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Our Nation's Soul Sickness - Part II
Note: Part I of this piece, America's Soul Sickness & Permanent War: Obama's Rude Awakening, was posted on New Year's Day, 2009.
In Columbus and other Cannibals, American Indian scholar, Jack Forbes
writes about a disease that afflicts the West, an illness he refers to
as: soul sickness. It's the belief that God has especially chosen
Westerners to bring civilization and enlightenment to the rest of the
world. While it permeates all of Western society, it appears to
manifest most poignantly in the United States.
With Obama soon to be at the helm, many people are seemingly not clear about what this means vis a vis this sickness.
Under this superstitious belief system, Westerners have been authorized by God to eliminate infidels and heathens if they don't convert (because if they don't, the unbelievers may wipe out the civilized world). This traditionally has meant the right to take lands, colonize and enslave peoples and the right to invade, occupy and destroy nations. It matters little if one innocent person dies or a million, because they are not truly human. Conversely, the death of one Westerner or the threat to one, is "just cause" for war. Since Westerners believe God has anointed them to spread Judeo-Christian values, democracy & capitalism, all their military incursions are justified. This is why war is constantly waged, always obviating the need for laws and trials
Under this belief system, Westerners are always combating evil, terrorists and disciples of the devil. Yet, this delusional belief system sometimes comes face to face with reality. For instance, most religious/spiritual leaders worldwide do not believe that the invasion of Iraq has constituted a "just war." This has led to cognitive dissonance – a contradictory mental and spiritual state.
None of this has affected president Bush who actually believes that God specifically chose him to lead the United States and to wage war against Iraq. Yes. The Prince of Peace chose him to bring peace – via war – to Arab/Muslim infidels, and eventually, to the entire world.
Bush's beliefs best exemplify that soul sickness that Forbes writes about. It is a combination of sickness and delusion – the spiritual/political belief that the United States and its allies are entitled – by divine birthright – to wage permanent war against any and all nations – to bring civilization to the uncivilized. This belief did not begin with Bush-Cheney. Reagan-Bush took these same ideas to Africa and Central America. Johnson & Nixon previously took them to Asia. As Forbes points out, it is the same ideas – steeped in the Dark Ages – that were brought to this continent by the conquistadors.
Accompanying these delusional ideas is the belief in the eternal right – with impunity – to freely exploit these nations, their peoples and resources.
All of this also is combined with the belief that Euroamericans were especially chosen to build a heaven on earth in the Americas – a place reserved for God's chosen few (dark people not welcome here). Ironically, this belief system – as exemplified by the idea of Providence, Manifest Destiny and the religio-secular idea of American exceptionalism – has never believed in borders. Quite the contrary. The very idea of a United States has been an expansionist belief: the original idea was that Euroamericans would one day take over the entire Americas – from sea to shining sea. Yet, now, heaven on earth seemingly constitutes the entire planet.
But there is still the land mass called the United States – the New Promised Land – especially designated for the chosen few. While these chosen few seek global domination, adherents of this philosophy insist upon a form of racial/political and cultural purity for these United States. This is why we have "culture" or "civilizational" wars.
This is why these chosen few insist upon English Only and walls along the southern, but not the northern, border. This is the reason for massive immigration raids against red-brown peoples; to communicate the message of who belongs, who is legitimate and who merits rights and who doesn't. It's all predicated on a 500-year idea on this continent of who is human and who is entitled to live – and who isn't.
The majority of the world has diagnosed this sickness and thoroughly rejects it. It is highly likely, based on the 2008 presidential elections, that most Americans have also diagnosed this sickness, and many also reject it.
The idea of Barack Obama in the White House also causes cognitive dissonance. It may be counter-intuitive, but it is not at all certain that a Black Man – or this Black Man – will combat this centuries-old soul sickness and the barbaric policies that emanate from it.
- Posted in
33 Comments so far
Show AllRight on. Historians like Jack Forbes have "forgotten to remember to forget" . "New History" has been around since the 1920s, but it took the GI bill and the civil rights era to free truth from the thought cops. It is unfourtunate that we have lost so much of this ground gained as we are souls on melting ice, divided and ruled by short sighted fools.
