Wednesday 22 December 2010

IMMATURITY IS ENDEMIC

I sometimes 'aphorise' that "Everyone has their price and I hope I am never offered mine". When we ARE offered 'our price', the nature of the transaction (goods/services/currency) can run the gamut. Broadly speaking, politicians such as Vince Cable, want to be 'somebody' - it was audibly apparent that his visitors fed that need. Mr Cable was 'bought'.

From the wider perspective: the cleverness of modern life has enabled a level of globally generated experience, for which we are ill prepared; the flesh (brain capacity) is willing, but the mind (competence) is weak. Indeed, we are still 'The Ape Confused by Language', who has further compounded his plight, by eschewing wisdom and dispensing with philosophy. Immaturity is endemic.

It is entirely possible that The Ape and 'Cerebral Civilian' (to go 'a bit Bunyan') ARE INCOMPATIBLE, and the conflict between the two will endure till one or both leaves the field. However, while the current situation prevails, is it not our immaturity, that allows tyrannies to arise?

How could a wise, philosophical society, ever come to elevate a Blair, Brown or Cameron (desperate, posturing POLITICIANS) to near-absolute power? Why would aware individuals allow PARTIES to pre-select their representatives; how could they, knowingly, vote for a rosette and accrue a (whipped) rosette-stand? Would a competent society, stand by and watch war used as a tool of peace, at the drop of a sound-bite?

Globally, The Ape Confused by Language is focused on the MECHANICS of DOING, having lost sight of the 'intangibles' of BEING. And the whole unholy mess is laved with religious incongruities and strife. I still 'amuse' myself, railing at it all, and testing my ingenuity in trying to see a way out. Well - it passes the time from uninvited birth to perversely delayed death.

ENJOY CHRISTMAS GAMES.

Thursday 16 December 2010

ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DRUG TRIP

Across the world, and as far back as we can perceive, man has bombed his mind with a range of substances. Why? My best guess is that the mind of the Ape Confused by Language has just three dominant modes: BORED, IN PAIN, BOTH.

Being too clever for his own good, man always discovers one or more natural substances that interact with his brain chemistry, to alter its 'state' to CHEERFUL, ELEVATED or ASLEEP. He goes on to be a USER, DEPENDENT or ADDICT, with slow destruction of mind and body as the price to be paid.

In Britain we have deeply established, state-condoned (taxed) tobacco and alcohol, these two have 'opened the way' (culturally, psychologically and physically) for intake of a range of other substances. Cleverness has led on to synthetics.

Before ANY authority-figure pronounces on their pet initiative for tackling drug-use, which includes alcohol, THEY SHOULD DECLARE THEIR OWN STATUS. Few are 'clean'

The irony in all this is that having, and using, one's mind can be immeasurably rewarding, yet the higher faculties are the first to shut down under alcohol. (The Ape-drives being the last to flicker out, as unconsciousness descends.) I might just point out, the even greater irony of Islamic prohibition! (Blessed are the wine and cheese makers?)

So: if we try to tackle drug use, without first understanding WHY we cannot endure the mind we are stuck with, then we are as addicted to deckchair shuffling, as we are to 'substance use'. But then - virtually ALL politicians are users and, what is more, I have never seen one who wants to SUCCEED, so much as he wants to ANNOUNCE and MAKE SPEECHES, regardless of ultimate outcome.

When did Parliament last address the fundamental make-up, and drives, of The Ape Confused by Language?

Friday 10 December 2010

FUMBLING IN THE DARK

'Interfaith Blair', is the bellwether. With his usual gut-instinct for maximum platform space and paid claptrap, he has positioned himself ACROSS ALL FAITHS. What a performer - what a performance!

But his adroitness serves to demonstrate the global disaster that is faith itself - any and all faith. All babies KNOW there is a higher power. As children it is reinforced (or not) in terms of deity. Maturity (as with Santa and the Tooth Fairy) SHOULD leave faith behind - BUT MANY DO NOT MATURE SUFFICIENTLY.

In the past, fighting THEM on religious grounds was in keeping with the general state of understanding - today it is incongruous. But our immaturity means that, instead of leaving dogma, ritual and SPECIAL STATUS behind, we get The Church of Dawkins - every bit as rabid and illogical as the rest.

Just as affluence is seen as the new 'pill' (deterring pregnancy) surely philosophy and wisdom would 'deliver us from servile' (to observance of every wretched kind). Until this is achieved, I declare the Dark Ages to be still in progress.

Saturday 4 December 2010

THE EYES HAVE IT


As I type this, all across Britain, there are lives trapped in bodies that refuse to die, guarded by laws thay say they must 'live'. For farm animals and pets, lives that share all our physical function and pain, there is no such protection. Some wild animals even have special rights.


But of all the animals, we are the ones who keenly understand the entrapment of old age and disease, being in no doubt that it can only get worse unless death brings release. Many of us want to die according to the parameters we specify, not those of a sadistic State Nanny.


Who in their right mind would demand that this torture should continue? Does God like to watch old people die a degrading death? Do care home companies give large donations to political parties, demanding continuance of the status quo? Would a significant number of care workers be unemployed, and riot, if the number of living-dead were reduced?


Look into the eyes of my brother, 'celebrating' his 77th birthday after living a full 6 months more than he wished, following a disabling stroke. He had another six weeks to endure when this photo was taken. (The staff were kindness personified but could not give John his dearest wish.)

Look into his eyes. See the resignation and despair. The NHS tricked him into this situation while I (his confidant and champion) was absent. Look, and wonder, at the motivation of our government.