By Graham Ranseen
August 31st, 2021
Our Modern Society has changed so rapidly in just the past 150 years – that the minds of the collective or, the collective mind of humanity – might only be feeling or, realizing the ‘complete’ breadth and scope of the dangers of banishing its citizens, its people and ultimately itself now more than ever!
In my previous Blog Post title, Straight Into The Heart of Truth, I briefly described the inherent dangers of how the Mob or, mass collective consciousness can carry with it ideas which can bring great harm to itself in a blind and desperate attempt to give itself some immediate sense of peace. I specifically stated,
“the danger of our modern age is that the mob can carry with it the liberating spirit of truth or, it can carry the hellish fire of ignorance – and whichever gets more attention is often what is spread fastest – which is a dangerous reality to live in.”
Indeed it is!
Civilizations – both recorded and unrecorded by the human hand or, captured by the written word – have marched down the wrong path into darkness and ignorance and expired into oblivian– perhaps sooner than they should’ve – due to their not managing the welfare of their people and civilization with the right moral and ethical principles of serving Truth.
The question must be asked – in which direction of this crossroads are we headed into today? As two decades have completed into the 21st century, the speed in which we are so easily being led or, misled away from Truth is Alarming!
Everyday we hear people speak about the rare and completely modern aspects of Cancel Culture, as if it were some new phenomenon.
However and once again, I would advise you to expand your comprehension and use the analogy of the Chain to seek out deeper causes for our present day problems.
THE SPECTRE OF FEAR
The Red Scare – the threat of Communist ideals emerging in the West in the 1950’s – and its witch hunt of both public and civilian figures and their brutal and treacherous ‘black balling’ of individuals from segments of society – restricting their opportunities and livelihood – revealed to us in eerie and dangerous ways, how the subjective views and opinions of a minority can be bought wholesale by ‘fearful’, ‘impressionable’ and ‘vulnerable’ masses.
This gives credence to possibly a few scenarios. Such as, can such behavioral responses from the masses be used to advance various goals, aims and agendas.
IF we know how easily and plainly corporations and entrepreneurs seek to understand the service supply and demands in their communities – to study the behaviors and trends of consumers – to be able to find some new, ingenious method to exploit these weaknesses, needs and vulnerability for both personal and public gain.
THEN how can we deny that opportunistic minds do not exist in other aspects of society, such as, Entertainment, Government or, just any organization composed of humans? Are human beings not capable of temptation? Corruption? Of having a dark heart?
The Threat of Publication
The means by which ideas or, even worse, opinions can flow through a vulnerable and order-taking population is quickly taking its toll on every day citizens – who are now becoming victimized by the same means through social media on a local level. Yet, has anyone truly broken down why this is the case? Yes, it is plain to see that ideas, opinions and trends can travel and catch on at rapid speeds but this is due to how they are being transmitted. Before technology began to record everything digitally, human beings spoke, acted and reacted in much the same way as we do now – if not more viscously and prejudicially.
The difference now that holding opinions or, different points of view and expressing them openly is now a problem because our thoughts are being ‘Published‘. The results are leading to many individuals losing their jobs, their livelihoods and even their families. The act of reflection is being removed from our conversations as well – since we are recording our immediate and impulsive reactions rather than our well formed and carefully constructed responses!
Are we reflecting on the cause of our speech and how much thought someone placed into it? Who within this sphere of existence might not be susceptible to consider or, express an opinion just to see where it might lead? Or, as an experiment? Aren’t we all experimenting with life in one form or, another? Isn’t so much of what we think or, do experimentation and speculation? Trial and Error? Is it wrong to experiment? Is it a crime to Speculate?
If human beings are given tools to communicate at their fingertips which are merely and lazily recording their half formed and half baked thoughts. Can we condemn someone for being lazy? Being foolish? Or, not fully forming a thought? Are we being punished for our ignorance or, because of the severely invasive tools we are nearly demanded to have access to? Which have invaded our privacy to such an extent – that it records ALL that we are but only chooses – with the interest of human motives – to share, reveal or, condemn the worst aspects of us?
