Now that you know the meaning of the name of this blog and who I am, all that remains before this blog can start in full swing is for me to inform you of the purpose of this blog and what it would deal with. This blog will be my chance to give my view on varying issues in the modern world. The main topics this blog will cover will be:
Politics. I shall discuss politics and give an anarchist's perspective on the current going ons in it. I will discuss what Congress is doing or foreign relations between different countries. I will primarily focus on American politics since I know the most about them, since I'm an American, but I will not restrict myself to American politics. I will give my opinion on all of them. That opinion will be that of an unabashed radical and anarchist. I will not censor my opinion. I will not filter my opinion.
Social justice. I will focus on worthy causes that people are fighting and show plights of people that aren't being defended. I will show injustices in the world, and talk about what is wrong with them and why.
Economics. I find economics to be a sorry affair and most economists to be capitalist apologists. I will seek to counter false claims by them and present an anarchist perspective on things.
Anything else that catches my fancy. While the others will be the primary thing I focus on, I will look at any number of things beyond that.
Showing posts with label introduction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label introduction. Show all posts
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The Beggar in the Court of Miracles
So the poor live in a Court of Miracles, but who am I? Who is this beggar in the modern day Court of Miracles? What gives me the right to say that I'm writing from this court?
Well, for starters, I wasn't always a member of the Court of Miracles. My parents are moderately wealthy. Middle Class. They allowed me to grow up in a relatively stable environment. There was rarely much worry about money. I was unsatisfied, though. They may have been rich enough to make sure I lived a comfortable life, but they were strict. Controlling. I have been rebelling against their authority for as long as I can remember. They taught me the value of freedom by taking it away. I was faced with a choice of being free(r) or being rich(er). I choose to break the chains that bind me. I moved out of my parents place. Soon after, they stopped paying for my education. Within the next few months, I proceeded to chop off any remaining financial connection I had to them. In exchange, I got poverty. I'm unemployed and poor. I live in a rented apartment with two roommates. Here I feel like I belong. Here I feel more free than I have ever felt. I'm not free, yet, but relative freedom is better than none.
Now, that explains why I'm in the Court of Miracles, but not who I am. So who am I?
I am an anarchist. I am an atheist. I am a communist. I am a nihilist. I am pansexual. I am a pacifist. I am polyamorus.
Now what does this all mean? Thank you for asking!
First, anarchism. This is a commonly misunderstood term and movement. The most common misconception is that anarchists are bomb throwing terrorists. This myth came from the Haymarket Square affair. Some peaceful protests in support of a strike happened on May 4, 1886. However, when the police came to disperse the crowd, an unknown person threw a bomb into them. The police turned violent. The perpetrator was never found, but eight anarchists were tried. The court made no pretense of them being the perpetrators. Four were hanged. One killed himself to avoid execution. Two served life in prison. One served fifteen years in jail. None of them threw the bomb. Of course, the myth has a grain of truth to it. Some anarchists subscribed to the Propaganda of the Deed. According to the Propaganda of the Deed, to ignite revolution against our rulers, we must show that they can bleed. To achieve that, proponents would commit high profile assassination. However, the Propaganda of the Deed was always done by a minority, and even the majority of those who once followed it do so no longer. The objections are both on moral grounds, it kills people, and on tactical grounds, it allows the state to portray us as the bad guys and assumes that the people are just waiting for revolution and will rise up the moment they believe they can.
But that's all about myths about anarchism. What is it actually about? A destruction of hierarchy. Ruler over ruled. Capitalist over worker. Man over woman. White over black. We support a system of decentralized direct democracy and voluntary association. In general, we tend to be opposed to capitalism, sexism, homophobia, and racism.
Second, atheism. Atheism is, in short, a lack of belief in any god. This does not, however, mean a belief in no gods. Atheism is a null hypothesis. A lack of belief, not a belief in the negative. I do view organized religion as bad as it tends to create a hierarchical system, so, as an anarchist, I oppose it.
Third, communism. As a communist, I wish to create a society where the means of production are owned communally. In addition, I seek to, as a communist, eliminate class and money. Instead of a market economy, I envision a gift economy. In a gift economy, things aren't traded for directly, like with a market or barter system. In a gift economy, people "gift" others stuff they make. This is done with the understanding that others will do the same for you. This is because, on average, what you gift to others will be equal to or greater than what you are gifted by others. Such a system would, in my opinion, most closely follow the principle of "From each according to his or her ability. To each according to his or her need."
