"The Way Things Are"

Recently, I've been hearing a bit of resistance to my writing. The complaint is usually something along the lines of this: "Your ideas are good, but it seems like you're trying to convince people to change human nature." I suppose they're right, in a way, given how the majority of humans act towards each other in this day and age.

I have a qualm with this concept of "human nature," though.

You see, one of the supposedly unique qualities of humanity is their ability to make informed decisions without using just instinct. We're supposed to be the most intelligent beings on this planet, our decidedly lacking physical prowess counter-balanced by our hyper-advanced minds. We've developed language independently in our respective civilizations, made technology that makes impossible things into everyday occurrences, and even began understanding the individual components of the known universe.

How is it, then, that we are not evolved enough to make collective advancement possible?

We have enough technology, resources, ability to network, and population density to make the entire world a better place all at once. This generation can end world hunger, war, mass deaths, and most of the evils that the world has seen throughout history.

Except...we won't.

Why?

We've all been taught that it can't happen.

All of the generations before us have taught us not to try to make a difference in the collective consciousness. They squashed dissenting ideas for prevailing ones, delaying or outright obliterating ideas from coming into fruition. Every generation before ours has told us that humans kill, destroy, subjugate, and otherwise ruin each other's lives and their surroundings because that's "Human Nature." We are told from the beginning that humanity is beyond redemption, and that we should not bother trying to affect humanity. Paradoxically, we are also shown examples of individuals who changed history by being either extremely persistent or too intelligent and outspoken to ignore. They are simultaneously paraded around as heroes by our schools and other institutions while mainstream culture constantly convinces us to remain a part of the herd.

In spite of the culture's best efforts, a brave few have broken this mold. It takes an extreme amount of intestinal fortitude to fly in the face of violent, cruel convention, but some have done so successfully. Some of these people are controversial, while others have become worldwide symbols of positive progress. However, in a constantly warring world where "different" has the connotation of "dangerous," it has become rebellion to retain all of your individuality, and it has become treason to defy immoral practices by the ruling class. The people are unhappy, but they are afraid of being ostracized for pointing it out. Therefore, more and more people use the excuse of human nature to justify refusing to act in defiance against the vileness they see around them every day.

You're all either afraid or too lazy to try. You can admit it. You see the evil I see, but you wave it away dismissively under the banner of "human nature." No, you cannot change anyone other than yourself, but if more people decided to change themselves for the better, the world would be a better place. Cruelty, famine due to greedy food distribution, war, domestic violence, police brutality, ethnic tensions between races...these are all taught behaviors. If we can teach a child to hate someone for being different, we should be able to teach them to view people as individuals. If we can teach that one color of skin is better than another, we can teach that all colors are equal.

But we can't teach those things with any sense of gravity if the elders don't truly believe the precepts. Sure, we teach kids in school how to share, that we're all equal and should be treated like that, and all of the rest of the lessons we get from Kindergarten to 6th grade. However, American culture doesn't support the lessons, making the nobler concepts of equality and fairness ring hollow once the kids get a glimpse of the outside world. Of course, everyone is different, but the differences between us should be appreciated, not viewed as a detriment because we don't understand them.

In the end, the reason why things are the way they are is because humanity does not want to change. We have been taught we should not, and so we do not. However, we are completely capable of doing so, and once we realize that, we can make progress together. 

Thought for the Day

Disposable America

These days, everything is considered replaceable. We have plastic cutlery, disposable razors, fast food, biodegradable chip bags and milk bottles, and $.50 lighters that we toss when they run out. New cars have a shelf life of 5 years, electronics are only considered worth using until the next one comes out, and fashion fads are...well, fads.

Is it any wonder, then, that America's infrastructure is going down the tubes?

Think about that for a moment. Instead of being willing to buy something that is sturdy and will last, we have immersed ourselves in this culture of disposability.We have given value to cheap, fast, and new, while discarding the concepts of reliability, permanence, and generational sustainability. We have allowed consumer culture to infiltrate and destroy us from the inside, brainwashing us and making us into slaves of whim and corporate influence.

Even now, we destroy things that can be used once again without even being reprocessed. Why do you toss your glass bottles and containers only to buy plastic jugs and containers later on? Is washing something that does not stain, keeps food and drinks fresher, and will not erode over time that difficult? Why must you buy bottled water when there are easily accessible and inexpensive filtration systems for your existing water lines? Why toss out that computer two years after you got it? Are you so inept at system maintenance that you can't keep the thing clean? Why do you need that new car, that new phone, or that new sound system?

Getting new things on the basis of them being new is not a justification for a way of life.

