752842.post-32896819568091958412010-03-07T10:21:58.314-06:002010-03-07T10:21:58.314-06:00You're "we're all in this together&qu...You're "we're all in this together" observation was especially noteworthy as well, as the idea of "rugged American individualism" and especially western style capitalism run DIRECTLY counter to that idea. Soviet Communism and American Capitalism were just flip sides of the same poison pill IMO, especially as they were both adopted as virtual religions by their proponents.<br /><br />Hard to imagine what might be next, as it could range from tribalism (my bet for the short term at least) to complete centralized totalitarianism (might possibly get a toe hold once again in the long run). As the weather forecasters say, just too many variables to predict for now. <br /><br />I think for sure however, that we're already witnessing the early stages of breakup for the American empire. It's too bad it has to end this way, but we have obviously lost our way.NowhereManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12745173041874539711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039161489041752842.post-35073516544445153792010-03-07T09:59:44.868-06:002010-03-07T09:59:44.868-06:00disaffected,
Reminds me of a joke.
A preacher wa...disaffected,<br /><br />Reminds me of a joke.<br /><br />A preacher was giving a fiery sermon, interrupted now and again with the question "who wants to go to heaven", exclaimed with immediacy and fervour.<br /><br />Eventually the preacher got very worked up and as sweat formed on his brow he asked everyone to stand up right now if you want to go to heaven.<br /><br />The preacher was surprised and mystified by a young man sitting in the first row who was the only church member who did not stand.<br /><br />He abruptly stopped the sermon to address the young man directly. "Son, don't you want to go to heaven?" the perplexed preacher asked.<br /><br />"Yes preacher", the young man replied, "it is just that I thought you were getting up a load to go right now".Dreddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673418865926403671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039161489041752842.post-6972781739149817802010-03-07T09:30:46.355-06:002010-03-07T09:30:46.355-06:00Agreed to all, but realize, when you're talkin...Agreed to all, but realize, when you're talking about mastering (or even effectively coping with) the fear of death, you're talking about the most primal fear of all, and the one western societies, with their utter glorification of the individual, is least prepared to deal with of ALL societies. <br /><br />That's why terrorism is used so effective against such societies; terrorists are essentially saying I will sacrifice my life in this world gladly to terrorize you, as I have no doubt about my place in the next. Most Americans (in particular) have no such faith in theirs, as getting their rewards in THIS world seems to be their primary focus. Even for devout Christians, there has to be some inherent anxiety involved when you believe in a wrathful and vengeful god who may just decide you didn't cut the mustard after all and send you to an eternity of damnation. <br /><br />Think about it, if a simple interpretation of "an eye for an eye" were so effective, why don't we see any US or Isreali suicide bombers pop up to counter terrorist threats with their own? You'd probably hear a lot of high minded rhetoric to the effect of "that would just be sinking to their level," but in fact, killing masses of people through the use of aerial bombing, missiles, and/or drone attacks is a PERFECT illustration of this priciple.<br /><br />We're perfectly willing to kill indiscriminately just as much as the "terrorists" are, we just know that by using our advanced technologies we can avoid any risk to ourselves in the process. While suicide bombings are inherently "courageous" (for lack of a better word) in the sense that they demand that the bomber put his life on the line as the cost for his destructive deed, US style aerial high tech warfare is inherently "cowardly," as it makes no such demands on the part of the agressor.<br /><br />I've pointed that fact out in several internet forums before, and the usual response is "so what, we win that way." The US will fold easily (actually, we'd resort to the nuclear option and simply take everyone out and hope for the best) if ever seriously threatened militarily, as the people do not have the courage of their convictions, and their fear of death is uncontrollable.<br /><br />Its notable that the recent "attacks" by Stack and Bedell seemed to be simple rage attacks (although it now seems at least possible that Bedell was actually set up for propaganda purposes), as opposed to principled political terror attacks.NowhereManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12745173041874539711noreply@blogger.com