It's taken I an' I a long time 2 put this particular post down. The problem with history is that, no matter how earnest the documentarian, it's flavoured by those who tell it, sometimes with tiny inflections, sometimes with broad strokes. Now we cld get n2 that... but nah, that's a whole 'nother conversation, mayb 4 a 'nother time. What I will say is this... Nothing is completely objective (if u disagree then hit me up, I'll set u str8), but in this particular case I feel that it wld b remiss on me 2 contextualise the following, as that is something u, the reader must do.
Think on the time in which what you read is taken from, if u find yr knowledge lacking, then feel free 2 check a few things out. Take into consideration what the World was, and how it was understood; what was mankinds' heights of technological, philosophical and sociological knowledge. How did people come 2 their sense of self, and understanding of worth in themselves and others. The thing that struck me is how much, even in this present era... especially in this era, that life is valued foremost by financial worth and its worth and sale-ability to others in a time of celebrity as religion, the iconography and devotional expression of this becoming so dominant, it's what really matters as told 2 us by the media high priests.
That same price on a human in another era... Put yrself in the position of those whose voices u will now hear spk, wld u express yrself any differently?
"Then for love of filthy Gold, straight they bore me to sea; Cramm'd be down a slave ships hold, Where were hundreds stow'd like me. ...Shrieking, sickening, fainting, dying, Deed of shame for Britons brave..."
Hannah More, The Sorrows of Yamba, or the Negro Woman's Lamentation, 1795
"From the observations that I have made, I have no doubt that the situation of the West India slaves is preferable to that of the labouring poor of Europe"
James Tobin, sugar trader and owner of a plantation in Nevis, who believed that local (Bristol, a slave trade port) commerce would be destroyed by abolition
"He avoided... all connection with the slave trade, declaring that the credit of his house would be ruined, if he were known to send those, who put themselves under his care, into it."
Thomas Clarkson, an abolitionist, referring to a Mr Thompson, a pub landlord who wouldn't allow slave-ship recruiters into his pub, putting his welfare and safety at risk
"We hope (the cargo) will purchase you 240 choice slave(s), besides a Quantity of ivory, the latter of which you are always to embrace... seeing in that commodity there's no Mortality to be feared"
"So soon as you begin to slave, let the netting be fixed breast high fore and aft, and so keep them shackled and hand bolted to prevent them rising or leaping overboard"
Isaac Hobhouse, merchant, to William Barry, Master of the ship Dispatch, 1725
" 'My husband' said she, 'lost all by gaming, he was forced to sell me'.
'Left you children behind?'
'Yes' replied the poor creature with streaming eyes, and raised one finger, as an indication of the number."
Zachary Macaulay, Governor of the Sierra Leone colony, to his sister, 1795
"As an abstract question, freedom must be held preferable to slavery, but I very much doubt whether, if the Negroes in the West Indies were to have their freedom granted them, they would be nearly as happy as that are now?"
The aforementioned James Tobin, to a Parliamentary committee, 1790
"If there were no buyers there would be no sellers"
Ottobah Cuguano, freed African slave, in the book Thoughts and Sentiments on the... Traffic of the Commerce of the Human Species, 1787
Since my arrival I've purchased 9 negroe slaves at St Kitts and can assure you I was shock'd at the first apprearance of human flesh expos'd to Sale. But surely God ordain'd 'em for ye use & benefit for us: otherwise his Divine will wou'd have been made manifest by some particular Sign or Token."
John Pinney, 2 March 1765
"Captain Tucker went immediately to the cabin, and brought out with him his large horse-whip, and exercised it about my body in so unmerciful a manner, that not only the clothes on my back were cut to pieces, but every sailor on board declared they could see my bones."
From The Life of Mr Silas Told, written by himself, 1786
"We... fitted out again for... Africa and thence to Charlestown... during the gale we lost 20 or so of the slaves... and the remainder much impaired, so that we came to a very bad market."
