tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post1936211871814568996..comments2024-03-28T22:02:16.520-04:00Comments on Politics and its Discontents: The Virtue Of RebellionLornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-7763017284145020722017-01-03T16:52:07.513-05:002017-01-03T16:52:07.513-05:00Thank you, Pamela, and I feel the same way about y...Thank you, Pamela, and I feel the same way about your informed commentary.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-29207395393186973192017-01-03T16:29:11.307-05:002017-01-03T16:29:11.307-05:00Thx. Lorne. I really like yours and a few other bl...Thx. Lorne. I really like yours and a few other blogs. In fact I have learned a great deal from these bloggers including yourself.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842215982128591742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-43924765371011093212017-01-03T15:43:42.936-05:002017-01-03T15:43:42.936-05:00Excellent commentary as usual, Pamela. A guest pos...Excellent commentary as usual, Pamela. A guest post featuring you in the next or two is in the offing. Thanks again for your ongoing contribution to this blog.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-59392561140011729402017-01-03T14:50:44.139-05:002017-01-03T14:50:44.139-05:00Rebels Lorne, especially intellectual rebels, are ...Rebels Lorne, especially intellectual rebels, are the life blood of democracy.<br /><br />From the time we are born or at the very least from the time we start school, we eventually learn that conformity is much more valued than independence, particularly independent thinking.<br /><br />In almost every area of our society, education, work, relationships, sexual identity etc we are pressured to conform, to be like everyone else.It's like there is an underlying code that everyone absorbs that when translated means keep your mouth shut and your mind closed.<br /><br />Every great advancement and change in humankind has been instigated by a rebel. Men and woman who question the established concepts can mean speaking out against racism, Martin Luther King. Speaking out against the accepted norms of womens very identity, Betty Friedan. The earth does evolve around the sun, Galileo. The origin of the human species is evolutionary, Charles Darwin.Hiding jews from German Nazis, anyone with courage and integrity even at the risk of losing their own lives.<br /><br />Conformity breeds obedience. Once a person has abandoned critical thinking than all they have left is obedience. Conformity also creates a power dynamic.This dynamic consists of those who want to rule and those who want to be ruled.The independent person wants neither to rule nor be ruled.Ultimately they just want to live their life in freedom. They do not recognize anyone having authority over their life.<br /><br />Men and woman like Chris Hedges speak out against power and are an inspiration to all of those, especially the young, who are starting to question the accepted ideas of their day.<br /><br />The anti-intellectualism that so permeates American culture today has been evolving for over 50yrs. The US is in the final stages of that evolution, so much so that one no longer need ask why Johnny can't read, but rather more fundamentally why Johnny can't think.<br /><br />The intellectually bankrupt wasteland called American culture, has reached its pinnacle.The battle for ideas, such as freedom and democracy will be left for the rebels to fight, because with Donald Trump in the oval office, there will be no right for peaceful protest, no freedom of speech and there will be no due process. Trump will double down on dissent, permitting his military and police forces as much violence as needed to stop the American people from saying NO.Every dictator rules by force. Donald Trump is no different. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842215982128591742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-40678443333202551232017-01-03T10:44:40.400-05:002017-01-03T10:44:40.400-05:00Each of us, in our own way, Owen, needs to stand f...Each of us, in our own way, Owen, needs to stand for something meaningful. Otherwise, life has little meaning.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-12623831124933785342017-01-03T10:33:04.216-05:002017-01-03T10:33:04.216-05:00There are times when we have to take a stand, Lorn...There are times when we have to take a stand, Lorne. That doesn't mean that we have to scream and throw rocks. But it does mean we have to say,"No!"Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.com