Human Rights Under Attack

CBC Ideas program have a full hour of Gareth Peirce On The New Dark Age.  It is worthwhile listening to entirely.

We are getting reports from the US, Canada, the UK and Europe about violence breaking out.

In the thirties Jews were targeted in Europe. African Americans were targeted in the US. Forced starvations were organized in Russia. First Nations and Japanese were targeted in Canada.

With each decade a demographic was denied dignity, imprisoned, murdered while mainstream voices who spoke out against the violence were ostracized and punished.

Now the White supremacists have organized hate marches.

The conversation about how we can heal the conflict, comfort the afflicted and move forward doesn't seem to make the headlines. So what is wrong with this picture? What is the nature and the name of the elephant in the room?

Hate has been whipped up throughout the centuries and after the slaughter, the fear, the bloodshed and displacement, there is work to rebuild, with the mantra "never again" will we fall for the hate-mongers, Then discontent creeps in, social systems break down and the hate boils over again.

This sounds like it's an organic thing. Individuals no matter how enlightened can't reach the thugs or the fascist supporters.  But is it natural. Or is it stirred, organized and presented as a grass roots eruption which we must accept as human nature.

I think that is a cop out. I think we know about how tensions, fear and hate is whipped, where it comes from and who benefits.

The Crown of Centralized Power

The crown of centralized power is the castle. Protected by the walls and weapons, the servants and sycophants just like medieval monarchy.  The walls are built by ideology and propaganda:  those who are in positions of power have earned  or inherited them.  The weapon is money.

If people become too socially enlightened they challenge power and when that happens the canons are rolled out.  Blaming the most powerless, finding scapegoats, ritual abuse, war, public shaming, pornography, poverty, misogyny, misanthropy, misandry, racism, homophobia and inequality. These are the weapons that divide and conquer. The fleeting feelings of superiority may bring support for the crown, but is soon diminished because there is no good feeling when you realize you are being manipulated.

The psyche of the ordinary man, woman and child is to be ritually punctured with doubt, self-loathing and fear. Violence towards others in entertainment and the commons atomizes the people who believe no-one can be trusted.

When people intentionally torture other people and animals for no good reason, it means the individual has become so isolated from his own nature, his thoughts and feelings,  that he seeks to harm others as the only way to feel his presence in the world. The propaganda around this make humanity redundant.

Ritual cruelty is the proof that the human spirit has been robbed of dignity and worth.  That hate has separated us at a very deep level, from our kin and our neighbours.  We are no longer a family. We are merely instruments (workers, soldiers, politicians and court jesters) for the ruling system. There is no need for music, art, stories or love in the world. The impenetrable castle is anti-life.

Under fascist rule humanity must be turned into a mindless united machine.  We can see this in the marching parades of totalitarian nations. Schools that train children to be obedient factory workers. Technology that isolates us from others with trivial entertainments. Advertising that elevates consumerism above relationship - a gift as a replacement for love and time.

Our struggle for human rights and dignity is a threat to power because it replaces power-over with belonging, support, love and compassion.

The true meaning of power is life. People, animals, plants, air, water and the gifts they offer us. Without these elements castles are broken ruins that nothing and no-one can see.