Stephen Roney's Blog, page 122
August 30, 2022
The Way of the Pilgrim
Why are we here?
Many people plainly suppose we are here to seek pleasure. A high school friend used to say “we’re just two ends of a gastrointestinal tract.” A hotel co-worker said sex was what made life worthwhile.
This is the perspective of an animal or a robot. It is also a will-o-the-wisp. Without hunger, food does not satisfy. Without abstinence, sex is just work. It all becomes addiction, and pleasure is gone.
Some people think life is about achieving “success.” Success here means power and social authority over other people. This is actively active evil. And it certainly does not lead to contentment. “Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.”
Some people say that life is about having children, and giving them a start in life. This is the Darwinian perspective; the Bible too does say “go forth and multiply.” Kids are part of our job, at least. But it does not entirely satisfy. If your life is meaningless, so are your children’s lives.
Some people say life is about sacrifice of self to the collective: one owes ultimate allegiance to one’s parents, one’s community, and one’s homeland. “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” But this is idolatry: one’s nation, one’s government, or one’s parents can be either good or bad. This leads to “good Germans,” Fascism, racism, and nepotism.
Some say that life is about going about doing good to others. And it is, in detail: we are to clothe the naked and feed the hungry, when we encounter them. But this can easily become a form of ego-worship. The Bible warns that if we do good and are seen to do good, we already have our reward; we are acting in self-interest. God does not need you to save the world; realistically, things are already going as he intends. I suspect figures like Mother Teresa.
The meaning of life is to seek the true, the good, and the beautiful.
This is necessarily so, because truth, beauty, and good are the only things of value in themselves. They do not derive their value from anything else, and everything else is valuable only to the extent that it is true, good, or beautiful.
These values can be falsified and misunderstood. People often confuse beauty with sexual allure, for example. People misconstrue fact as truth, truth as fact. Facts are only one form of truth, and a trivial form. And people misrepresent goodness in many ways.
It is not public charity. It is also not being “nice,” and getting along with everyone. That requires having no principles, and giving everyone what they want. This is, at best, moral cowardice, at worst devious self-interest. It requires aiding and abetting evil whenever it appears.
True good is justice. Not to be confused with the current leftist concept of “social justice,” a euphemism for injustice. Justice means giving everyone what they deserve on their merits.
How does one, in practical terms, do this?
First, in art. Good art manifests beauty. Art is adding beauty to the world. This is an intrinsic good, even if no other mortal sees this beauty. God does, and with him you are building the New Jerusalem, which the Bible describes to us as a vast work of art. But if possible, the Bible also tells us to “let your light shine,” and be a leaven to those around you.
Good art must also be true. As Keats said, “truth is beauty, beauty truth; that is all ye know, and all ye need to know.” One may speak truth outside of art, but inside of art, you must. And speaking truth outside of art can be dangerous. Jesus warned: “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” So he spoke in parables. Art is intended, as Emily Dickenson said, to “tell all the truth, but tell it slant. Success in circuit lies.” Those who have eyes to see, will see.
Good art must also serve justice. We are aware of this when, for example, we read or watch a play. We will rebel, intellectually and emotionally, whether watching tragedy or comedy, if the resolution does not serve justice. Karma must come around. No cheap happy endings, and no gratuitous deaths.
Beyond art is something more: the practice of a religion. To bind yourself to a religion is, in effect, to make your life a work of art. Art shows the way; religion IS the way.
But there is no just going through the motions here, no “church on Sunday,” no hypocrisy. We are talking of full commitment, of “prayer without ceasing.” That is the ultimate. That is sainthood.
'Od's Blog: Catholic comments on the passing parade.
August 29, 2022
The End of Abundance?
I cannot confirm it online. But I hear a rumour there has been a sudden drop in birth rates across the world just in the past year.
True or not, it is surely true that birth rates have been dropping in the developed world over the last few years; and in most of the rest of the world too.
Many reasons could be offered. Feminism, pushing women into the workforce and devaluing motherhood. The rising costs of, and requirement for, children’s education. The move from rural to urban; kids are less useful and more costly in a city. The growing availability of contraception. The ability to rely on social security, rather than family support, in old age.
But there is another possibility.
