What IS An Anarchist, Anyhow???
The article in the preceding post deserves (and really needs) a bit of fleshing-out with more information.
Anarchists seem to have the same public relations problems as witches. I mean, just because of some silly gossip about bomb-throwing and baking children for supper........a lot of good people are regarded with fear and loathing.
"Quakers who swear a lot," is an appealing sound-bite, but.........
Most of us could stand to learn more.
Maybe we could also do more, if we knew more.
Anarchists seem to have the same public relations problems as witches. I mean, just because of some silly gossip about bomb-throwing and baking children for supper........a lot of good people are regarded with fear and loathing.
"Quakers who swear a lot," is an appealing sound-bite, but.........
Most of us could stand to learn more.
Maybe we could also do more, if we knew more.
posted by Wadena | 10:29 AM
12 Comments:
While I have been known to mingle with self described anarchists and I read 'anarchist' writings, my discomfort and fear seems to come down to the fact that over time, eventually, it starts to sound suspiciously like social darwinism and 'let the weak step aside' thinking which I have trouble with... It starts to unravel somewhere and I guess there's just something about it that troubles me. Maybe you can define it? First of all, if one does not believe in spirits or energy etc. then witchcraft becomes interesting to study but not something easily accepted as within the realm of the human experience. I am not discounting witchcraft or spirituality I am saying that it presupposes some basic beliefs about the world and how it works. So too does anarchy, the unknowns make it hard for me to grasp its usefulness as a perspective. Does that make sense?
Probably not. But I don't care anymore. How's that? These blogs lead to a lot of conflict I never expected. Gets very tiresome and is not very enjoyable.
I think being a practical anarchist is just a way to kill time in a positive way while figuring out what to do (if anything).
I also think there might be some spiritual benefits to living that life (sometimes--with the right group).
But, in the long term, there may be no solution to the problem you describe, Lily.
Small group anarchism tends to throw out the weak person that's slowing them down.
Our current government is beginning to do that same will of the people by cutting (drastically) all services to the poor and weak.
The Spartans eventually conquered the more compassionate Athenians because the Athenians cared for their poor, weak and wounded and the Spartans threw THEIR poor, weak and wounded to the wolves.
Made for a tough and eventually invincible society.
There is a cost for taking care of your weak and poor and mankind appears to consistently be unwilling to pay that cost.
Sorry, I don't have the answer, but you've been doing a fine job engaging the questions and proposing possible actions.
:)
Yes, I guess you summed up the dilemma very well. But see, there are ways that caring for people who need it makes sense. For example, like I posted on Dobson and education, wouldn't a pro-business person be in favor of investing in education? Well, I guess then that would take away their exploited class. Maybe there will always be a group of people that need some help now and then, but that to me is the purpose and function of the evolved society.
We are not held back by people that need assistance, we are held back by people that could be easily helped that are not. No? Maybe I have it wrong, I don't know.
I think it depends on the prosperity of the society....or their self-perceived prosperity--that determines how willing they are to help the poor and weak.
If you are desperate yourself (or perceive yourself as desperate....you will likely be callous to the needs of the poor and the weak.
There can even be an anger and resentment toward the poor.
America is rich and yet the people perceive themselves to be struggling to survive (even as they ignore the many luxuries that they have).
Why this apparent confusion?
Anyhow, I'd say there will probably always be a lot of people who need a lot of help and although our society did evolve to a point where we WERE doing a fairly good job.....it has DEvolved over the last 25 years to a point where we (as a society) are failing....and quite intentionally so.
There are several things responsible for this sorry decline, I'm not sure that, realistically, they are fixable, and I'm at a loss to see an answer or solution right at this point.
You and me both I guess Wadena!! Perhaps crisis will impact our behaviors...
Ah, when the going gets tough.....the tough get tougher.
Ok.
:)
You have "Stop Violence Against Women" right above "Things I like"!!!!!
But I know what you mean.
Your blog keeps changing.
Ok, I fixed it.
:)
Wadena, what was that? David Lee Roth?
(shaking head)
What was that?
My guess (and it is only a guess) is that it was someone who with a bizarre sense of humor....who types faster than he thinks and has oatmeal for brains.
:D
southern baptists who are members of the ACLU.
Hmmm Gisher must know something I don't know.
Well, he knows many things I don;t know I'm sure.
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