Open Thread - 06-12-25 - The Battle of Evermore
Not all Great Battles are Won on the Battlefield
War is nothing new, humans have used violent conflict to settle differences since the advent of bludgeons made from rocks and sticks. War, it's what we are, it's what we do. How much more evidence needs to be provided to prove that point? Stating mankind as civilized has been proven, time and time again, to be empty rhetoric. Are we really that far removed from the animal kingdom? Evidently not.
Has there ever been peace without first fighting a war? The concept of peace would be an abstract without the concept of war.
Peace works until cooperation breaks down and a tribe covets something that a neighboring tribe possesses. For early man it was arable land, now it's mostly for resources. That is the essence of empire and conquest.
It's a sad testament to our species, but there it is.
9:33
Parallel Facets
There is a parallel facet to kinetic war, it's the war for the mind. The two work in conjunction.
Let's do a chicken and the egg paradox, which came first in that initial primal human conflict, the war for the mind or kinetic war? I can't imagine the tribal leader not preparing the combatants with some kind of mental justification to make the warrior's belly burn for conquest, pillage or revenge.
The only qualification to be a participant in this war for the mind is some sort of basic brain activity. The less activity the better as it relates to conditioning a human for war. It's subtle and insidious nature makes the malleable mind a target. It probably didn't take long for the first warlike tribal leader to figure out that the unquestioning mind was the easiest to influence.
Conduit of Hate
The passive war for the mind becomes kinetic via the conduit of hate.
"They are not like us".
"They are but animals".
They are devils".
"The world would be a better place without them".
These are the subliminal whispers of malice and loathing that drive division. We are not born with hatred, it is taught, and that lesson begins shortly after birth. We are products of a lifetime of mental input from parents, school, media, government and society in general. Hate is taught ubiquitously in this modern world of instant news, internet channels, and talking heads. Look no further than the world around us for proof of that claim. We have become the Divided States of America. We're pitted against one another in myriad forms of hatred, by design. We've been sliced and diced and compartmentalized to the point of nonrecognition of who we are and of right from wrong.
"This is a battle between good and evil".
"God is on our side".
These are the battle cries of the those that prey upon the mind of the pliable. Of those that use fear and hatred as a weapon to further their aspirations of power and of those too cowardly to be truthful to the unfortunate victims of their subversion.
Conscientious Objectors
Fortunately, there are those that are conscientious objectors to the war for the mind. They possess a natural defense that allows them to see through the obfuscation and manipulation. They have an innate defense that girds their minds, to hold out, to not give up. To not be duped by the noise, nor the signal.
Those that think for themselves have always been a thorn in the side of the power drunk. It's a natural defense that peers through the fog of fear and hatred that affects the mind with the war virus. Those that dare not go with the flow are marginalized, mocked, censored and jailed. But, it is they that are the yin to the yang of the war mongers. Those that carry the seed of peace to be planted wherever a fertile mind is found.
That is the power and the purpose of the critical thinker.
Plant the seeds, and keep on thinking free.
There you go, man, keep as cool as you can.
Face piles of trials with smiles, it riles them to believe.
That you perceive the web they weave, and keep on thinking free.~ The Moody Blues from On the Threshold of a Dream
Robert Plant wrote the words to this acoustic song after reading a book on Scottish history. The lyrics are about the everlasting battle between night and day, which can also be interpreted as the battle between good and evil.
5:52
Peace Out
Comments
Good morning Free Rangers...
Every thing is rigged. The propaganda machine is in full voice. Inflation is eating up everyone's wealth. European cities are burning. War and rumors of war dominate the news. Potential famine and an oil apocalypse threaten the world. On and on and on it goes...
Other than that, how you all doin'?
If you ask me, despite all the gloom and doom, I'd say it's a great day to be alive.
Don't let the bastards wear you down, folks.
♫ Let the spell be broken…
Every heart beats the same
So how much longer will it take?
Everyone’s a victim of the violence in the streets
Every mother knows about the sorrow that it brings
Perfect...
/dev/sdx oughtta do it, with x representing the whole system.
Thanks for the great song, my soulsister.