Darwin notes, in The Ascent of Man, that whenever Europeans encountered a local population that was significantly less materially advanced, the fertility rate of that population suddenly dropped dramatically.
Why?
Because their established world view was challenged. They experienced “culture shock.” As the future they expected was removed from sight, they felt there was no future. Why have children?
Our elites have been telling us for years there is no future: global warming will kill us all. Overpopulation was going to kill us all too. Moreover, our elites explain, our world view is wrong. There is no truth, no meaning. The principles on which our culture is founded are racist and misogynist and wrong.
Macron, President of France, recently said publicly that the “Age of Abundance” is over. We will have to learn to do with less.
There is certainly a pervasive sense that we are at the end of something. Exacerbated by thoughts of death from the pandemic.
But we are hearing this from Macron and the elites. What if they are wrong? What if the problem is not with our world view, but with the elites?
I suspect this is the case. In ordinary circumstances it would be odd to hear this pessimism from the elites. Aside from what is real, it is their job to rally morale. They seem to be doing the opposite. THis in itself suggest a problem with the elites.
Perhaps the elites are projecting on the rest of us their sense that their time is limited. Not ours; theirs. They hear time’s winged chariot drawing near.
This is so because the explosion in information technology makes experts less useful, and reduces their ability to control.
Xi in China, or Putin in Russia, look in danger of imminent loss of power. But they have largely brought it upon themselves by attempts increase or consolidate their power. Why did they get so reckless? Might they have been driven by desperation?
So too with Trudeau in Canada, Ardern in New Zealand, and the erratic actions of the media and the Deep State in the US. The dragon, mortally wounded, is thrashing about.
Do we need to fear, or are we overly influenced by the elite here?
Look for signs of vitality and optimism in the world. They do not come from anyone in the established elites. They are all gloom and doom.
Yet I saw a strong sense of optimism and hope in Canada’s Freedom Convoy, and its supporters around the world, last February. Peace and joy seemed to be breaking out all over. I see it in the United People of Canada, who have, perhaps suitably, taken over an Ottawa Church for open discussion from all sides.
The elites fear new ideas. These common people do not. Without new ideas, there is no future.
I see optimism instead of fear of the future in the “populists” who back Trump and “Making American Great Again,” in the US. Brexit in the UK was a new departure, and expressed confidence in the future.
Perhaps this tells us all we need to know. It is not that we have no future. It is that the future does not include the elites, and so they are fighting against it.
But in all likelihood, the future will come. It belongs to those who have hope and optimism.
'Od's Blog: Catholic comments on the passing parade.
Behold Man without God
Canadian artist William Kurelek suffered severe depression throughout life—ameliorated, in later years, perhaps cured, by embracing Catholicism.
This was due to childhood abuse by his father.
The experience influences much of his work.
This is a detail from his 1957 painting “Behold Man without God,” done at about the time of his conversion. The figure at the top left is recognizable as his father. His father appears again at the bottom right.
Together, they are a portrait of childhood abuse in the real world. Like most great artists, Kurelek is an astute psychologist.
First, the form of abuse that is featured most prominently in visual terms is verbal, not physical—at the bottom right. He is scourged by his father’s tongue. This is far worse than physical abuse. And worse still, it is not simply criticism or insult: it is bait and switch. A reward is dangled in front of him, here a loaf of bread, but one he will never receive. This is the standard technique of the true abuser, false promises and misdirection. This is worst of all, because it corrodes the sense of what is real and not real, true or untrue, right or wrong.
This produces the sense of disorientation and meaninglessness that is the core experience we call depression.
Kurelek is also shown here pulling his father seated. He is carrying him emotionally. This is the general experience of the family of a narcissist, even when the narcissist himself is mild mannered or favours them: the narcissist will lean on them emotionally. If the narcissist has a bad feeling, it is always the child or spouse’s responsibility to do something about it. The narcissist is emotionally weak, unable to walk on their own.
In the centre of the detail shown, a ring of people are trapped by the head or neck, under a sign that reads “Home Sweet Home.” A commentator on the museum site says this is a “group of abused children.” Not quite; not all are obviously children. As the sign tells us, it is an image of the dysfunctional family. They are all trapped by the head or neck by the shared family dynamic or delusion emanating from the narcissistic parent, even if the narcissistic parent is not present. They are all feebly biting each other and hitting one another with maces, wherever they can.
