Posted on 09/15/2014 5:47:13 PM PDT by walford
Idealists who 'temporarily' associate with thugs to bring down the existing order don't realize until it's too late that once the "revolution" is accomplished, the first thing that happens is the idealists are wiped out by the thugs, because they are no longer useful.
Another very dangerous and popular assumption [based on dialectical materialism] is that once civilization collapses, a new, improved paradigm will inevitably rise from the ashes. History has shown that what what actually happens is there a long period of darkness characterized at first by utter chaos, then roving gangs fighting over bones, rags and rubble. Finally the faction with the most weapons -- and most willingness to use them -- takes over and establishes order with an iron fist.
Once that happens, the new tyrannical paradigm becomes ossified for centuries to come; the only thing that changes are the dynasties. And each succeeding one is often more ruthless than the previous.
--Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg Trials
Excellent quote.
8. Sometimes Making Concessions Leads To Rebellion
Jimmy Carter pressured the Shah of Iran to release political prisoners, including Khomeni. We know how that turned out.
People who don’t understand Arab/Middle Eastern culture often attempt to negotiate and don’t realize that their mindset is so different that negotiation by Western standards is impossible.
Western negotiations are typified by two opposing positions with minor concessions being made at first on both sides to build confidence. Then concessions are made back-and-forth in an escalating manner until the major contention can be dealt with more easily.
Arabs view making concessions as a sign of weakness. They start with the position that they are right and you are wrong. So you make a concession, then you make another, then if you make still another concession, we will be that much closer to a solution. And of course, they do not consider themselves to honor any of their part of the agreement, because after all, they are right and you are wrong.
Someday, someone will write a thoughtful dystopian novel. Or maybe it's too difficult. Which is why time is better spent studying real history.
Yep. I remember hearing an author who wrote a book about why Presidents so often fail in foreign policy. They build their entire careers on their talents in splitting differences, and convincing people to see things their way. What they don’t realize is that in western democratic countries, 90% of people share the same basic worldview. They have no experience dealing with people who have a completely alien mindset. All the skills that have brought them success are not only a useless, but a detriment in a situation like you describe. Not just liberals, but even a lot of conservatives just can’t open their minds to that reality. That was G.W. Bush’s main problem, IMHO. He just couldn’t believe that most people over there don’t want freedom, at least not in terms of individual liberty for everyone.
After the revolution was successful, Fidel Castro eliminated the idealists because, in addition to being no longer useful, they also became a dangerous liability...to him.
That sounds familiar.
Ping.
She obviously never read the entire HungerGames triology, which addresses most of these problems.
Ditto for the Divergent series, part 2 and 3.
only adults think utopia exists.
and the problem of PTSS is addressed in the Hunger games 3...
Excellent article.
Writers of fiction could do a lot worse than to model their works after real events.
Or one could write a historical novel of course, if one is up to the research. Tolstoy did, most likely, the best possible job in this regard.
In terms of science fiction I do suggest that people lay off the Belisarius theme. Its been done to death.
This one seems to have turned out to be somewhat prescient:
“Rather than a sequel to Orwell’s novel, Burgess uses the same concept. Based on his observation of British society and the world around him in 1978, he suggests how a possible 1985 might be if certain trends continue.
The main trend to which he is referring is the expanding power of trade unions. In the hypothetical 1985 envisioned in the book, the trade unions have become so powerful that they exert full control over society; unions exist for every imaginable occupation. Unions start strikes with little reason and a strike by one union usually turns into a general strike.
Another major theme of the novella is the rise of Islam as a major cultural and political force in Britain, due to large-scale immigration from the Middle East; London abounds with mosques and rich Arabs.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_%28Anthony_Burgess_novel%29
Yeah, Castro was lying thru his teeth, promising liberty and elections to further the revolution. The Cubans got screwed!
Preppers’ PING!!
Hat tip to DuncanWaring for the heads up!
Good post!...that’s exactly right....
Additionally ‘the meaning’ of their words and ours is often vastly different even though they use the same word in their dialect as we do...it does not mean the same thing....and that also goes between the various Muslim sects. They have as much difficulty understanding each other.
Compound all this with the fact that most have a life time of physical and mental abuse in one form another so their ability to reason is all the more difficult....it’s impossible to think we can affect “their world”.
once the “revolution” is accomplished, the first thing that happens is the idealists are wiped out by the thugs, because they are no longer useful.
2. Defeat your enemy.
3. Become your enemy.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Sounds like the basis for a song. Maybe the Who could write a song using those words.
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