Note: The following is an excerpt from my essay, We Are Not Animals, a longer piece that explores the studies of psychologists Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung and cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker with a focus on humanity’s relentless quest for immortality.
"... the real crime is the indoctrination of our precious youth—fertile minds brainwashed and infected with mindless belief systems that only serve to perpetuate the cycle of violence and endless wars."
It is for this reason exactly that I focus on psychological and intellectual self-defense. We are in a war on consciousness. An information war waged against our minds first before it manifests into the wars waged on our lives.
Thanks for your response and informed observation.
For me, as it appears to be for you, the key for survival is understanding the mechanisms of control. Unfortunately, for most people, this is easier said than done. It requires a desire to go beyond the limits of one’s belief systems.
More often than not, we fear that we are losing something by giving up certain lifelong beliefs. For example: spiritual and religious beliefs; beliefs about our self-esteem (high or low); beliefs about our role in personal relationships; beliefs about diet and lifestyles; beliefs about politics, morality, and cultural identity. These—along with our reflexive fear of learning and integrating new information than might be contrary to everything we were taught growing up and programmed to believe.
While giving up certain ideas and beliefs can feel uncomfortable and sometimes terrifying, the real fear in life, as I’ve come to learn, is not of losing. It’s our fear of GAINING, which is more often than not connected to the truth about who we really are as individuals and as a species.
This is it exactly, as you said
"... the real crime is the indoctrination of our precious youth—fertile minds brainwashed and infected with mindless belief systems that only serve to perpetuate the cycle of violence and endless wars."
It is for this reason exactly that I focus on psychological and intellectual self-defense. We are in a war on consciousness. An information war waged against our minds first before it manifests into the wars waged on our lives.
Adam,
Thanks for your response and informed observation.
For me, as it appears to be for you, the key for survival is understanding the mechanisms of control. Unfortunately, for most people, this is easier said than done. It requires a desire to go beyond the limits of one’s belief systems.
More often than not, we fear that we are losing something by giving up certain lifelong beliefs. For example: spiritual and religious beliefs; beliefs about our self-esteem (high or low); beliefs about our role in personal relationships; beliefs about diet and lifestyles; beliefs about politics, morality, and cultural identity. These—along with our reflexive fear of learning and integrating new information than might be contrary to everything we were taught growing up and programmed to believe.
While giving up certain ideas and beliefs can feel uncomfortable and sometimes terrifying, the real fear in life, as I’ve come to learn, is not of losing. It’s our fear of GAINING, which is more often than not connected to the truth about who we really are as individuals and as a species.
🙏
I'm confused.
If Israel's enemies are our enemies, but Israel wants us all dead, why is anyone helping these psychotic bastards in the first place?
Doesn't this statement make everyone the enemy of Israel?
This is a very well-researched and timely article.