Good post, and poetic.
Joe
The only way to cure this nations soul sickness is to undo it as a nation; it needs to be broken up into 5 or 6 different nations as there is no longer any real unity of either purpose or people here.
There is a little known book written by a little known economist by the name of Leopold Kohr. The title of the book is "The Overdeveloped Nations: The Diseconomies of Scale." The author explains in his book what ringo3khan is talking about and is probably one of the answers in the long run. This book was published in 1978. 31 years ago. This will help along with finally facing the fact that we are overpopulated and do something about it.
Like all imperialist nations, the US will collapse under the weight of its corruption. If our government's fascist policies aren't stopped, a revolution will occur.
As the economy sinks further into financial ruin and as more of us start losing our jobs, cars, homes and futures, the people's rage will catch fire.
When the government stops meeting the needs of the governed, it is the people's duty to change the government.
Cavedweller wrote:
When the government stops meeting the needs of the governed, it is the people's duty to change the government.
COMMENT:
Well, yeah. Jefferson said that, but I don't see in this god-infused jingoist nation that "the people's rage will catch fire" any time in the forseeable future. Not for centuries, perhaps, if ever.
"should this nation fall...it shall fall - not because of foreign threats or enemies, real or imagined; it shall fall because the people are CORRUPT" ------- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
Indeed, the Abrahamic Religious Mythos is the single most destructive force on the planet and forms the basis for "soul sickness." As long as it continues to exist, humanity will never reach a state of civilization as each of the three isms derived from the original mythos promote barbarism instead of civility.
To be Progressive means to ignore superstitions and attend to facts and other empirical evidence to explain phenomena of any sort. Therfore, one cannot be purely Progressive if one subscribes to superstitions and myths. As Rodriguiez notes, our culture mostly marches to the beat of a dysfunctional, barbaric mythos that has the support of very powwrful institutions. Overthowing it all will take numerous heroic acts to overcome the dead weight of the indoctrinated and propagandized ditto head barbarians who are so inebriated by soul sickness they cannot think rationally.
The soul sickness of the West was instituted by Constantine. Monolithic Christianism, with no variations even inside the faith, has infected the whole of Western Civilization ever since – and even beyond. It was in opposition to the Christian monolith that Mohammed wrote the Koran. It was the inevitability of church opposition that the Jacobins instituted the terror. It was the model of social unity that shaped Bolshevism.
The mere existence of diversity threatens the existence of the monolithic and evokes feeble rationalizations for the monolith in the intellectual and the violent response in the passionate. Monolithicism itself induces the necessity for apocalypse.
Hmmm...Jenghis Khan wasn't white, Western, or Christian; neither were many other bullies & land-grabbers throughout history. An advance in weaponry, or tactics, or opportunity; then, grab all you can while you can. Race & religion don't affect human nature.
Culture shapes human nature, and myths and religions are very large components of culture. Since they are created by humans, cultures are very imperfect, and thus easily become dysfunctional, which in turn further shapes human nature negatively.
Obama has already been working "hard" to move to the right of Bush and I won't be surprised if he exceeds him by the end of this year and in effect making Bush look "liberal" in pale comparison.
And of course the sickness will continue as long as we keep shooting ourselves into voting between the Ds and the Rs and allowing the corporate interests to fucking rape us all !
Roberto,
As a student of US history I consider your point of view immensly important and critical at this time in our history.
I encourage you to write a book about "soul sickness" so more people in the US will know and understand this phenomenon which has permeated our history since Europeans came to these shores.
Thanks and I look forward to part III and more.......
We have the sickness. The British Empire had it too. The Nazis tried it out.
I agree with some others who say it is not new. Read Julius Caesar - you will find the same arrogant brutishness and sense of entitlement in conquering the "barbarians". Alexander the "Great", Genghis Khan. Read stories in the Bible, including the story of Dinah.
People have continually adapted a primitive tribal mentality to fit new circumstances. It is about time it was challenged and retired.