Joseph Banfield, Journey of a Life at Sea, 1780's
"This fellow seemed to disdain the other slaves for their readiness to be examined and scorned to look at the Buyers... This got him an unmerciful whipping... from his master... Who had certainly killed him but for the loss he must have sustained by it"
John Atkins, Royal Navy surgeon, in A Voyage to Guinea, 1721
"Great Benin... is larger than Lisbon... The city is wealthy and industrious. It is so well governed that theft in unknown and the people live in such security that they have no doors on their houses"
Lourenco Pinto, Portuguese ship's captain, 1694
"...a Trade, altogether as advantageous to the Natives as to us, for whilst we supplied them with Things they wanted, and were of Value amongst them, we took in exchange Slaves, which were else of little Worth to the Proprietors"
John Cary, merchant, in A Discourse Of The Advantage of The African Trade to This Nation, 1711
"I, John Jea, ... was born in the town of Old Callabar, in Africa, in the year 1773 ... At two years and a half old, I and my father, mother, brothers, and sisters, were stolen, and conveyed to North America and sold for slaves"
John Jea, freed slave and Christian Preacher, in The Life ... of John Jea ..., 1815
It's always good 2 listen 2 the voices of those b4 us, whether we like what we hear of not, but then that depends on what those voices say 2 u... what did u hear?
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker
01:30
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
I used 2 love H.E.R.
There’s nothing like listening 2 some ol’ school jointz and
then allowing yrself 2 b taken back so that u can relish in why u fell in love
with them in the 1st place. Like hearing Rampage (shoutout 2 Psycho)
bus’ Superthug @ carnival and
watching damn near 15,000 people go nuts, or listening 2 It Takes a Nation... and know that u experienced something far more
significant, and meaningful, than just
vocals and beats. How abt driving thru London town n the early hours of the morning
and having Beanie Sigel’s Feel it in the
Air pop thru yr car stereo, or going 2 Negril in a full ride with The Chronic as yr soundtrack, or
finishing up an exhausting 26 hr road trip, wanting nothing bt sleep, only 2 b
fully energised by the Ante Up remix featuring
Bus-a-Bus just as u’re rolling over the Brooklyn Bridge.
It’s all abt the passion invoked by the love of Hip Hop. Not
just beats and rhymes, bt a livity. The culture, the code, the Essence or Rap.
This thing of ours, this beautiful street science, the mass realisation of
poetry in motion. Hip Hop. It’s such a strange relationship, ever since she 1st
found me, stroked my face and opened my eyes. She schooled me 2 the many
realities of this existence, made me self-aware, exposed both my pride and my
shame, taught me 2 question everything; that Word is Bond, that Love is nothing
if u don’t show it (“show me some Luv..!”), that Dogz and Catz can get along
just fine, that instead of being made 2 feel less than bcos of who u r or where
u come from, actually who u r and where u come from can empower u 2 overcome
the restraints put on u by those who wld fear and despise u. She helped 2 do
all that, and more. Suffice it 2 say that I’m somewhat protective of Hip Hop.
I used 2 go 2 Hip Hop Appreciation events. Always a lot of
love there, and it’s always nice 2 gather in fellowship with other like-minded
peeps. Yet, it became more noticeable 2 me (and predictable) that, over time,
most of the attendance @ these events came from older headz that had love 4 the
culture and art form from back in the day, dudes who knew their history. Most
of the other attendees r usually young’uns who were able 2 find their voice
thru Hip Hop, and want 2 experience this whole new landscape 2 the fullest. If
u’ve never come across this kind of event then u’ve missed something, bcos
altho it sounds somewhat run of the mill, 2 c this play out in front of u is a
surreal thing.
The 1 thing that always, always gets me @ these events tho is
running commentary. The “it ain’t like it used 2 b” observations, the “…back in
the day…” remarks, the “these young catz don’t have a clue!” exclamations. Hip
Hop, as with all things of historical import, is sometimes abt what’s being
said, and more often abt who’s saying it. There r many many chronicles of the
story of Hip Hop, and on the real, I’m not n2 telling that story here and now.
From the beginnings of Cool Herc and the Zulu Nation up 2 the present, Hip Hop
has always had something 2 say, regardless of who liked or approved of it, but
the statement always had 2 be taken in context of the speaker. In that sense,
Hip Hop has always been like a State on the Union address, informing us of
where things stand and which way they may go in the immediate future.