This is the family situation the abusive parent will set up: they will deliberately foster enmity among all other members of the family. This increases their power and control. By, for example, promising this child or that child special favour, often in return for turning against a sibling.
Kurelek, the scapegoat, beaten at the top left, seems also to be one of the figures trapped at the neck by the revolving table. He seems to be the figure in the foreground.
That it is revolving is also important: no progress is ever made. It is all set up this way by the narcissist, who fears breaking out of a severely constrained orbit. The outside world, and progress itself, threatens his delusions of his own importance and his control. Any outside contacts or friendships will be discouraged in a dysfunctional family; they will be notably clannish. Any feints towards outside success will be discouraged. Any signs of originality of thought will be punished. One must conform to the family pattern.
Hence the sense of meaninglessness and an inability to progress that most characterizes what we call “depression.” A sense of being trapped in a horribly banal world, like Dorothy at the outset of The Wizard of Oz. A sense that you, or those around you, are robotic. Because narcissists are.
Happily, Kurelek also points the way to break out of this horror: Through art, that sees the transcendent, and through religion, that takes us there.
'Od's Blog: Catholic comments on the passing parade.
August 28, 2022
British Data on Excess Deaths
Confirms what Germany is saying ...
Narcissist in Power
It is clear that Joe Biden is a narcissist. The revelations on his son’s laptop and in his daughter’s diary put this beyond question.
Why do Biden’s children have this odd and seemingly self-destructive tendency to leave their secrets lying around?
It is a cry for help. It is a way to cry for help without being held by the narcissist to blame.
Ashley Biden’s diary reveals at least a strong suspicion of pedophilic incest.
This is a common feature of a dysfunctional family.
We think of narcissism as self-love; but what is “self”? Narcissists can be self-destructive. Better to see it as addiction to one’s desires, one’s vices. Sex is pleasurable. A child of the opposite sex readily available behind closed doors makes a target of opportunity.
Another child, readily available behind closed doors, makes a convenient target to vent your bad feelings. It seems, however, that Biden at least did not have this malicious streak. He also had enough self-control, or cunning, not to mess himself up with drugs or alcohol or public scandal.
Scapegoats will be considered wrong no matter what they do. But to those children not selected as scapegoats narcissists are likely to pass on the ethic of indulging every desire. Indeed, this will be encouraged. Children of narcissists therefore often themselves become narcissists. We see Ashley’s and Hunter’s sex addiction and drug addictions.
A narcissist will lie convincingly whenever it is to their advantage. What they desire to be true is more important than the truth. Biden has shown this tendency throughout his career.
A narcissist will worship his own body. It is, after all, the instrument of pleasure. He will expect others to adore it as well. Hear Biden talk fondly about how the hair stands up on his legs, and children like to stroke it. Witness Hunter’s endless naked selfies.
Narcissists are almost always personally charming. Because they lack morals, they are free to say whatever seems in their interest to say. Find someone who has no enemies, and you have probably found a narcissist.
As Confucius said, “If a man has no enemies at court, it is necessary to make enquiries.”
It is therefore alarming how everyone around Washington claims that Joe Biden is a nice guy personally.
Remarkable how the media and the FBI run interference for him, trying to suppress and ignore all the evidence. But this is a familiar phenomenon when dealing with narcissists: the flying monkeys.
At the same time, many call Trump a narcissist. Trump’s kids are evidently well-adjusted, personally happy and successful. Trump is accused of constantly lying. To the contrary, unlike Biden, he is strikingly truthful: he says what he thinks. Lots of people love him, lots of people hate him. This is the sure sign of a man of principle.
Rather than a narcissist or bully, Trump is a man who stands up to narcissists and bullies. Unlike most of us, he refuses to be a kapo or a flying monkey.
That is why we hate him. He won’t play the game. He is a threat to the narcissists, and he shames the rest of us.
We are, most of us, cowards. Narcissists will go great lengths to get what they want. If you oppose them, they will set up an infernal howl. If possible, they will bully you. So most of us go along with them immediately, and even help them destroy others. If we do not, we fear ourselves becoming the scapegoat.