Who among us – if we explore deeply enough is perfect?
Please keep in mind that by my expressing the possibly unjust severity of the punishments of Speech Censorship or, banning citizens and users from various communication platforms or, even criticizing and empathizing with human beings in positions of power – who abused that power – does not mean I am excusing or, forgiving those who actually and truly have committed terrible crimes against their victims or, others. I am merely making a deeper and more important point – that the trends of banning, removing and cancelling human beings might not be a wise or, permanent solution to the real problems at hand.
In our lives, removing something or, someone from our day to day existence is only one aspect of finding true resolution or, peace – we must seek to understand the full cause and the full extent and context of what occurred and in this way eventually, possibly and through temperance as well as much meditation and reflection – may we find peace. An irrational or, immediate and impulsive removal only solves part of our problems – in order to truly Master and Conquer our problems we must Completely and Clearly understand every component part of their causes and ends.
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Social media has gifted us with instant communications allowing us to become more efficient, smarter and more effective but it has also created a monster, allowing the blind judgement of Majority Rule to sink its teeth into its victims with voracious and relentless momentum. Eviscerating its victims – whose guilt may actually reside anywhere between the sliding scales of culpability and innocence – which only the hands of Fate or, even God may be able to decide.
Is such a punishment fair?
I would argue that punishment is only fair and useful if it teaches the one who is condemned to ‘change’ and improve their life! If the aim of punishment or, penalties does not seek this ultimate end within it’s directives and tyrannical thrusts of power– What is it’s purpose? What are it’s goals?
The problem is in my view – that we have become too smart for our own good! There can be a thousand and one ways to justify different behaviors, penalties and laws. Yet, isn’t the goal of ‘civilization’ to rehabilitate and improve human beings – or, our own selves?
Ironically, while we have given our power away to automation and technology, we have lost or, are losing our own personal power. This proves a fundamental point regarding power – that in order to maintain some degree of power or, function – we must ‘exercise’ or, ‘use’ our powers and our functions. If we do not use power and cannot see it, how will we know what power looks like or, feels like?
Back to the dangers of Cancel Culture and its diabolical movements through our societies.
It should be plain to see to anyone who has even a below average understanding of history that most character assassinations and related strategizing has come out of the practices built from within the Political establishment.
In Politics, discrediting, demonizing, cancelling and destroying another’s reputation is the standard for playing the game of Politics itself. It is akin to Breathing.
An interesting observation or, question arises: Does the fact that our societies and our world at large : embracing such tactics of assassinating reputations and personalities – or, even at the very least – simply going along with such movements – is this evidence of our Politics spreading it’s tentacles and its influence into every aspect of our personal lives, societies and cultures? Have our politics taken over our private lives? The last decade or, so seems to reveal this to be a real problem!
If people are convinced that character assassinations, cancelling human beings – both public and private figures – is about political agendas and is an extension of the modern viscous and diabolical political landscape – then will we simply treat each other as political enemies rather than like minded members of the same community? Will we remain divided amongst ourselves and powerless? Or will we redeem, rejoin and reach toward Unity?
SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS
Regarding how human beings have knowingly or, unknowingly embraced the ideals of Communism is interesting to observe. There seems to have been many public events which transpired – either organically or, intentionally – as a means of learning how the population may be perceptive to either order or, chaos – community or, anarchy.
Compare the Red Scare of the 1950’s side by side to the trends of the Freedom and Liberation movements which emerged like wildfires in the 1960s and their glaring contradictions. From the ideals of “Commune” living embraced by the Hippie movement to the loose or, even chaotic disruption of all structures and ideals through the use and embrace of Drug consumption and Drug culture. To celebrating the idea of dropping out of Society!
In my mind, I want to ask, did these two decades actually and organically occur right next to each other? And if so, what did we learn from them? Is it possible that the same trends are just flowing through the population today? Consider the movements which have emerged in just the past few years.
The embracing of Communism is always appealing to the youth, to the wide eyed, innocents of every generation who think with their hearts rather than with their heads. As most people age, usually, they realize – after working and paying taxes for a number of years – where their money is actually going and how much they learned in school actually helped them in life.