Every so often, I look 2 strike up some convo with some of
the veteran catz and, most of the time, when I ask who they’re listening 2 now,
or who they think is poppin’, I get “..bruh, I ain’t really followin’ these new
catz, cos it ain’t real no more”. 4 me rite there, that’s a switch off. I remember
listening 2 KRS One in an interview abt his time as an exec 4 MCA, and when
asked if he was able 2 influence the corporate culture there, he used the
analogy of a finger in a stream, and that while the finger influenced the flow
of water, when u remove it the water flows as b4. Same applies here. If the
Vet’s of the community no longer engage or participate in the present day Hip
Hop cultural flow, how can u complain abt the current state of affairs, of even
blame the young’uns 4 taking a certain direction, based on the conclusions that
they draw from what they c? Keep yr hand in, participate, don’t alienate.
Not that I an’ I wants 2 make the case that the yout’ dem r
free from any kind of scrutiny, as personal responsibility still has its place,
and the right 2 take from Hip Hop also comes with the responsibility 2 respect
the gift that it is, and 2 give back 2 the culture. As Frank White says,
there’s rules 2 this … Only, there’s a definite divide, and the less the older
headz engage with the new school, the more of an erosion will be evidenced by
the lack of observation of the rules that regulate this. New school needs 2
respect the architects, and older headz need 2 impart (and not patronize!) 2
the young headz the knowledge. Mutual respect, higher overstanding.
As I stated b4, Hip Hop is like a State of the Union address,
and like all forms of address, it serves as a reflection of the larger
environment from which it draws context. Let’s keep it real, there’s a lot of
output from Hip Hop that’s not positive, but then this more negative side has
always existed. But let me not pettifog, some older headz have a valid point;
the negative output is on the increase. Even the less negative jointz out there
now say very little, and whli yes, I do kno that it all started out as party
music, from very early on the significance of artform 2 its audience became
central in its expression. The paper chase is also represented strongly, as is
a need 2 show and prove yr material worth; if u ain’t getting minted, then yr
game is weak. Yr success is measured in yr excess. Hip Hop is a reflection of
the environment from which it comes out of and draws from. We gear our
education system 2 gain the skills necessary 2 b able 2 accumulate wealth, we
replace religion and spirituality with the iconography of celebrity, we’ve
moved our societies from community focused 2 aspirational desires, and then
look baffled as 2 y the leading lights of Hip Hop all talk abt flash cars, big
houses, celebrity chicks and openly deride those less fortunate. We live in a
capitalist world, we use the mechanics of this 2 gain wealth, status, respect.
The artists that rep Hip Hop magnify that. Hip Hop is our thing, it’s abt all
of us who r a part of it or engage it. Hip Hop reflects us. Yes, don’t even try
2 play this off. If we want 2 c the culture repped differently, then I an’ I,
u, me, all of us need 2 make the changes we want in the artistic output. If we
all exalt and respect our Empresses and Princesses, then it becomes more
difficult 4 an artist 2 put out something that contradicts that perspective. A
lot of peeps, both within Hip Hop and outside of it, say they don’t like that
there is a lack of positive lyrics in the music. Allow me 2 retort; there r a
lot of conscious, positive and uplifting jointz out there by artistS who adore
and respect this. U wanna hear positivity in Hip Hop, support those artists,
buy their joints, go 2 their shows, drag unschooled cats so that they can
experience uplifting WordSoundPower vibrations in a drama-free setting. The
proliferation of technology now makes it even easier than ever 2 do this, bt we
still have 2 take the steps, check out who’s doing it on that level, u can’t
change the Game if u’re just content 2 sit in the stands and point a finger.
Dip the finger in the flow instead, c what ripples occur.
Talking abt Back in the Day, there was a time when Hip Hop
was switched on 2ward the positive, when there was a genuine movement 4
positive change in our communities, in the way we engaged each other, in the
way that we saw ourselves and the world. Peace was the word and empowerment was
the goal, and we knew that somehow we had 2 “fight the powers that be”… then
the crack wars began, big
money came n2 Hip Hop, and style began 2 reign over content. Again there r many
documentarians who have chronicled this, and @ some point I may well create a
body of work in that vein, bt let me posit this, was there any benefit from
this sudden slide away from the positive? And if so, who were the
beneficieries? And y wld there b a push 2ward the negative?
I wanna draw a parallel here, not an overtly obvious 1, bt an
important 1. Back in the 60’s and 70’s there was a strong and definite movement
that engaged peeps in an environment from which they felt alienated. The
movement, the most visible aspects of which were musical and appearance, was
much stronger and deeper that just songs and visuals. I’m talking abt Punk.