Fourth, nihilism. Nihilism is the belief that there is no inherent meaning, purpose, or value to life and the universe. Any and all value is applied, often arbitrarily, by people. However, I contend that, rather than this being something bleak and horrible like many portray it to be, it is something beautiful. We rely on ourselves for meaning. We rely on ourselves for value. We rely on ourselves for purpose. There isn't no meaning, or purpose or value, just none of it is inherent. We find meaning. We create purpose. We see value. We do not need the universe or life to give it for us.
Fifth, pansexuality. Pansexuality is the sexual orientation that does not care about sex and gender. I do not take sex or gender into account for attraction. I do not care about sex and gender, when it comes to who I wish to have sex with or have a relationship with.
Sixth, pacifism. I am in opposition to war and violence. Both create seeds of hatred and revenge becoming self-perpetuating. That's not to say all war and/or violence is necessarily wrong, but the cases where they aren't wrong are few and far between. Generally, they are only really right when done in self defense. Violence I give more leeway for the defense of others than I do war. Just war is a faulty concept, in my opinion. War of self-defense is justifiable, but not if it turns into an aggressive war. Aiding others in war is iffy, and is almost always not justifiable. Revolution is justifiable if the people are behind it.
Seventh, polyamory. I love and date multiple people. I am currently in eight serious relationships. All of them are completely aware of the others. I give them each veto power for new partners. My partners are each in two to eight relationships themselves.
Well, for starters, I wasn't always a member of the Court of Miracles. My parents are moderately wealthy. Middle Class. They allowed me to grow up in a relatively stable environment. There was rarely much worry about money. I was unsatisfied, though. They may have been rich enough to make sure I lived a comfortable life, but they were strict. Controlling. I have been rebelling against their authority for as long as I can remember. They taught me the value of freedom by taking it away. I was faced with a choice of being free(r) or being rich(er). I choose to break the chains that bind me. I moved out of my parents place. Soon after, they stopped paying for my education. Within the next few months, I proceeded to chop off any remaining financial connection I had to them. In exchange, I got poverty. I'm unemployed and poor. I live in a rented apartment with two roommates. Here I feel like I belong. Here I feel more free than I have ever felt. I'm not free, yet, but relative freedom is better than none.
Now, that explains why I'm in the Court of Miracles, but not who I am. So who am I?
I am an anarchist. I am an atheist. I am a communist. I am a nihilist. I am pansexual. I am a pacifist. I am polyamorus.
Now what does this all mean? Thank you for asking!
First, anarchism. This is a commonly misunderstood term and movement. The most common misconception is that anarchists are bomb throwing terrorists. This myth came from the Haymarket Square affair. Some peaceful protests in support of a strike happened on May 4, 1886. However, when the police came to disperse the crowd, an unknown person threw a bomb into them. The police turned violent. The perpetrator was never found, but eight anarchists were tried. The court made no pretense of them being the perpetrators. Four were hanged. One killed himself to avoid execution. Two served life in prison. One served fifteen years in jail. None of them threw the bomb. Of course, the myth has a grain of truth to it. Some anarchists subscribed to the Propaganda of the Deed. According to the Propaganda of the Deed, to ignite revolution against our rulers, we must show that they can bleed. To achieve that, proponents would commit high profile assassination. However, the Propaganda of the Deed was always done by a minority, and even the majority of those who once followed it do so no longer. The objections are both on moral grounds, it kills people, and on tactical grounds, it allows the state to portray us as the bad guys and assumes that the people are just waiting for revolution and will rise up the moment they believe they can.
But that's all about myths about anarchism. What is it actually about? A destruction of hierarchy. Ruler over ruled. Capitalist over worker. Man over woman. White over black. We support a system of decentralized direct democracy and voluntary association. In general, we tend to be opposed to capitalism, sexism, homophobia, and racism.
Second, atheism. Atheism is, in short, a lack of belief in any god. This does not, however, mean a belief in no gods. Atheism is a null hypothesis. A lack of belief, not a belief in the negative. I do view organized religion as bad as it tends to create a hierarchical system, so, as an anarchist, I oppose it.
Third, communism. As a communist, I wish to create a society where the means of production are owned communally. In addition, I seek to, as a communist, eliminate class and money. Instead of a market economy, I envision a gift economy. In a gift economy, things aren't traded for directly, like with a market or barter system. In a gift economy, people "gift" others stuff they make. This is done with the understanding that others will do the same for you. This is because, on average, what you gift to others will be equal to or greater than what you are gifted by others. Such a system would, in my opinion, most closely follow the principle of "From each according to his or her ability. To each according to his or her need."