Yet, the irony is that while there may be a class of Youth who mature into adulthood and realize the benefits of small Government – there are even more who being young and naïve, feel that giving their personal power to the Government is the best solution – rather than retaining it within their own communities.
“I HEARTILY accept the motto, – “That government is best which governs least;” and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out it finally amounts to this, which also I believe, – “That government is best which governs not at all;” and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of Government which they will have.”
-Henry David Thoreau, Opening Lines of “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” 1849
The problem between Governments and its Citizens may be traced to the balance or, the paradox within the human being, which I mentioned in my last post, regarding Heart vs. Head. In my view, most young people naturally need guidance and even want guidance and so they open their hearts – however – the leaders, the parents or, those in power positions are usually self absorbed or, lacking in heart due to being overworked, overburdened and overstressed. In the worst cases, those who have the most power to actually implement change are also usually the most corrupt.
Another aspect of the Heart vs. Head dynamic is how most people by default believe that the Government are the “Thinkers” and “Decision Makers” and the people are the “Doers”. or, the “Workers”. This assumption is built right into the Heart vs. Head Dynamic as well – since individuals who do not or refuse to grow up or defer to others are also usually lacking in personal accountability, discipline or, even feeling worthy or capable of critical thinking and problem solving to overcome their circumstances. The conflict within this dynamic seems to be on full display between the younger generations and the older generations as well as of late. The question is, did these divisions emerge organically or, did emerge in our societies in a different way?
How human beings desire Community is also tied to how human beings react to Fear and how Fear is used on a massive scale to manipulate populations might be culminating into an exact science! Which should terrify each and every one of us!
How Fear has been used since the Nazi’s experiments with mass propaganda during WW2 is worth exploring. A few questions come to my mind: Did the mass hysteria of Fear begin with the Red Scare? Did it begin with the threat of the Nuclear Bomb? Did it accelerate with the rise of Fascism through WW1 and WW2?
Did it begin with our creation of the external devices or, machines – when we knew that we were giving our power away – did this transfer of personal power, subconsciously scare us?
Fear has always both held human beings down from freedom, autonomy and opportunity just as much as it has helped keep human beings secure, ordered and safe from their own selves – even at the cost of ignorance – which we all inherit and must battle with daily.
One may have heard the phrase, “Feed them to the Wolves”!
The idea being that by exploiting one’s weaknesses or, vulnerabilities or, even painting someone in a bad light through creating doubt may be enough to allow the wheels and mechanisms of a society hungry for excitement and entertainment to take over and do the rest!
So, Is cancel culture something new? Have not societies always killed, murdered, banished, exiled it’s citizens? The trend or, the practice has always existed. In the way that criminals or, the accused were thrown into the Roman Arena –the entertainment provided to the people and citizens of Ancient Rome – who took mob like pleasure in seeing the condemned be tortured, brutalized and executed in their Colosseum.
THE KEYS OF A PIANO – THE DIVERSE EXPRESSIONS OF HUMANITY
Human’s are whole beings! We are not just a personality or, a name or, an identity. We are not just a reputation or, representative of one act! To relegate an entire human life into a few wrong acts is absurd! The truth is most people have not been tested within every context of life, so by attacking or, condemning others we are possibly and potentially just condemning ourselves – because the chances are quite high – that if we were in positions of power… Most of us, not All – Might Cave to the pressures and temptations as well!
“Nearly All Men Can Stand Adversity, But If You Want To Test a Man’s Character, Give Him Power”
–Abraham Lincoln? Thomas Carlyle? Robert G. Ingersoll? Horatio Alger Jr.? Apocryphal?
Just as every human being is capable of Great Good – every human being is simultaneously capable of Great Evil! The problem is that most people do not and will not know what they’re capable of – in either direction – due to the lack of being tested. What’s more is that most people look to those who have transcended their circumstances for leadership, guidance and an understanding of what is possible. These individuals usually are known or, well known public figures who may enjoy fame from a local level to a global level. This is why disgracing, demonizing and destroying public figures is so beneficial to altering public perceptions about things and why slander is such a powerful and effective political tool for those seeking Power.