Joe
there have been other empires -- each with their own conditions for their "rise" - and fall. BUT in NONE have ALL the WORST instints of what makes for domination of others (once some semblance of stable power is achieved) as BROAD and COMPREHENSIVE in SUMMARIZING and SWALLOWING all the previous EVILS -- as that by the United STates of America.
it rose on the back of GENOCIDE to begin with - the native indians, and then went ON to ENSLAVEMENT of at least 20 million africans in the slave trade - and BUILT the foundations of its power and wealth on THAT (where even TODAY , many of the "respectable institutions" that are the PILLARS of american power and "democracy" ARE the inheritors of such building of wealth and power upon SUFFERING of others).
EVEN THIS is QUITE unlike what the ROMANS did. the ROMANS, for all the evil things that come with empire building, based on "exceptionalism" - ACTUALLY granted FULL citizenship to the "conquered". does the USA do this? no...it instead - "conquers" and KEEPS AWAY from "homeland" those it conquers to PAY for THEIR own jubjugation as "non americans". that is UNLIKE what the romans did who at least had the DUBIOUS HONOR of granting "ROMAN CITIZENSHIP" -- as an acknowledgement BY ROME that those they conquered WERE their RESPONSIBILITIES IF they so much as exacted 'tribute'. the USA NEVER does that. in fact -its conquests - from the Native Indians to African Americans, to Chinese imported cheap labor, etc. to the CHEAPENED labor and resources of other lands -- are DESIGNED to ALLOW AMERICAN TO RUN AWAY from ITS responsibility as a "conqueror".
do people know that even ONE of the greatest Emperors of ROME - TACITUS - WARNED his own fellow romans when they INSISTED that HE become "dictator for life" over other lands -- "MY People - you do not KNOW what you ask....you have NO idea the evil that we shall create".
ENGLAND - at least the british people -- collectively ACCEPTED the fall of the british empire, rather than "FIGHT TO THE DEATH to maintain" it -- and GAVE UP EMPIRE
look at even the history of the greatest "empire"
in INDIA. the one that basically created the PRESENT outlines of india since 3,000 years ago.
the Empire ruled by the King ASOKA. do people know what HE did after he conquered his "last conquest?"?
HE saw the horror finally of what he had done....and REPENTED ....and became india's most benevolent ruler ....who pronounced edicts (still existing in HUGE pillars with writings of his edicts) that pronounced what might TODAY be called a "socialist" programme to have a more equitable , just society. he then spent the rest of his rule -- before he abdicated to become a buddhist - traveling all of india asking the common people "how do you wish the society to be ordered?" and that's how he learned their needs and wishes and what they thought of as justice....and let their influence help him build the remaining years of his rule - in his quest for repentance for what he had done in the killing and subjugation, even torture of others because of the lust for power.
he in fact -- became a Buddhist - and died by starvig himself in a cave - seeking penance for what he had done.
the greatest EMPIRE phase of ancient PERSIA __ IRAN TODAY -- PRODUCED what most westerners DO NOT KNOW -- as clearly the FIRST "HUMAN RIGHTS" rule - in which the King Darius I - after he had firmed up the confines of Persia - pronounced that so long as other nations DO NOT continue their attacks on persia (which is what prompted him to wrest control of persia and firm it up) - he would honor their own borders and was simply interested in trade.
AND THEN those under his conquered rule -- INCLUDING these other "nations" -- were given the offer:
"TO CHOOSE if they wish to SECEDE" or be "under persian rule". and those that chose under persian rule were offered: independent management of their provincial affairs , their religions, and cultures.
that is why from that period -- the ruins mainly show foreign dignitaries and common folk arriving in Persia bearing gifts or trade -- with practically NO monuments to "WAR".
in fact -- his most important pronouncements honoring the equality of all people, to follow their religions and cultures, EVEN under persian rule -- is considered the TRUE first "HUMAN RIGHTS" law ever put out -- and is actually sitting in the LObby of the United Nations.
and THE USA wants to INVADE ancient PERSIA to "teach iranians how to behave?"
can the UNITED STATES BOAST of such things as an "empire?"
