Memory, Meaning, Moments and Madness: Wanderers in No Man's Land

06-02-2010 • chris-floyd.com/

As Father and I know, and as we try not to remind them, there is no good reason for our subjects to pay their taxes, row our ships, fight our battles or tip their caps to us other than tradition and the threat of violence (which is implicit, nicely civilized and glossed over in the older, better families like mine). Much as I loathed the war, there was at least the prospect of a tolerable life afterward ... I would rather have died than come down in the world. And here we have our elites in a nutshell. Their power and privilege -- though real enough in their deadly application-- are, at their core, empty shams, and entirely illegitimate. Arthur Silber wrote eloquently on this theme just a few days ago, in a piece outlining the need -- and great effectiveness -- of non-violent non-cooperation with evil. You should read the whole piece, and follow the links, to get the full scope of the piece, but here is an excerpt: It is only the slavish obedience to authority, the reluctance and refusal to break the goddamned rules and "cause trouble," that makes the elites and their hold on power possible. Take away that obedience, take away the refusal to deny the legitimacy of the ruling elites and their demands that all the rest of us support them in their rule, and they have nothing. The elites know that; most Americans don't ... The ruling class is corrupt, immoral, deadly, and entirely illegitimate. Their greatest fear is that you will realize it.My statement that the ruling class has "nothing" if and when a critical number of people refuse to obey (i.e., when they choose non-cooperation) doesn't contradict my observations concerning the weapons our rulers could use against those who don't obey. The "nothing" refers to the ultimate foundation of the elites' power; the weapons they possess represent only one aspect of the day-to-day operations of that power, as terrible as that particular aspect is. And it cannot be overemphasized that peaceful non-cooperation can be enormously effective against even the most vicious of totalitarian regimes: see here and here for some astonishing and inspiring examples of that effectiveness from fairly recent history. From the first of those links, carefully note this: "[I]n the end almost all Danish Jews escaped unharmed. "The power of "No" is far, far greater than most people ever permit themselves to understand.

1 Comments in Response to Memory, Meaning, Moments and Madness: Wanderers in No Man's Land

Comment by Powell Gammill

Entered on: 6/2/2010 8:51:17 AM

Superb article, if somewhat droning and tedious at times. Well worth the read however. Here is the corrected broken link found about half way through:

http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/2010/05/iii-life-in-shadow-of-death-and-power.html

I would send the author a note, but it requires I register at his site...I hate that.

Make a Comment (1) • Email Link • Send Letter to Editor

Freedoms Phoenix

Online Magazine

Join-Us

Newspaper

Phone Apps

Declare Your Independence with Ernest Hancock

Live Broadcast

Declare Your Independence

MENU

Memory, Meaning, Moments and Madness: Wanderers in No Man's Land

1 Comments in Response to Memory, Meaning, Moments and Madness: Wanderers in No Man's Land

FreedomsPhoenix.com

Live Broadcast

MENU

1 Comments in Response to Memory, Meaning, Moments and Madness: Wanderers in No Man's Land

Watch Streaming Broadcast Live:

Current News | Contents By Subject

Additional Related items you might find interesting:Related items:

FreedomsPhoenix.com