The Free Republic Koan

4/14/12 | Self

[Talisker]

It's struck me that JimRob's absolute RomneyZot has created a situation rarely seen in the world, especially on a mass scale: a koan.

A koan is a technique used in Zen Buddhism to stop the endless thoughts of the mind, and thereby enable a genuine spiritual breakthrough when the ego finally shuts the hell up. Traditionally, this is done by giving the acolyte an impossible question, and demanding an answer.

While somewhat inverse tactically, JimRob has created a similiar situation on Free Republic. Freepers are already faced with an impossible situation politically, and JimRob has (at least on FR) removed the easiest answer.

Real koans are not merely trick questions, as most people think (you can even buy books with "answers" to traditional Japanese koan questions, so clueless is what passes for understanding these days). Rather, koans are a method by which a person is forced to examine their most fundamental assumptions, in a desperate attempt to resolve the pressure of the paradox. As result, a more profound understanding is eventually reached that sheds light on what usually is realized to be a self-created cycle of delusion. In politics however, cycles of misery are exactly what the Left was created to maintain, precisely to deny the clarity that would lead to freedom.

So JimRob's making Freepers sweat it out. This is a remarkable thing - and rare. And I predict it will lead to a whole new level of clarity about political dynamics here, because that's what happens when you stand your ground and say: "Enough." You drop the self-indulgence, because you simply can't afford it anymore. And isn't that a perfect paradigm for what needs to happen in America?

Which brings me to my trademark mixed metaphor. Once upon a time, two frogs fell into a cup of milk. They could paddle around, but couldn't reach the rim. As time went on, they grew exhausted, and one of the frogs decided the whole effort was pointless, and despite the entreaties of his friend, he gave up, and drowned. But the other frog kept going, determined never to quit, despite how bad things looked. To that frog, it was the principle of the thing, even if he drowned too. So he paddled on... and just when he was about over, to his amazement, he felt something under his foot. It was a clot of cream he had churned through his incessant paddling. And he was able to brace upon it, and hop out.

So here's another koan: after going though that experience, who did the frog vote for?

[sourcery]

We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

[An.American.Expatriate]

...who did the frog vote for?

Ronald Reagan.

[ThunderSleeps]

Mrs. O'Leary?

No, I would say a conservative candidate. The frog is obviously determined, driven, and self-reliant. He (?) wouldn't want some nanny state taking care of him, or telling him he didn't have a license to make butter.

[wardaddy]

Pass that ball of tar and the pipe grasshopper

Screw all that deep shite

Let’s get high..

[nakutny]

What’s an absolute Romneyzot? (I suppose I could find out by searching or if I read everything here daily but I don’t want to - no offense)

[fieldmarshaldj]

Pimp Willard on this website and you’ll find out.

[Yardstick]

William F. Buckley had a solution to this koan: vote for the most conservative candidate who has a real chance of winning.

[re_nortex]

Screw all that deep shite

Agreed, wardaddy. I think the Southern Gospel group, The Imperials, summed it up well:

Well, Old Buddha was a man and I'm sure that he meant well
But I pray for his disciples lest they wind up in hell
And I'm sure that old Mohammed thought he knew the way
But it won't be Hare Krishna we stand before on The Judgment Day.

No, it won't be old Buddha that's sitting on the throne
And it won't be old Mohammed that's calling us Home
And it won't be Hare Krishna that plays that trumpet tune
And we're going to see The Son not Reverend Moon!

Well, I don't hate anybody so please don't take me wrong
But there really is a message to this simple song
You see there's only one way Jesus if eternal life is your goal
Meditation of the mind won't save your soul.

No, it won't be old Buddha that's sitting on the throne
And it won't be old Mohammed that's calling us Home
And it won't be Hare Krishna that plays that trumpet tune
And we're going to see The Son, not Reverend Moon!

Well, you can call yourself a Baptist and not be born again
A Presbyterian or a Methodist and still die in your sin
You can even be Charismatic shout and dance and jump a few
But if you hate your brother you wont be one of The Chosen Few.

Cause it won't be a Baptist that's sitting on The Throne
A Presbyterian or a Methodist that's calling us Home
And it won't be a Charismatic that plays that trumpet tune
So let's all just live for Jesus 'cause He's coming back real soon.

[Gadsden1st]

Obama. The milk came from a hard working MOM. The constant aggitation of the stupid frog is just another example of reaping the rewards of another’s work.

[Alt Right]

I’m trying to get a clam bake going on in here.

[ApplegateRanch]

Since he was an agitator, he obviously picked the most Liberal candidate on the slate.

[JSteff]

If you VISIT someones home or business, and they don't want you to throw up on the floor, or pee in the plants you either don't visit or don't throw up on the floor, or pee in the plants.
Like the mythical home you can obey the rules, or don't visit. Get it? Your only choice as a visitor is stick to the rules of the site or don't visit. Your decision is whether you get enough from the site to stick to the rules, or well... leave.

Nothing zen like, or anything along those lines. As a visitor you either like enough of what you see, or you don't. If you feel like posting something against the rules of this house, get a blog and say what you want. Otherwise play it cool.

Have a nice visit. Just don't throw up on the rug or pee in the plants.

[wardaddy]

I hear ya

Not my best night ever to be honest

Lying on a heating pad nursing a soft tissue abscess in my left hip the size of a sweet tater and tentacling about.....must be 5 pounds of liquefying mush in there
Refuses to carbuncle anymore.... just traveling about

Going thru a bad prolonged chill about now

Sheet drenching sweats to come later

My 9 year old is worried about me and sleeping by the bed

Surgery next week is a given....i did not want to be warehoused at hospital over weekend

Dosed up on percs for pain and augmntin

[wardaddy]

Btw...i have a newfound appreciation for wounded folks prior to penicillin

I have been nursing two such leaking wounds a year now....

Nights are worse

Ok...enuff whining

[TChad]

Well, let's see. Since frog #1 is almost certainly lying about bracing himself on a clot of cream, but he did get out of the cup, he probably braced himself on something else. And what else was in the cup? The body of frog #2. I think that frog #1 probably planned the whole thing: Kill frog #2, use its body for leverage to escape, then to avoid a murder rap, lie about frog #2 "giving up."

As for his voting, frogs can't vote. That means that frog #1 can't vote for Romney and he can't vote for Obama. Just like a certain group of Freepers who I thought had more sense.

[re_nortex]

Not my best night ever to be honest

Even when you're not at the top of your game, your posts are always worthwhile reading. Meanwhile, I'll be praying for a quick recovery as James 5:16 reminds us:

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

May God richly bless you!

[wardaddy]

Thank you and God bless u too

All of us....like little Timmy said

[Liberty Valance]

[zipper]

If Obama gets re-elected all the frogs will be Communists.

And we will then be forced to ponder the what-ifs from our re-education camps.

As long as I have a vote I intend to use it.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” — Edmund Burke (and more recently, a favorite quote of George Zimmerman)