Civilization is also separation from an original wholeness and grace. The poor thing we call our “human nature” was not our first nature; it is a pathological condition. All the consolations and compensations and prosthetics of an ever more technicized and barren world do not make up for the emptiness. John Zerzan From its inception, civilization has been religious. Before the earliest civilizations, humans (and … Continue reading Religion, Power & Civilizations
Yet every childIs cast from paradise —Into growth and new community,Into vast, ongoingChange. Octavia Butler Let’s do a quick reminder of where our civilization is heading. Globally, the natural support systems of the planet are faltering (in case you don’t quite believe this, and need a confirmation from online, the source of all wisdom, a quick Google AI return reads, “Earth’s natural support systems are … Continue reading What Kind of Country? CODA
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction. E.F. Schumacher As we have covered many times in this blog, American political and cultural polarization is almost completely a rural-vs-urban split. As the sophistication and cost of political operations have expanded over the … Continue reading A Rural Strategy for Libs
If you alone found out what the lie was, then you’re probably right—it would make no great difference. But if you ALL found out what the lie was, it might conceivably make a very great difference indeed. Daniel Quinn Last time, we looked at how the US is being ruled by dangerous but fundamentally unserious despots. What is it that allows so many millions of … Continue reading The Rule of the Unreal
Knowledge forbidden?Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their LordEnvy them that? Can it be a sin to know?Can it be death? Milton As a whole, humans are still operating inside of our own species, telling stories about human conquests over nature and over each other. This is the stuff of history: what territory was taken, which dynasties usurp other dynasties, what great things have been invented, who … Continue reading Out of Eden (and back)
Tis the time’s plague, when madmen lead the blind. King Lear I know I’m a little behind the news cycle now, but there was so much hand-wringing over Stephen Miller’s speech at the Charlie Kirk memorial service that I had to check out the full text and weigh in. The typical liberal reaction was a direct comparison of Miller’s remarks to Joseph Goebbels’ greatest hits, … Continue reading Stephen Miller’s Charlie Kirk Speech: A Small Man’s Revenge