Punk was, and still is by those who keep the flame, a whole culture 2 itself,
with not just its own music, bt its own fashion, ideologies, codes and modes of
interaction, dance, literature, visual artwork, film and other artistic output,
lifestyle and community. From the outside it frightened many who cldn’t cross
that bridge 2 engage it. Like Hip Hop it had negative aspects as well, as do
all cultures. Yet it was the Music that spearheaded its rise n2 the gr8r
consciousness, and when it became apparent that aspects of the culture were
economically viable, Big Money found it way n2 Punk. Soon after, Punk-lite
fashion appeared chain stores, record companies found acts that cld sell
commercial Punk music 2 mainstream audiences, without educating the masses as 2
the larger culture. Economic power brings a certain level of freedom, and those
with that power and who co-opted Punk, or their representation of it, had the
power 2 influence the commercial aspects and not have 2 answer 2 the
architects, the peeps that lived this. So Punk as a cultural force... well…
sort of died a death. There r still those who keep it alive, and have 2 still
fight the misconceptions and preconceptions every day, they still rep Punk 2
the fullest and have even carved successful careers even in the face of the
ignorance of others. It’s funny how both with Hip Hop and Punk, if u r seen as
1 who reps that culture, u automatically become the spokesperson 4 it in its entirety,
and must answer 4 all its ills. I was watching the opium box some time back
(funny how addictive it can b), and saw Vivienne Westwood in an interview,
where the interviewer 1st fawned over her, then began 2 try 2 make
her answer 4 negative occurrences in the history of Punk, like all true Punks
lived in the same house and were answerable 4 whatever crap some other punk
did. Some things never change.
Hip Hop, whereas Big Money has made inroads 2 co-opt it,
still is somewhat self-regulating, and bcos it’s also remains somewhat removed
from whose that wld seek 2 own its soul, lays in the hands of those who, 2 some
extent, live it and love it 4 all its flaws. This now global phenomenon that,
as Common says has affected so many souls and connected nations, has enriched
the lives of billons, Hip Hop affiliated or not, as well as enriching billions
of dollars in the coffers of corporations. The beauty of it all is that it’s
still abt the joy of participation. The banging of beats on the kitchen table
(or on shop counters, on the knees, the dashboard in the ride...), the catching
lyrical wordplay in a cypher, hearing 4 bars drop from a new joint in a club
and getting yr collective minds blown, the pain of STILL waiting 4 Dre 2 drop Detox, the joy reminiscing abt c-ing
Biggie Mic Control-ing Hammersmith Palais, or playing Eminem in yr head just b4
u have 2 face 1 of Life’s many tests, or even listening 2 a Japanese girl who
knows virtually no English spit Shook
Ones word 4 word, rhyme 4 rhyme and know that u both share a bond…
I cld go on and on, bt the point is this; the story of Hip
Hop is age old, the story of triumph over adversity, of the insignificant
becoming integral 2 the fabric of this space-time, the story of the power of
unity. It’s not so much a matter of history tho, it’s on-going, present, it’s
our story, and the continuing story of the world in which we live, from the
perspective of the story tellers, the rhymers and scribers that spk 2 us and 4
us, and is probably the most democratic method of telling the tale of the
people. Like all true democracies, the gr8r the participation, the more vibrant
the democracy becomes. 4 u, by u, and if we all engage, we will continue 2
shape the reality of this thing of ours.
I rarely roll up 2 Hip Hop Appreciation days anymore, tho I try
2 reach the up and comers thru other means. Mayb the way 2 show love for H.E.R.
and honour the Architects is 2 keep it movin’ whilst holding fast 2 the values
that brought this whole thing 4ward.
I used 2 love H.E.R. I still love H.E.R. Even when she
becomes wayward, or I become wayward, I still come back 2 H.E.R. I hope I’m
blessed enough 2 never fail H.E.R. I will always ride 4 H.E.R.
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker.
01:59
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
“Do you believe that’s air you’re breathing now?” Morpheus.
