One of its most original creations was the Federation's ultimate nemesis, The Borg, defined in Wikipedia as
...a collection of species that have been turned into cybernetic organisms functioning as drones of the collective or the hive ... [who] take other species by force into the collective and connect them to "the hive mind"; the act is called assimilation and entails violence, abductions, and injections of cybernetic implants. The Borg's ultimate goal is "achieving perfection".
The catchphrase of The Borg was, 'Resistance is futile.' It is a message that, in my deep political cynicism, I strongly believe is an integral agenda item of both the extreme right-wing in general, and the Harper regime in particular. By relentlessly promulgating such a message they are, amongst other things, discouraging democratic participation so as to achieve an unobstructed field for their polices of low levels of taxation, low levels of government regulation, and low, some would say non-existent, aspirations for a better society and world.
Every so often, however, something occurs to remind all of us of the things that are possible when we rise above those forces of manipulation. As outlined in today's Star, one such development occurred yesterday. In what is described as a David over Goliath victory, the people of Melancthon Township are celebrating the triumph of their activism over Highland Companies, which has now abandoned its efforts to build a mega-quarry that would have been the second-largest in North America and would have obliterated hundreds of acres of some of Ontario’s richest farmland.
To read how a coalition of citizens from various backgrounds accomplished this feat, click here.
Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, The Borg credo:
While I think Harper et al need us to be disengaged to do their thing, i think the opposite is happening. I think people are getting more informed and engaged. I have made all kinds of new friends through my C-38 an Enbridge activities. I feel more connected to my community, and I feel, and have heard it repeated a lot, less like I am alone in my frustration with the government.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether resistance is really futile or not. Some days I do think so. Others, I feel kind of hopeful. Mostly, I feel like it is necessary. I can't really feel like my life has any value if I live it with the covers pulled up over my head and pretending this nonsense is all okay with me.
I am thrilled that the quarry is not proceeding. Yay for farmland!
I am glad you have taken such encouragement from your involvement in the Enbridge activities, Karen. Like you, I feel life demands our involvement in issues; to do anything less is an abdication of our responsibilities as citizens.
DeleteThere is hope, Lorne. Power to the people.
ReplyDeleteit is a message that bears repeating on a regular basis, Owen.
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