Young Western World, you have been brainwashed into creating more waste than necessary. You have been force-fed the lie of needing new everything, of discarding perfectly good things in order to buy new ones. You have let the bourgeoisie fool you into thinking the hole in your spirit should be filled with things, robbing you of your money, which is an integral part of your power, and leaving you ever in want of more. Instead of learning to be at peace with yourselves, you have been taught to consume, waste, and destroy, affecting everything in your life from relationships and finances to the environment and the world economy.

Disengage. Turn off the "consume" button, if only for a little while.

Find me. @xXxAnarchosxXx

Land of Opportunism

Yesterday, I bought a book that was worth $250 at a cost of $2. I then sold it to a family member for $30, who will then sell it to someone online for roughly $65.

I'm currently smoking a hard to find, expensive tobacco that I managed to get roughly 7 ounces of for no cost directly from the manufacturer.

The car I own currently was a Christmas gift from a friend that I met while slumming it in an artist's collective a few years ago. 

I'm not paying rent right now, but I'm living on my own in an apartment and taking care of my sick roommate.

All of this, and I only have $5 in my wallet right now.

My life is a constant balancing act, and yet somehow, I'm surviving and doing better than a majority of the world. Sure, I don't live in the best area, but my housemates and I get along pretty well, and that's what matters most. However, how did all of these miracles come to be? How did someone who is so anti-establishment manage to make it in this world of cold calculations, computerized existence, and ones and zeroes?

The answer, quite simply, is to be a chameleon.

You see, I do hate the majority of the government. I scoff at how inefficient it is and how it seems to care less about its population and more about its wallet on a regular basis. I don't like money and how it centralizes power to the top of the socioeconomic grid. I truly wish that we could completely disband the concept and focus upon agriculture, the environment, and our children. 

However, I am not an optimist. I am, in fact, an opportunist. 

People have long maligned that term, equating it with things like vultures, snakes, and hyenas. One definition of an opportunist is "a person who practices the policy of adapting actions, decisions, etc., to effectiveness regardless of the sacrifice of ethical principles." Most imply the latter half heavily, classifying people like bank robbers, purse snatchers, rapists, and other forms of criminals in this category. In a way, they are right about that assumption, as well, seeing as most of these use subversive means to achieve their malicious, self-serving ends.

However, the definition I use here is from another source, meaning "a person who adapts his actions, responses, etc, to take advantage of opportunities, circumstances, etc." You see, I do not see an opportunist as a purely negative person as a matter of course. It is not mandatory that an opportunist be an evil entity in my mind, and I would invite you to consider this in the future. 

As it stands, it is not wrong to take advantage of any positive advantage you have in America. It is not wrong to say "yes" if someone offers you something, nor is it wrong to take something if it has been truly abandoned, passed on, or left out for the taking. Taking a risk does not equate to doing wrong, and just because you don't know if you have permission or not doesn't mean you should not attempt what you want to try. The American government has tried to stamp out the spirit of independence as of late, but I cannot allow them to succeed in this. Therefore, I bring you this message:

One cannot succeed in life or make a major difference in the world by following "The Rules" all the time. This amalgamation of "socially acceptable behavior," oppressive legislation, and religious servitude are manufactured to keep the system functioning as it is now. The heads like being on top, and they will do everything they have to in order to maintain their seat of power. Is it not fair for a person to do the same in response to get what they want and need? 

The cardinal rule of Wicca is "Harm none; do what thou wilt." While I am not strictly Wiccan, I subscribe to this belief with all steadfastness. As long as you're not purposely damaging others with your behavior, do whatever you need and want to do at any given moment. 

The Rules say I shouldn't have bought a $2 book and sold it for $30 because it's only worth what I paid for it. The Rules say I should have paid that major corporation for that tobacco instead of them giving it to me for free. The Rules say I should be paying rent, I should not have gotten a free car, and that I should feed the capitalist machine with every ounce of effort I have.

Well, my rules say "Fuck those rules." 

It's all a giant game, folks. America is a big chess board, and once a piece realizes it, they can become a player. Whereas other places may not have as many options or opportunities to be successful, America's architecture of crony bureaucracy, near unlimited markets to tap into, and malfunctioning government controls, anyone can worm their way into a position of power. Pretend to care about this rule, do right by this person, ignore one responsibility, pursue another one relentlessly, maintain a certain image....in short, America is about manipulating your environment until you get what you want. If your objective is to change the game, you must outplay your opponent until you are powerful enough to crush him outright.

This is why my name is Anarchos. I choose which rules I follow in order to get where I need to be. I'll wear a mask in public long enough to get to what I want, but not a minute longer. Silently maneuvering in the background, waiting for the right time to assert and act, changing masks to manipulate things toward an increasingly advantageous outcome...sounds like a certain role model we may share in common, eh?

Now pardon me while I go shave my beard. Orientation is on Monday, and I must look the part. 

Find me. @xXxAnarchosxXx