DOES THE USA have ANY conscience LIKE THAT? its leaders?
if anyone says YES -- it's a very nice example for LAUGHTER.
in the total , grand , long scheme of things in civilization's BEST achievements - the UNITED STATES is NOTHING in comparison to the likes of the conintuous civilizations of IRAN, CHINA, INDIA , even RUSSIA today , and many other civilizations.
it is , rather ,, a JOHNNY CAME LATELY in the scheme of things -- DRUNK with its power and exceptionality -- hardly AWARE that it is NOT as EXCEPTIONALLY RIGHTEOUS as it likes to pretend!
it is ONLY exceptional in the POWER and CRAVENNESS and HYPOCRISY it has to THREATEN ALL LIFE and DECENCY on the planet!
these all - are likely the continuing reason - of why the great Mahatma Gandhi - when Time magazine asked him to give "glowing opinion" about the USA :
(Mister Gandhi what do you LIKE about America?)
he answered:
" I DO NOT LIKE your christians ....they are so --- UNchristlike".
the USA , its leaders, institutions, corporations, a great majority of its citizens -- have an OVERWEANING sense of their own exceptionality , uniqueness, righteousness, importance and "indispensability". -- ALL the hallmarks of
HUBRIS.
and it is only MATCHED by , as a nation, its HARMFULNESS to the REST of the world -- and its IGNORANCE in its HARMFULNESS and of History and even present reality.
As an american poet succinctly said:
"WE AMERICANS -- we nurture a carefully studied attitude of detached indifference to the suffering of others........EVEN IF WE ARE THE CAUSE OF IT".
that is the TRUE definition of the United States of America.
There has always been tribal warfare. It's on a bigger scale now because the tribes have grown enormously. The Internet could be the big unifier of humankind. It needs to reach every corner of the planet as fast as possible.
The author is guilty of immersing himself in the perspective of American Superiority, which, he correctly points out, is merely an extension of Western European Judeo-Christian imperialism. That indifference to the rest of the world, to say nothing of history, speaks of the same 'exceptionalism' he derides.
Yes, Americans do believe they are the mutts nuts. So did the British, before them, the Dutch (not so Judeo-Christian), the French, the Romans, the Greeks, the Parthians, the Persians (both Cyrus and Darius), Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan... etc., etc. The peoples of all Empires believe they are the 'light', that their way is best, and to make out that Americans are unique in holding to this delusion is, well, delusional and, quite frankly, insulting to Americans at large.
Roman Hegemony was achieved over several hundred years and at its peak, encompassed half of Western Europe, Northern Africa and about thirty percent of the Middle East. Alexander the Great snatched a larger chunk of real estate, over the course of eight years and it was lost after his death. Genghis Khan reached almost to Vienna. Once he'd left, it was as if he had never been there.
One thing with Empires: the citizens who belong, by birth, to the Hegemon, usually do pretty well from its predations. Do the children of Americans complain when the lawn is cut by an illegal immigrant, permitting them more time to text their friends and play on their X-Boxes? Did Roman citizens reject the concept of slavery when their gardens were being well kept, their errands run, their houses cleaned and their meals prepared by these slaves? Interestingly, America, unlike its predecessors, does not make a profit from its Empire. No gold, no silver, no wheat, no nothing. It SPENDS money on its Empire. Its Empire is slowly BANKRUPTING IT.
The principle difference between the American Empire of today and the earlier Empires listed above, is technology. America has the largest, most well equipped and technically superior armed forces the world has ever seen. Its bases span the globe, supported by instantaneous communications, logistics and an Air Force that can reach and bomb a three square meter target, anywhere in the world, in hours. Former holders of the title, Emperor, would have given their eye teeth for such toys. Sadly, America has no foreign policy worthy of the name, which other, previous Empires (especially the British) clearly did. Like an ex-gunslinger turned Sheriff, it slaps iron, instead of talking its opponent down.
It is not the size of the hubris and arrogance which afflicts its rulers, it is the effect their delusional (often irrational) decisions can have on a world grown smaller.
If Mr. Rodriguez wants to take a shot at something, he should chose 'greed' and 'man's willingness to harm others for gain'. Making it an American disease is to ignore the possibility that, one day, it will become the 'Chinese' disease.
Well articulated rant with historical context...!
