The Marvelousness…
Contrary to the expectations
of 19th century radicals, religion has
not gone away
–perhaps we’d be better off if it had
–but instead has increased in power,
seemingly in proportion to the global increase
in the realm of technology
& rational control.
Both fundamentalism
& the New Age
derive some force
from deep & widespread dissatisfaction
with the System that works against
all perception of
the marvelousness of everyday life.
–call it Babylon or the Spectacle,
Capital or Empire, Society of Simulation
or of soulless mechanism
–what you wish.
But these two religious forces
divert the very desire for the authentic
toward overpowering & oppressive
new abstractions
(morality in the case of fundamentalism,
commodification in the case of the New Age),
and for this reason
can quite properly be called
“reactionary.”
T.A.Z. The Temporary Autonomous Zone, Ontological Anarchy, Poetic Terrorism by Hakim Bey, For A Congress Of Weird Religions page 82
I am to depart for France in a few hours. I’d rather not be any closer to a hot war raging between two fundamentalist regimes, that of Iran governed by the ayatollah, and that of Israel (America’s close ally) governed by a coalition of nationalists and Zionists. Without question each intends to eliminate the other tout court. Americans are bound to be caught up in this blood bath.
Who can be so fooled to believe that religion has receded into the background, and is on the cusp of disappearing? The current administration in power in Washington is the stalking horse for the storm-trooper televangelists, their sycophant followers who fill the parking lots of the mega-churches Sunday after Sunday. A morality, severe and cringe worthy that oppresses women, depriving females of the right of autonomy in health-care is what they demand. No matter that the brain trusts in the shadow of the Trump party are diehard racists. Administrative incompetence, ignorance – requires a scapegoat. After beginning with the exile of every immigrant person of color they are able to get their hands on, what subgroup of American society will be next? Gay Americans or perhaps Jewish Americans?
The emergence of raw violence within the day to day fabric of life, is a symptom of a way of life, that systemically alienates us from the splendor of the ordinary. How many of us are lonely? Can you remember the last conversation that you had with someone about your hopes and fears at this juncture in your life? Alienation is a feature of our time…
What more, I have nothing more to say. Here are some photos to suggest the marvelousness of life on offer to everyone, – free of charge.
One final comment. The marvelousness of ordinary life, – is religion. A very old religion.
2 thoughts on “The Marvelousness…”
The term “Zionist” has a very tricky definition and one that can be easily misinterpreted. Most Jews who have a passion for a homeland feel that the state of Israel has offered and continues to offer a haven from a world in which anti-semitism is rampant. Many people who consider themselves Zionists are vehemently against Netanyahu and his far right wing supporters. They feel that the current government of Israel is doing a tremendous amount of damage to the country which may very well lead to its ultimate demise.
Netanyahu is propped up by a segment of the country that is known as the Haredi who are members of the ultra-orthodox community. Mostly these believers have zero tolerance for anyone who does not espouse their belief system and that includes Arabs and Palestinians. Many members of this far right group have called for the extermination of all Palestinians and that is what the current regime appears to be doing.
It’s very important to understand that this is an anathema to what most Jews believe and many members of the Jewish community are fighting this type of attitude with every ounce of their being.
So when anyone mentions Zionism, it has to be taken in context. Jews (or anyone else) can support the existence of the state of Israel without supporting its current policies. Just like in the United States, many of us are dedicated to the ideals as offered in the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the subsequent Bill of Rights. But we do not, in any respect, support the current direction of this sham of a Trumpist government. We can be pro-American while remaining adamantly opposed to Trump.
Something to keep in mind.
Tobin as you know I am not Jewish. The problem now festering in Israel and the middle east has an uncanny resemblance to our own impasse in our own country.
The part of the picture I am sure of however is that Britain had no right to give away land that someone else had lived on for generations. Palestine in 1926 had inhabitants. The 18th century European monarchs believed they had the right to dispense franchises in the new world to those who were to bring them profits. This kind of dealing, plunder of land on which others already live, without any intent to negotiate – can only result in atrocity. Amends are to be made, and absent that – the result is predictable. More violence.