There is a project with China in Tibet
.
to harvest the run-off from the melting Himalayan glaciers
building a river. This is a constructive response to obvious
global change. Why not take advantage of conditions the
good earth has provided? Forward thinking is not the US forte.
Zionism is a social disease
That depends...
on Blackrock's bottom line.
Good day to be alive
.
Not considering the alternatives
Thanks for the OT.
Zionism is a social disease
Yup...
I'll take mine sunny side up. The sun doesn't shine on the other side.
Good mornng Johnny, thanks for the OT You ask (and answer):
. I'd argue yes, but NOT in the way one would think. Asking that question involves the fallacy of petitio principii, aka "begging the question" (a much misused phrase, but I'll pass on that for now. We know and presume that we are very much superior to the brute animals and can thus condescendingly ask if we are really that superior after all. We know because it is a fundamental underpinning of every culture and society. In that sense, the question equates to "are we really all that much better and more civilized than the brutes". Arguably not, but discard the prejudice and supposition involved and look as the query objectively.
Predators hunt and kill for food. They kill to live, but, almost invariably, not merely for fun. Non predators and predators alike fight to defend themselves from predators, again rarely for "sport". Beyond mere survival of the individual, they all fight for survival of their little piece of the gene pool. They fight to obtain and retain mates, as well as territory in which they have foraging and mating privileges. That's pretty much it.
We are, in fact, far removed from that simple "brute" state, but not far superior, which is why I said that the answer is YES. We hunt and kill for pleasure. He hunt and kill for power, for control, for simple lust to possess shit, whether we need or will even use it or not. We fight and kill to reduce others of our species to a condition of servitude. We are, in fact, very, very far removed from those "simple brute animals".
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Does anybody have any questions?
.
great dancing presentation with rock!
Zionism is a social disease
Point well taken...
although there are many examples of animals killing for fun or for reasons other than food, a good example would be the pet cat that leaves a dead bird or rodent at the front door. Africa has many examples of rogue lions attacking and killing humans for no reason, rogue elephants doing the same, warring chimps as per the link I dropped. Granted, these examples may not be the norm but they do exist, and yes, I know you qualified your statements.
Humans are under constraint from the rule of law and severe punishment for murder. There are plenty of examples of bad people doing bad things after a societal collapse, the basic premise is bad people tribe up and go on wanton killing sprees for many reasons including revenge and territory. That would be the true test, and lets hope upon hope that isn't tested in this country. Take away the constraints of the law and let the average Joe watch his kids starve and behold the beast within unleashed.
The frontal cortex may override the amygdala, but fear, and the lizard brain, takes over in a fight or flight situation. Much like the animal kingdom that we consider ourselves apart from.
Chimps and baboons are some of our very closest
reltives, and I am certain hat their attacks on other species and other tribes are purely defensive.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
FWIW,
I went on a horse back safari in S. Africa. While riding in the jungle, chimps swarmed and cackled overhead, swinging from tree to tree.
The guide said it was a territorial dispute, very common. My almost un-broke horse, ready to go running crazily away, didn't give a shit what the fuss was about. He just wanted out! How I am still among the living is a mystery.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
It's a long running debate...
that we're not going to resolve here. The point isn't that chimps and baboons attacked each other out of self defense, the point is they kill each other for reasons other than food.
Besides it's totally ancillary to the point of this essay.
I'm now sorry I even brought it up.
weasles
will take out a dozen chickens in a frenzy, more than they can consume. Nephews dog did pretty much the same, even though he was well fed.
Thanks Snode...
for the anecdotal evidence. There's plenty of examples of animals killing for no reason beyond the need for food. I'm a country boy, have been my whole life. I've seen it first hand. It's a thing.
But, I'm disappointed that we're discussing this rather than the thesis of this essay, open thread or not.
Somehow we must account for the psychopaths
— the humans born with specific brain mutations, who walk among us (one-to-three percent of the population) who cannot feel (or communicate) critical human emotions, such as empathy, remorse, conscience. Washington DC is full of them, according to the FBI.
Throughout the New Era of human history, ordinary humans have consistently elected psychopaths to be their leaders and protectors. I've watched it happen over and over again. People want to be 'defended' by savages, able to kill and destroy without giving it a second thought. History is full of examples. When you have a Democracy without a Meritocracy — basic qualifications and standards — you will end up with a savage government when it is vital to have a wise one.. Weaponizing Leaders with psychopaths is actually a common form of Social Eugenics. Israel has based their entire culture on this form of social engineering. You already know what that looks like.