Yeah rudie, I’m looking out of my window, seeing the
glorious sunshine and kinda just appreciating all Nature offers us, the
vastness of the gift that is this world and everything in it. I’m happy just 2
feel the sunlight on my skin, that’s the truth of the matter. Then I think abt
all those whose journeys have finished b4 mine and r no longer on the trod 2
enjoy this experience with I an’ I, and that brings a little sadness. That is
also the truth. Does the new truth cancel out the old truth? I guess it depends
on how u see it. What I do kno is that headz that r considered leading
authorities on this matter r not all in sync on this.
So what is the truth of the matter? Or, 4 that matter, what
is the Truth? See, from ever since, we’re always told abt truth as a gr8 virtue.
Always tell the truth, and all good things will follow u through life. Not
that this is strictly true, as many who spoke the truth ended up dead, or
incarcerated, or persecuted. Sometimes the truth abt speaking the truth is that
many may fear that truth, or even believe that truth 2 b a lie.
Maya Angelo said that facts can b used 2 obscure the truth.
So what makes a truth the truth? Kitaro Nishida took the view that truth starts
when the consciousness differentiates between knower and known, and ends when
they find unity. Is the truth some type
of resolution, let’s look at something, question the hell out of it, and what
we’ve got left is then the truth? Or is the truth just the belief in a fact; X
is a fact, we believe that fact, our belief is the truth? Or, is it maybe there
is one Truth, encompassing a complete system of all true beliefs, and that
whatever we believe 2 b true is merely a part of that whole, complete Truth?
The thing that strikes me is that in all of this, the 1
thing that comes across is the connection between truth and perception; there
is no truth is there is no1 2 believe in it. Is truth then something internal,
and a connection that we have with external things, b they ideas or just the
world as it is? If not, could it b that truth is just the way in which we
interpret the world around us?
Earlier 2day I had a meeting with a man in a suit, full of
info on government statistics, local and central guidelines and correct
procedure policies. During a somewhat energetic discussion, we got on 2 the
subject of truth, how 2 people can describe the same thing in different terms
and what that meant 2 each person. Dude then told me that perception is reality
from that person’s perspective. Cool, there is something 2 that, but then
again, say I look at a situation a certain way, and I think this has some
significance 2 every1 else. I then decide 2 project this, 2 make an assertion
so that all of u can kno what I kno, and I succeed. Now my belief becomes your
truth. Now let’s say that my truth was based on mayb a shaky premise. (a) If I
believe that it is wholeheartedly true, is it a truth? And (b), regardless of
the answer to (a), as I was successfully able to assert my belief 2 all of u, is
that truth now the new reality?
Here’s something 2 bake the noodle: if I kno something is a
lie, and I live that lie, and I tell myself that it’s the truth, and I then
invest myself in this so much that I eventually convince myself that it’s now
the truth, is the original truth still the truth, or is the lie now the truth? And
if the lie is now the truth, wasn’t it always the truth, and the original truth
just a device 2 bring me 2 the truth? Or is this new truth just a truth on top
of the original truth and I am now the creator of the new reality, and if I am
the creator of this reality, what does that make me? Or what if all realities r
a falsehood, and there is only 1 truth, and this truth is obscured by all these
other realities, as the creators of these realities, is no1 then able 2 perceive
the truth?
We have reality TV, social networks, online communities, fraternities,
social groups, membership clubs, politrickal parties and so many other things
that we invest in, all of which make assertions of some kind. Even with our
best efforts, if it’s even true that the individual can indeed shape reality,
how much of our reality did we actually shape, or how much was shaped for us
under the assertion that we shaped it ourselves?
Is reality all abt projection? Jean Baudrillard kicks the
idea of simulacrum around, a simulacrum being a likeness or an image, here’s
how he flips it “The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth—it is
the truth which conceals that there is none. The simulacrum is true.”
Everyday, everywhere I go, some1 is trying 2 tell me
something abt myself, I need stuff, I need 2 do stuff, buy something, believe
in him, vote for this skism, join this group.. I must b missing out big time!
Of course they wld never lie, it’s all true… So if 2 of them r telling me that I
have a particular need, yet each solution offered conflicts with the other, can
both truths co-exist? Wld they cancel each other out? Wld I need 2 seek a
supertruth that accommodates both truths?or is it the projection of those
truths more real than the truth behind them?
