The Problem

by Antisthenes Saturday, Jul. 12, 2003 at 9:41 PM

A brief summary of the issues.

Let’s face it because Indymedia is an open forum site, it attracts a lot of people who insist on falling in line with the marching orders of the activist community and not thinking for themselves nor accepting unquestioned the pompous ponderous pronouncements of the alternative media, and the self anointed Prophets of sheeplike conformity. Because of this it represents a threat to the fragile glassine world view of those who find questioning and thinking unreasonably cumbersome. Often these poor waifs’ are called “liberals” or "anarchists" or other such to designate their identity to others so that they will understand they are dealing with someone who faces particular “challenges”. All aquiver in their constant frights engendered by their careful attendance to the official line of the 91lwhatreallyhappened.com and Michael Moore’s they cannot conceive even the possibility that either Indymedia (or any other “Independent Media Organ”) or our current fearless leader(s) of the activist community might actually be milking them for all they’re worth. This is the Stockholm Syndrome of Modern American Culture - A corrupt and venal activist community continues it’s abuse so long that the weak willed come to view the abuse as a form of security and they mistakenly begin to identify with those who abuse them.



It is an interesting phenomenon to observe and while analyze it as I might the solid and unquestioning viewpoint would seem to be one that avoids analysis. This would seem to be because it is a viewpoint reflective of a mindset consisting of fixed ideas that cannot be questioned. To do so causes the entire construction to shatter. Each piece of dogma and automatic conditioned response leaning against another creates a structure that depends upon no piece of this fragile view coming under question. Heaven forbid that one such item be proven wrong. The world would end, the seas would open, and we would all be swallowed alive. “Toto! Auntie Em’! It’s a twister! It’s a Twister!” So, like a neurotically superstitious person holding onto a cherished Charm they will cry, pout, and scream at the thought that someone might take their freedom form them.



To merely question the validity of an alternative media’s official pronouncement is enough to have these radicals shouting “TROLLS” and “SHILLS” from the rooftops and street corners across the nation. One can hear the tones of slavish adulation in their childlike acceptance of each new and preposterous pronouncement - “Yes, I Beeeleeeve!” Perhaps therein lies one of their fears - free of the enforced beliefs, and solidly fixed ideas, they would be left alone to figure out things for themselves - and this they just cannot accept. They are afraid to do so - it might result in their seeing the world as it is and not as they would like it to be. It might actually require them to do something risky like stand up and speak against the evil of the activist community which just might upset Saturday’s protest.



It really is a form of cowardice, combined with years of conditioning by the alternative media reinforcing a world view that does not admit of questioning. For too long they have listened to the piper pipers of Noam Chomsky and Emma Goldman and now entrapped by the Pipers Tune they can no longer conceive of a world beyond, or contrary, to the song which has them in thrall. That their views are a conditioned and reflexive response is obvious by the absolute inability to accept and consider any alternative to the Piper’s tune.



The pusillanimity of the Liberal/Anarchist position is demonstrated by their constant need to deride anyone who disagrees with their world view. This I think provides some form of reassurance that by caricaturing contrary points of view that it somehow vindicates their own. This allows them to carefully avoid considering any contrary, and thus inconvenient, facts. This profound cowardice of course requires of them to immediately jump on any fact that might represent a threat to their fragile world (even a cornered Rat will fight). When cornered by an inconvenient and unavoidable fact that contradicts their fragile world they will frequently have the most amusing explosions. The constant left-wing publishing’s and comments we must from time to time suffer through are one such symptom of their fragile inability to confront and examine anything contrary to their conditioned view.



Often you will find such militant sheep cloaking their arguments in such verities as “everyone knows” and “obvious truths”. Of course if you cite one verifiable fact that calls into question one of their obvious truths they immediately cloud up and move to their next favorite pastime: Schoolyard Taunts and insults (I think they believe this lends greater strength to their arguments). Or is it that it is just a conditioned response?

Free thought and discourse is more threatening even to those who conceive that their power and prosperity rests upon keeping other people “active in the struggle”. These are the Piper’s Master’s and they call the tune. After all you just can’t have people thinking for themselves and pointing out the obvious false notes it might disturb the vast bovine multitudes content to consume Tofu and fill their Cud with Veggies.



Freedom scares them into a really powerful fright. Why, people might actually want to defend themselves. Instead they might begin asking awkward questions like “Why should I allow someone to kill me and my family?” “Instead of marching in the streets, should I put my butt on the line to protect my neighbor instead and not allow my fellow-man to become a victim of terrorists?” And of course the worse case scenario is that if enough people throw up their hands and give up they might find themselves victims of the legal system of those who would destroy us all - dancing a “Merry Jig” at the end of a rope.



To the loud proponents of the Official Activist Line the anarchists, socialists, communists, Maoists libertarians, anti-capitalists, and other such militant sheep they are the claritons of the truth because they know the alternative media would never lie to them nor would St. Chomsky, St. Moore, or any of the rest of their pantheon of prophets and other such deities. As previously highlighted pointing out even one item that does not fit their narrow world view is such as to send them into paroxysms of anger and denial.



In the final analysis they are to be pitied, victims of an induced psychoses, they should be treated with care, compassion and caution. The main thing to realize about them is that while they are rather pathetic wretches one must be careful to keep out of their hands sharp objects, or any other implement of destruction. Perhaps in time, with a caring touch, they may be induced to peak out of the hole into which they have retreated and see that the Sunshine really is not that threatening and that freedom means that they can actually have a little fun for a change.

Original: The Problem