We need to own-up to what people are actually "selecting for" during elections, because we are not fighting with sticks and stones anymore. Every psychopath we elect is like a seed we plant, one that is certain to destroy this planet and our species. This is an urgent matter. If you are intellectuallyand scientifically aware of this reality, pass your awareness on to others. Our latest elected Psychopath has asked for the nuclear codes, twice, and been refused. Or, perhaps you cannot see this yet. It may still be too soon.
...Now, back to our featured topic....
A late good morning...
Had some hired help today helping with the mowing and weedeating. Was soaking wet from sweat when I got back to the house, but hosed off in the shower. Nice to get in a big hit with all the rain we've had. We are now out of drought but still considered dry.
I can see how some might think all the maintenance is a war on nature's growth, but I see it as a way to shape and guide that growth. In our case, if not mowed, a sweetgum forest emerges. We do allow some patches of sweetgum, but tend to try to select for oak and hickory. I've got four 10 ft native chestnuts I mowed and weedeated around today. I hope they outlive me!
As to war, we seem addicted. It has become our economic model. We have come far away from Jefferson's concept of a farming and trading nation.
We live in interesting times, and there's no telling what happens next.
Take care my friend and be well! Thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
It's amazing...
how quickly it grows back. Our back acres, around 7 or 8 acres was neglected for some years. It quickly became overrun with honey locust trees, the ones with the huge dangerous thorns. We had them cleared a couple of years back and now the grass must be cut continuously to keep them from returning.
I'm starting to think that the US of A uses the Godfather story line as a manual. I don't know how much more "interesting" our times can become, but I guess we're destined to find out. It's too late to fix the economy, that will be our downfall.
You take care as well and thanks for stopping in. Oh, and thanks for taking a shower first, yuk yuk.
Well, we are social animals.
We're supposedly the most complex lifeform/critter on earth. I have wondered long and hard about that one for too many years to count!
Edwin Starr sings/says it better than I ever could.
Great to see you posting again, JtC. Say hola to your Other Half for me. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
I'm not sure...
if we'll still be considered social animals if the tech bros and the WEFers get their way and humans are integrated with digital technology. Maybe something along the lines of a Homo sapien borgus or a Homo sapien digitalis. A CBDC, or the backdoor stablecoin, will solidify the "You will be assimilated" or "Resistance is futile" phrasing. I for one, only hope to get the fashionable facial accoutrements that Captain Picard was afforded when he was assimilated.
Thanks for the comment today obf and say "hey" to your other Half as well.
The art of the deal. According to Trump Iran never had a
chance for a victory.
That should put him...
in the Guinness Book of World Records under the Most Own Goal Wars Won in One Year.
He'd also be a shoe in for the Most Wars Attempting to Open the Strait of Hormuz that was Already Open before he Closed It in One Year record.
The Art of the Steal is more like it.
Correct me if Im wrong
.
The Stones version.
"Monkey Man" by The Rolling Stones
Composers: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Lyrics:
I'm a fleabit peanut monkey
All my friends are junkies
That's not really true
I'm a cold Italian pizza
I could use a lemon squeezer
What you do?
But I've been bit, and I've been tossed around
By every she-rat in this town
Have you babe?
But I am just a monkey man
And I'm glad you are a monkey woman too
I was bitten by a boar
I was gouged and I was gored
But I pulled on through
Yes, I'm a sack of broken eggs
I always have an unmade bed
Don't you?
Well, I hope we're not too messianic
Or a trifle too satanic
But we love to play the blues
Well, I am just a monkey man
I'm glad you are a monkey, monkey woman too,
Monkey woman too babe
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey, babe
I'm a monkey, babe
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey
MMMMM – monkey
MMMMM - monkey
MMMMM - monkey
MMMMM
MMMMM
MMMMM - monkey
I’m a monkey
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!
or this Poe -
“Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting—
“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
Zionism is a social disease
Heh
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
This essay is not about...
monkeys or apes. Are you mocking me?