What if… and bear with me… what if…. All these things that I’m
being told abt myself and my needs r all lies? What is the purpose? The scale
of the delivery of these wld b something so vast that they wld represent a mega
reality 2 rival all other realities. Mayb this is a mutated Orwellian world, bt
then Orwell himself called it and said, “in a time of deceit telling the truth is a
revolutionary act”. Knowing what happens 2 those who commit revolutionary acts, wld u still tell the truth?
The next time some1 says that they r telling u the truth, what do they mean? What do they want it 2 mean 2 u? Cld b that none of this matters anyway....
What is your truth?
…as always answers on a postcard...
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker
01:40
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
By now all of u, the good peeps who pass thru this
(blog)spot and read the pieces put down by us here, may have noticed, or not bcos
it’s all love, that I sign off on my pieces with “p.l.h.o.”. I also use this on
other bits of correspondence and even certain presentations. Every so often
some1’ll hit me up and ask, “What does it mean?” so I keep it simple…
Peace.Love.Honour.One.
A mantra, a code, a guide. 1ce in a while I’ll get a 1
who’ll come at me and throw back a variation of some kind, like “why don’t u
flip it like dis, fam!”, or take that variation and use it on their own thing.
That’s cool wid me, all love, like breaking bread 2 make more bread. Wonderful.
Me, I gotta keep it original tho, and not just 4 the sake of, bt bcos it’s more
than just a flow of words that may or may not sound cool. This right here is a
livity. When I said b4 that I keep it simple, what I meant is that I don’t
always go as far as 2 break it down, mayb bcos I sometimes expect my closer
peeps 2 kno (or b telepathic, yeah, I already kno, 1 of those traits I gotta work
on… and I am trying) or grasp it just like that. So.. I will apologise 2 every1
that I did that with, this is me making amends, and setting it str8. This
thing, p.l.h.o., is not actually 4 different things, kinda more like 4 in 1, or
more accurately, 3 in 1, the 1st
being the last and the last being the 1st (Basic Instructions B4
Leaving Earth, 4 the original headz). Let me get 2 it.
Peace.
This is the initial,
the alpha, the jump off. Now from a longer time, “peace” has always been a
salutation used 2 show love within hip hop and reggae culture, a call of
awareness from various beliefs and philosophies that we all flow n2 contact
with, and a term with carries a value streetside.
The his or her story of the term goes back 2 ancient times,
and in many instances wld b the difference between life and death, with the
declarer of the term aware of what was at stake going in. All word sound is
power, bt the power is less if the sound, which is an energy, didn’t match up
with the word. Bear in mind that the ancients had a very different overstanding
of the world, the perception of certain energies was far gr8er than now, and if
the word and energy were out of sync, then, well, heads rolled. Literally.
This goes deeper still, as the use of the term peace wasn’t
just merely abt the representation of intent, it was also abt transference.
That means that in order 4 I an’ I 2 approach a nxt “I” and connect, there has
2 b a continuity of energy flow. It’s not simply enough 2 say the words, b
sincere and that’s that, there has 2 b the passing of this energy, this vibe, a
connecting flow, like when water flows across land, pushing, moving, meandering
2 find the best way 2 get where it needs 2 go. And even if the water flow dries
up, the riverbed remains so that the path is clear. From Sumeria 2 Kush, right
thru 2 the ancient Greeks, the 1st Aramaic speakers, and the original peoples
of the Himalayas, the importance of the principle was known. Even Yeshua, known
as the Christ, wld approach wishing His peace un2 all those that He came
across.
No structure can b built on a moving groundation, even the
structures of our relationships, of family and community, of respect and
understanding. We r the groundation, as we all represent the mother Earth,
Gaia, not in some pseudo religious kinda skizm, bt simply as the product of her
wellspring. Evolution or Intelligent Design, it all points out this simple
fact. The shifting sands inside us can only truly become stable when we have
peace. It’s the simplist, yet most mind expanding thing we can do in and of our
own selves. Find that true centre, anchor all the chaos that is a human 2 it,
and stop moving, achieve stillness. The really weird thing abt it is that
sometimes it can happen in a moment, or the space between moments, and we don’t
even notice. It can b inspired by a word, or an object, mayb the sudden
sensation of noise, a vivid colour, or even mortal danger. I an’ I have found
this whilst performing movements in the war arts, in deep conversation wid
wiser headz, and even experienced this hearing a talented performer play in a
noisy room, pure stillness (big shout out 2 Ayanna). Peace.
