Open Thread - 09-03-26 - Fear
I wrote this back in June and never published it. Is there any doubt, after what we've been through since at least 9-11-2001, that fear is a weapon?
What is the essence of terrorism? FEAR.
Fear is the most primal of emotions, without it we wouldn't have made it beyond the trees we climbed down from so many epochs ago. Fear induced paranoia hastens awareness, puts one on their toes, makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up, initiates the fight or flight impulse. It's a must for survival, that we are here is a testament to that fact.
Fear at the right time and the right amount is beneficial. Excessive fear, not so much.
Excessive fear will wear one down, both psychologically and physically.
That's exactly how iron fisted power wants you to live, in fear.
Fall in line, comply, shut your mouth, do what you're told, on and on.
There is physical terrorism and there is psychological terrorism, different in tactics, but the result is the same. One form threatens your existence immediately until one shakes, trembles and cries out in fear, like a gun to the head. The other works through the mind like a parasite, burrowing and eating its way to submission until one shakes, trembles and cries out in fear.
The end result is the same. Physical terrorism portends death of the individual. Psychological terrorism portends death of the mind. Both are submissive to the terrorist, who is also in fear.
If one is honest with themself, then there is no denying that we are being ruled by fear.
Institutions of power have used fear since the dawn of man. It's what religions are about. It's what governments are about. It's what militarism are about. Fear is what keeps the subjects in compliance.
Why do governments use fear? Because they fear their constituents.
Why do I bring this up? Because if you understand the motive, it wont be so effective.
Do not comply.
Comments
Good morning Free Rangers...
I had this laying around in my drafts and published it in a pinch. Sorry if it's not fleshed out enough.
This Open Thread time slot is open if any member would like to fill it.
Tropical Storm Eduoard went directly over us yesterday and dumped lots of rain that's still ongoing today. There's local flooding everywhere, but we needed the rain. Careful what you ask for.
What's going on with you?
John Muir
.
“
Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.”
Thanks for filling in.
Zionism is a social disease
What a great man...
John Muir was.
Good morning...
‘Dune’: “Fear Is the Mind-Killer”
the full quote goes like this
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
This is the Litany of Fear and it’s traditionally used to focus one’s mind in times of great danger. It was highly inspired by William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and was later adapted into a litany during the Butlerian Jihad. It focuses on the idea that fear can be more damaging than death itself, as it causes one to suffer repeatedly.
And as you say, fear is used to control us. Be afraid, be very afraid...of those evil Russians, Iranians, Chinese, and so on.
Wish you could share some rain with us. I watered the newly planted cabbage, broccoli and such, this morning first thing. No rain here for the next 10 days with mid 90 temps. Summer's last gasp (I hope).
Thanks for filling in on today's OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I highly recommend...
the new Dune movie series by director Denis Villeneuve. They are a great, epic and entertaining retelling of the book series. Part One and Part Two cover the book Dune, and Part Three is based on Dune Messiah and will be released in December, 2026. I loved the 1984 version but these films are on a whole different level.
It took a tropical storm to break our drought, let's hope yours is broken by a good old fashioned downpour.
Cheers, from the Piney Woods to you and yours in the Holler.
Good morning Johnny, thanks for jumping in there with
this. There was an incantation against fear in Dune:
It's the first of the month which means sorting out one's finances and doing a bit of planning, regardless of the futility of forecasting. (John Kenneth Galbraith said: "the only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable"—) That said, Pissant is losing his battle to keep bond yields down, so interest rates should continue to climb, so one should favor short term CDs over long term ones, in theory. I work on that (money management) when I need a sit down - it beats doomscrolling, which I have yet to start this morning.
I've started pruning the apricot one or two hours per day, with other chores and yard/garden work for breaks. Only two days so far, but already stiff and sore. Time to switch activities. We have termites and have an inspection this afternoon to get a second opinion and bid, so I have to get necessary errands done as early as possible today, starting with a run out to costco.
September is time to start working on the winter garden too, my tomatoes are still producing but I suspect that the fruit on at least two, the determinates, will never ripen, so I should maybe pull them and plant winter greens or carrots or somesuch. I can't do anything about DJT, but I can figure out what to plant and when.
so, that's what's up here, for now, at any rate. Life goes on, as they say (they whoo?)
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 --
I learned a bit...
about fear in the past year with my bout with colorectal cancer. The big lesson I learned was not to let it cross the bridge from the very beginning.
Good luck with the finances. You'll need high yield CDs just to keep up with inflation, real inflation that is, not the surrealistic inflation figures from the gooberment.
Yard work keeps me physically active, while sparring with otc keeps me mentally active.
You got that right, mi hermano, it's best to not dwell on things you can't do anything about.
Yep, the CDs are out hedge against inflation, a weak one but
at least it's something.
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 --
Remember when...
there was a nice return on savings accounts, and even checking accounts?
Now everything is rigged in the bankers favor. Hell, they don't even have to have any money in reserve against their deposits.
The United States banking system now follows the company store model.
Phooey!