Cognitive dissonance has plagued this nation right from its formation. Some here have pointed out that there were others with the same kind of sickness - the British Empire, the Nazis and so on (and someone mentioned Genghis Khan? come on, I'm not even sure he had a soul). But there is a BIG difference. None of the other nations declared right at the beginning,
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness",
and then go on for the next nearly 200 years before realizing what these words really meant. Have these words become a living reality? Unfortunately no - not yet.
Highintel: Can we do better?
correct -- this is why nothing more thoroughly separates the American Imperium from the previous ones than its HYPOCRISY...because it starts out - as a nation - declaring the "very first" codification of such principles in the modern state of nations.
incidentally -- the "human rights and equality" was actually first promoted in Persia - during the reign of Darius I - almost 3 thousand years ago..and preceded that of the greek democracy . it was perhaps matched only by the proclamation of the Emperor in India - Asoka - also around the bronze age stating in no uncertain terms the equality of people - at least as the basis and aim for benevolent society .
persia - being at the crossroads of kingdoms and societies - UNLIKE the USA mainland - which is protected by oceans - began its "empire era" partly as a result of constant invasions by outsiders since it was a perfect location for trade between east and west. Darius "collected" all the inner kingdoms under his rule by conquest - and then declared :
that if other kingdoms ENDED their repeated invasions - he too would end warfare upon them. that was a true example of "defense" of homeland (UNLIKE "national interests of the USA going OUTSIDE its own borders to "dfend the homeland) .
he then proclaimed that : the kingdoms conquered under persia could CHOOSE to SECEDE and then be left alone so long as they did not war upon persia and just traded..and those that CHOSE to REMAIN under persian rule -- would be free to manage their own internal affairs, right down to their religions and customs - again, so long as they did not threaten persia proper. that was considered the first true "human rights" edict that is now standing at the Lobby of the United Nations.
in INdia- after Asoka took on the emperorship -- he enlarged it to become today's india - using torture, and invasions of smaller kingdoms. towards the second half of his life, he experienced a "hollowness" right after another famous conquest...and repented. he then traveled all across India asking the ordinary people -- how they wanted to be ruled...and tried to put together the best governance he could...with the new found principle of laws entreating society to harm no living thing , including animals.
he knew it was nearly impossible for a whole society to do this -- so he was pragmatic enough to even"limit" the list of animals NOT to be harmed - simply because of the principle still known among many indians today :
"TO HARM AN ANIMAL - means that you ARE capable of harming a human being". he also instigated a social welfare program - using the wealth of his palace and the empire to grant better livelihoods to the common people as part of his penance and what he learned the common people hoped for to alleviate their own lives.
after had had left something that he felt was the most he could do as an emperor to correct the horrors of conquest that he had done ....leavning behind gigantic "stupas" or pillars and columns with carvings of his edicts of "harm no one". ....
he became a buddhist and died in penance of starvation in a cave.
so - you see - americans are NOT as "enlightened" their mythology or institutions or constitution or laws or righteousness or acts or behavior or prosperity make them think.
if anything - it shows ignorance bigger than what the "enlightened" claims say .
Our teachers came from an era that was ignorant of other cultures. Today, the education of the young is in the hands of a different strain of American. The children's many needs far outweigh the capacity of these teachers to promote the same ignorant ideas. The textbooks are irrelevant, and so the youth of today are getting their education from the media.
I say, let the dying ideologies die, and replace them with a broader vision of respect for all life and cultures.
Mr. Rodriguez's insights are best left to the history books, unless he wants to contrast them with what is going on today and help us all to see ourselves a little better.
I like his articles best when he is speaking from his heart.
Paz.
I suggest an interesting book on this subject. A local Portland, Oregon author, Paul Levy, has written a book entitled "The Madness of George W. Bush". One interesting thing is that the book is not about Bush, it's about all of us, at least in the USA. Give it a look and see if it is relevant. Peace.
correct -- it is really about AMERICAN MADNESS. there was an article on that somewhere online.
america has been on a BINGE since world war 2 really. and before that everything was a PREPARATION for that binge.
it is ADDICTED to power binges. both its leaders, its institutions and its citizens.