We should ask ourselves another question : If Jesus Christ came back today and told the world, from a pure heart and with complete love – That All Lives Matter! And that we should love our neighbor and our enemies and everyone the same – Would we cancel him? Or, accuse him of Racism? Would we crucify him again? This is a valid question!
Human beings will always find a way to destroy themselves and sabotage each other and this is a sad and stark reality of Life!
This is why I prescribe to the idea that well thought out, well formed and reflected speech or, Art and Expression is the key to fixing our modern problems regarding censorship and cancel culture. Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest writers history has known stated the following regarding how and why he wrote:
“I’m trying in all my stories to get the feeling of the actual life across—not to just depict life—or criticize it—but to actually make it alive. So that when you have read something by me you actually experience the thing. You can’t do this without putting in the bad and the ugly as well as what is beautiful. Because if it is all beautiful you can’t believe in it. Things aren’t that way.”
ERNEST HEMINGWAY – In a Letter to his father2
The dangers of our modern societal problems regarding Politics, Censorship, Free-Speech, Free-Expression and Cancellation of Human reputations is that we are restricting our Comprehension of Truth! In doing so, we risk creating generations of human beings who might have no clue what Freedom or, Truth even are or, what they feel like or, that they are Free.
If the purpose and aim of the Universe is to create – in order to see and know itself – and if by extension, the purpose of Life is so that we can see and know who we are and are able to see ourselves in each other at all times so that through this knowledge we are redeemed and at peace with ourselves and conversely achieve our life’s potential – then are we all giving each other a chance to achieve this possibility?
If we were trying to see who we actually are – would we not need to see every component part of ourselves and each other in order to know the full extent of all that we are? If we do not know how dark or, evil we can be, how will we know how to measure our senses for light or, for what is good?
To omit or, completely remove parts of ourselves without learning from them is worse than ignorance. The reason redemption, forgiveness and respect play such a central role in our lives and our history as a species is that it allows us to understand ourselves and come back from darkness.
If we keep removing people or parts of society from view or, from access. Eventually we will reach a point where not all expressions will be balanced. Not all notes and possibilities will be known or, explored and as a result we will live in half truths, partial truths or even in a world where no Truth exists.
If we keep cancelling, removing or, omitting different parts of our collective self. How will see the best and the worst parts of our species? How will we see the whole Truth? If we cannot or, are not allowed to see and understand the worst aspect of humanity, how will we know what its best aspects are? Moreover, if we cannot see human beings making mistakes and coming back from those mistakes and redeeming themselves – we will never realize that the darkness in the hearts of whom we condemn are also in each and every one of us.
To remain in darkness or, to allow darkness to persist without learning form it or, coming back from it is not the ‘Entire Truth’ and are not representative of the duality and the foundations on which the Universe and by extension – our Lives are based on. All of the Universe is composed of Duality. Light and Dark. Good and Evil. Weight and Weightlessness. Life and Death. Creation and Destruction. Do we not need to see all sides to know who we are? What is even more sad is the passive reactions that most people have toward the real damage being done to their societies, their culture, their countries laws, their personal freedoms and their ability even to communicate honestly, openly and authentically with each other. If I want to get real with you – why can’t I? Why is this wrong?
I can only hope that as time goes on we allow those among us who have been condemned and removed from society, an opportunity to truly transform and redeem themselves. If not, then eventually, I fear that we may very well reach a point in our history as a species or, in our current iteration of civilization, in which anything and everything will be cancelled, censored and removed – “To the last syllable of recorded Time”2…until their is nothing left!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/448622-i-m-trying-in-all-my-stories-to-get-the-feeling / https://www.jfklibrary.org/visit-museum/exhibits/past-exhibits/ernest-hemingway-between-two-wars
- Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5, lines 17-28. William Shakespeare
NOTE: There are more thoughts on these ideas which I may add here later or, simply continue expanding in my book.
The Chain 