It works this way in a dysfunctional family, and it works this way in a dysfunctional nation.
So all the flying monkey gang up against Trump.
We are in a particularly bad situation now, because for several generations, the “experts” have been telling us the most important thing is to make sure children have “self-esteem.” That is, are coached towards narcissism.
Now we have a critical mass, and all hell is breaking loose. And few are available to stop it.
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
'Od's Blog: Catholic comments on the passing parade.
A Scary Thought
This explains why many governments, including that of Canada, suddenly around last September became insistent that everyone must be vaccinated, and imposed vaccine mandates even on truckers There was no medical case for this, even if the vaccines worked and were safe. All that was needed was to vaccinate the most vulnerable. It was an otherwise unnecessary violation of human rights.
I assume they knew by about September, if not before, that herd immunity was not possible through vaccination, that the vaccines did not prevent the virus's spread, and that the vaccines were riskier than advertised. Up to t his point, pushing the vaccine on everyone might have been an innocent mistake. The responsible thing to do then would have been to pull back on the vaccination program. But then they risked being held to account for all those who died unnecessarily due to the vaccine.
Rather than intake their lumps. the safer political path was to try to force everyone to vaccinate, to hide the terrible reality that people who were vaccinated were dying at a higher rate than people who were not vaccinated. This would also explain why Trudeau called a snap election in the middle of a pandemic, which the public saw as unnecessary. It was to get a solid mandate before the truth came out.
No wonder they react so badly to any mention of the Nuremberg Code. No wonder they resorted to the Emergency Act. No wonder they have suddenly gone so authoritarian. They figure if and when this hits the fan, they are in big trouble. They are like burglars doubling down by trying to kill the witnesses...
A frightening thought, but it does seem to explain the facts at a time when government actions otherwise seem bizarre.
August 27, 2022
What's In a Name?
Bruce and Sheila are proverbially characteristically Australian names. But other names seem unique to this or that English speaking country. If you meet a Simon, you know they are from England. So too for Penelope or Fiona. For Scotland, Sandy and Maggie. For America, names from the Old Testament: Zeke, Sam, Beulah, Jem, and the like. Although they are fading. Harvey's an American name. For Canada, Howie or Gord. Which may say something about the legacy of Gordie Howe.
Shocking Description of Chinese Morale
For what it's worth, I do not see any trace of this despair in my students.
August 26, 2022
Why China Won't Collapse-?
Serpenza and C-Milk, two guys who spent years on the ground in China, and who married Chinese wives, are both assuring us that, no matter how dire the economic situation in China is looking, Xi and the CCP are not going to lose power.
I have long assumed that they would. It seems the general rule that, once the GDP per person hits about the $10,000 US per annum range, authoritarian nations transition to democracy. A self-sufficient middle class develops the strength to stand up to overly intrusive government at about this point.
Serpenza and C-Milk argue that, with new technology, this is no longer true. China is able to track everyone minute by minute through their smartphones and surveillance cameras. They have crushed all points of possible opposition. It is 1984 and Big Brother.
This is doubly alarming, because the Canadian government seems to be reproducing, step by step, the Chinese model. Control over the media, including social media. A crackdown on truckers and farmers, the sectors of the population most able to function independent of government. Freezing bank accounts and criminalizing protest. Imposing electronic surveillance with ArriveCan.
One marvels at how they dare do some of the things they are doing. Don’t they fear an eventual backlash from the voters?
Maybe not. Maybe soon there will be no more real votes or voters.
The same process seems to be moving along smarlty in Europe and the US as well.
I still think C-Milk and Serpenza are wrong, and that they will fail. While the new technology can be used to vastly expand government and corporate control, it also puts a computer and a communications hub in everyone’s palm. On balance, I think the stream of new information will outpace the government’s ability to control it. Thanks also to the “weaponized autism” of the nerds. The increase in authoritarianism is exactly because the bullies feel they are losing control.
I say the whole criminal enterprise collapses, and soon. I suspect China first. All it really takes is for some well-positioned military unit to refuse orders to fire on a crowd.
At a minimum, anyone who, up until the start of the pandemic, still basically trusted government, now looks foolish.
'Od's Blog: Catholic comments on the passing parade.