Hey no
.
This came from the 2001 Odyssey clip above.
Not sure what those critters are but they rhyme
with Apes perhaps?
Zionism is a social disease
Will the heads of Zionists and their neocon supporters explode
if this turns out to be true?
The rest of the tweet:
Gee, who on earth instigated this mess?
.
Looking at you Uncle Sam.
Zionism is a social disease
Alternative reasons to war
According to anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon, humans make war primarily due to reproductive competition, the pursuit of status, and cycles of blood revenge.
Through his controversial, decades-long sociobiological studies of the indigenous Yanomami people in the Amazon rainforest, Chagnon argued that warfare is driven by evolutionary goals rather than a fight over scarce material resources like food or land.Core
Reasons for Warfare According to Chagnon
Competition Over Women: Chagnon found that the primary trigger for inter-village conflicts and raids was a shortage of women, leading to sexual jealousy and the abduction of women from rival villages.
Retaliation and Blood Revenge: Initial conflicts over women inevitably escalated into endless cycles of retaliatory killings. An attack by one village required a counter-attack by another to restore balance and honor.
The Evolutionary Drive for Fitness: Chagnon applied sociobiology to argue that warfare serves the ultimate biological goal of maximizing an individual's "inclusive fitness" (passing on genes). He famously published data showing that unokais (Yanomami men who had killed someone in battle) had three times as many offspring as men who had never killed, because their fierce reputation made them more successful in securing multiple wives.
Maintaining Status and Deterrence: Villages and individuals constantly strove to project a culture of intense "fierceness" (waitiri). Showing a willingness to engage in violent warfare served as a deterrent to keep neighboring villages from raiding them.
Makes sense to me. Look at Hamas, raid the tribe next door, rape and kill to your heart's content, gather up some captive slaves and take them home. Next thing you know Israelis go in and kick some ass in retaliation.
War is what the 1% did
until they refined capitalism to their liking. Now war is just one of their tools in their tool kit. It's just such a great excuse for everything, gas prices, food shortages, taxes. Plus the need to round up all those un American traitors.
Well, this day didn’t end up
going to plan. Recovery from my surgery is going well, but I woke up this morning with no vision in my left eye. Somehow, I’ve managed to have another ocular stroke. Same eye, and everything. So I’m back in the crash house, doing MRIs and all the stroke-workup song and dance, and calling to book more hyperbaric oxygen treatments for after they pitch me out of here with the usual, customary, and expected shrug of the shoulders. Eye stuff is like dental: the mainstream health structure has no idea what to do with it. I’m lucky, I suppose, that I have applicable experience in this area.
Not at all what I had in my weekend plans- but needs must, when the Devil drives, amirite? Be safe out there!
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Sorry to hear that, brother...
I feel it with you. Grin and bear it, that's what worked for me. Don't let them wear you down.
Hang in there, UFS!
Sorry to hear about your new ordeal.
Since we moved we're trying to reestablish access to medical services, administratively, it's been very slow going. I haven't had time yet to reestablish my own, I've spent so much time, trying to get access for my better half, I feel like I'm a medical clerk at this point.
best wishes for a speedy recovery!
己所不欲，勿施于人。
One day,
you will catch a break, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I'm glad you can help yourself, ufs
May your recovery be full and as smooth as possible.
Beware the glib creature in the Garden of Eden
So quick and sleek in its sophistry
“Oh, it’s simply survival: either Us or Them”
Alas, sin sells
Hi JtC
Thank you for your writing and thoughts. I loved the composition of your OT, spiced with the Space Odyssey clip, the Moody Blues lyrics, and the music.
One of my most memorable student experiences was when Mr. B said to the 6th grade class, “I’m more interested in the questions you ask than the answers you give”. Pretty wise, he was.
Imagining what Leonard Cohen would have thought of Gaza genocide
I don’t know if he was ever a Zionist — he did write the song “Story of Isaac” addressing those who kill children in present-day wars…
Hi lot
Thank you for the Cohen/Collins song. I don't remember having heard it before, despite being a fan forever. I would have trouble imagining Cohen as a Zionist, even if his parents might have been, who knows? I believe his spirit and sentiments came from a more universally inclusive place.