There is absolutely no reason to think Mr. Obama will oppose, much less be "shocked" by the myth of American exceptionalism that reigns in this former republic. After all, this was the basis of his condemnation of Rev. Wright, who had the audacity to echo Dr. King in correctly calling the US government the greatest purveyor of violence in the world. Further, Mr. Obmas's "elder statesman" advisors, from Brezinski to Paul Volker, understand all too well the role of US imperialism and the function of the president in serving the imperium.
One thing we should have learned over the last 8 years is that we could have a stuffed animal serve as president with no apparent impact on policy or law. Mr. Obama is a front man for much more powerful interests. He cannot control them. He cannot change the role of the US in the world. And he has shown absolutely no interest in doing so. The idea that he will be different than Bush, Clinton et al due to his skin tone is the product of wishful racist thinking.
P Jerome
I agree. i am more SKEPTICAL that obama is going to be a vast change in ways that are FUNDAMENTAL to what have made the USA practically as the most harmful nation on earth, belying its claims of benevolence.
we shall see what he can REALLY do or is WILLING to do and is courageous ENOUGH to do.
in many ways -- he - as a half-black man - is being careful to maintain the myth of being "all american" - which IS the problem .
the "All american"
syndrome is really the expression of American "exceptionalism" .
but people LIKE Dr Martin Luther King TOOK EXCEPTION TO THAT notion.
:"IT IS WITH GREAT SHAME AND SADNESS THAT I MUST SAY THAT THE GREATEST PURVEYOR OF VIOLENCE IN THE WORLD TODAY IS MY OWN GOVERNMENT". --- DR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
REVEREND WRIGHT SIMPLY TOLD IT LIKE IT REALLY IS AND HAS BEEN -- SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER.
BUT THE problem with america IS : it is ALL ABOUT POWER and HArdly about TRUTH.
and if you are president - especially in the atmosphere of "USA MUST PREVAIL" -- obama is TRAPPED to follow the american "exceptionalism" dogma - even if he is going to try to AVOID saying it or try to sound and act and make decisions that are try to show a "dissimilarity" FROM george bush.
but in the end -- it is still abotu american exceptionalism.
in fact -- his own "stimulus" , surge in afghanistan, "speaking with hamas" -- are ALL PART of RESURRECTING american excpetionalism to the point where the USA ONCE MORE does not have to feel "shamed" at brandishing it.
this is just a case of the BULLY falling down - but trying to rise up and INTENT on BEING a bully , just the same.
obama is just going to be the next one who "tries" to bring that forward.
there is no "real change" in terms of american ATTITUDE about its place in the world.
Soul Sickness. This is an interesting concept. I feel everyone knows what he is talking about. What everyone is wondering is there another way. This would mean changing some very basic human concepts. The problem here is that we create cultures and societies without soul. It is all in the creation of our environments that cause what we do and do not do.
beyond hunter/gatherer - where human relationships to the universe are real - humans live and look beyond nature for truth and they lose "soul" in the process. the explotation of nature - the earth, plants, animals, human children, women and finally men is the only way some "educated" humans have freed themselves from toil. without a seeking a deeper understanding of nature, man is doomed to visualize himself as supernatural, and his soul will become sick.
Civilization is dependent on soul sickness - masses who believe themselves to be supernatural, and thus rely on human generated myths to create and mantain this illusion.
I agree beat-on, except for your conclusion. I would say "Barbarism is dependent..." for what we have is NOT civilization.
Spot on beat-on. I keep wondering if it would be possible to create a hunter/gatherer society (which wouldn't be a society at all) and I don't mean hunting and gathering at Wally world. Maybe you have some ideas on what to do. If so I for one would like to hear them. I keep thinking with the population numbers it would be impossible to be a hunter/gatherer now and yet I feel that everyone has that in their souls even if hidden so deep they can't hear the sound of the universe.
Religion is the sickness, monotheism is it's most virulent form.
These are more like the delusions of grandeur, symptomatic of paranoid schizophrenia than soul sickness.
If you are poor or homeless and tell others that God told you to institute a campaign of murder and mayhem for no good reason you are considered insane, not merely misguided.