Fourth, nihilism. Nihilism is the belief that there is no inherent meaning, purpose, or value to life and the universe. Any and all value is applied, often arbitrarily, by people. However, I contend that, rather than this being something bleak and horrible like many portray it to be, it is something beautiful. We rely on ourselves for meaning. We rely on ourselves for value. We rely on ourselves for purpose. There isn't no meaning, or purpose or value, just none of it is inherent. We find meaning. We create purpose. We see value. We do not need the universe or life to give it for us.
Fifth, pansexuality. Pansexuality is the sexual orientation that does not care about sex and gender. I do not take sex or gender into account for attraction. I do not care about sex and gender, when it comes to who I wish to have sex with or have a relationship with.
Sixth, pacifism. I am in opposition to war and violence. Both create seeds of hatred and revenge becoming self-perpetuating. That's not to say all war and/or violence is necessarily wrong, but the cases where they aren't wrong are few and far between. Generally, they are only really right when done in self defense. Violence I give more leeway for the defense of others than I do war. Just war is a faulty concept, in my opinion. War of self-defense is justifiable, but not if it turns into an aggressive war. Aiding others in war is iffy, and is almost always not justifiable. Revolution is justifiable if the people are behind it.
Seventh, polyamory. I love and date multiple people. I am currently in eight serious relationships. All of them are completely aware of the others. I give them each veto power for new partners. My partners are each in two to eight relationships themselves.
Introduction to the Court of Miracles
There is a significance to names. Liberal. Conservative. Radical. Reactionary. Socialist. Capitalist. Anarchist. Atheist. Christian. Muslim. Hindu. Rich. Poor. Feminist. Intellectual. Proletariat. You. Me. They all describe something. Someone. It's important to not be too exclusive, lest one falls in the pit of the No True Scotsman Fallacy. However, at the same time, you cannot be too inclusive, lest someone takes a name that isn't fitting. Names hold significance beyond the people they represent. Socialism is socialism, even if there is nothing left that fits that name. The significance of the names are important. Equally important is the reasons behind choosing the names.
So why have I chosen Court of Miracles? What significance does that name hold? Well, I must admit, the reason for choosing it isn't the same reason I first thought of it. I first thought of it as a descriptor of the modern world, thinking, primarily, of the song from the Hunchback of Notre Dame where the inhabitants of the court hold a mock trial, with one man serving as judge, jury, and executioner. However, being who I am, I was not satisfied with using it in that way without learning more about it. So I went to google and searched. The Court of Miracles is originally a French term, Cour des Miracles. It refers to French Slums inhabited mainly by beggars. It gained its name because the beggars from it would fake grievous handicaps to gain more from their begging, from blindness to sickness, but they'd drop their charade when they returned to the slums. "Blind" men could see. "Cripples" could walk. Miracles happened every day. But they weren't miracles. They were honesty. The beggars only needed to lie to the rich. Among their own, they could be themselves. And, so, I saw a new way to use the name Court of Miracles and apply it to the modern world. The Court of Miracles isn't the state. The Court of Miracles isn't the rich. The Court of Miracles is the poor and downtrodden. We may not live in slums comparable to that of the French beggars, but we still jump through hoops for the rich. Like the beggars in the old French Cour des Miracles, we should be honest with each other, and we should join together and unite.
That is the significance of this name. I write from the modern day Court of Miracles. The working class. The proletariat. We are the Court of Miracles.
So why have I chosen Court of Miracles? What significance does that name hold? Well, I must admit, the reason for choosing it isn't the same reason I first thought of it. I first thought of it as a descriptor of the modern world, thinking, primarily, of the song from the Hunchback of Notre Dame where the inhabitants of the court hold a mock trial, with one man serving as judge, jury, and executioner. However, being who I am, I was not satisfied with using it in that way without learning more about it. So I went to google and searched. The Court of Miracles is originally a French term, Cour des Miracles. It refers to French Slums inhabited mainly by beggars. It gained its name because the beggars from it would fake grievous handicaps to gain more from their begging, from blindness to sickness, but they'd drop their charade when they returned to the slums. "Blind" men could see. "Cripples" could walk. Miracles happened every day. But they weren't miracles. They were honesty. The beggars only needed to lie to the rich. Among their own, they could be themselves. And, so, I saw a new way to use the name Court of Miracles and apply it to the modern world. The Court of Miracles isn't the state. The Court of Miracles isn't the rich. The Court of Miracles is the poor and downtrodden. We may not live in slums comparable to that of the French beggars, but we still jump through hoops for the rich. Like the beggars in the old French Cour des Miracles, we should be honest with each other, and we should join together and unite.
That is the significance of this name. I write from the modern day Court of Miracles. The working class. The proletariat. We are the Court of Miracles.
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