It may sound like this is something that can only b
experienced in fleeting moments @ sporadic times, yet this isn’t the case @
all. All over the world, from religion, 2 meditation and martial practices, 2
certain leisure pursuits, there r many paths 2 the Way (u may ask why I refer 2
peace as the Way, grasshopper. I’ll come back 2 that in a minute).
This thing right here is something that is not only
achievable, bt also prolong-able and even sustainable. It takes work, like
anything else good. Let me bring it back 2 the everyday. I an’ I roll up 2 a
spot, and c our peeps, make eye contact, and show love by wishing them peace.
Cool, bt it’s all hollow if we’re lacking that said peace. Even if we’re
sincere in wishing it, the desire can only go so far as the knowledge from
which it is inspired, so if we don’t kno peace, then it’s difficult 2 wish un2
others the thing that we’re not so sure that we kno abt. All this comes b4 we
can act as conduits 2 allow that flow of wordsoundpower, that energy, that
peace, 2 connect us 2 those we hold in esteem.
Many ancients have spoken abt the Way, and even have shown paths
2 the Way. This is bcos peace isn’t stagnant. Yes it is a stillness, but that
is within us. That stillness is there 2 guide and inform, sometimes it can b
referred 2 as a meditation in motion, having stillness while doing something
else, like when a sportsperson finds that moment of clarity in a crucial part
of the game, or an artist touches the ether 2 pull off an extraordinary
performance. This thing, this peace, can inform on so many levels, even when
fighting the evils of this world, so as not 2 become lost 2 the fight. It
becomes an indicator of the direction we take, a lifestyle choice… The Way. All
we can do, if we so choose, is to find a path 2 that Way.
Love.
Probably the single
thing most talked abt in this world. We have entire industries, many, built
around this. The fortunes of men and nations have risen and fallen chasing it.
I an’ I kno that there is so much material out there, songs, poems, movies,
paintings and other artistic expressions and whatnot, all talking abt love. All
nice and dandy, epcept 4 the fact that most of that stuff is tied up in
romance, and emotion. Yes, we r manifold beings with many selves, including the
emotional, what I’m really looking at here is love as a virtue.
So ok, I hear u
coming with, “Corrd, den isn’t love just love, Iyah? No matter who or what u
love, it’s still love?” Well, yes, bt that’s love as emotion, or even the
expression of that emotion, that feeling that provides a motivation 2 certain
actions. I’m talking abt Love as a guiding principle, the thing that underpins
all other structures. In this sense, the love is truly universal, not just for
the reason that it’s something that we all share in, but that all things r
connected thru it. Even in dealings that r unpleasant in nature, with love as
light, the path ahead becomes clearer. For example, if a child falls and has an
injury, the parent will, if they can, take care of that injury. Now, if that
wound is dirty then it needs 2 b cleaned, the cleaning of the injury make well
cause the child more pain, and no loving parent wld want 2 cause their child
pain, bt the wound needs cleaning, and if left unattended can become infected,
so the parent puts aside their own discomfort in order 2 deal with the wound in
the best way possible without hesitation.
The writers of the Upanishads describe the individual like a
circle, within which is another circle. The inner circle is the intellect,
which is the unchanging self, purely observing reality, but not directly connected
2 it. The outer circle is the discursive mind, connected 2 the world via the
senses, and filtering the sensory perception, so that the intellect is informed
thru this discursive. So pree this… if this discursive is structured in virtue,
and the virtue is love, then everything in the universe that we affect, and
that affects us is thru love. There is no division, or categorisation, of how
we deal with everything because everything comes 2 us via love. Another
perspective is this; if all of our structures, as discussed earlier, r
represented in a physical form, like a building, then the building needs 2 b
constructed so that they stand strong and secure. If peace is the earth upon which everything
is built, love is the material that makes the foundation.
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not
love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth
not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself
unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” Paul
the Apostle.
Honour.
Back in the day, coming up as young’uns, everybody knew
some1 from their area, manor, hood, sides, that garnered respect. Not demanded
it, or imposed it on any1. Never took the time 2 ask 4 it, or explain why it
was necessary. They just got it. Many times, the 1’s who gave respect didn’t
even analyse the why. There was no external reason as 2 how this happened
either, wasn’t like every1 was told, “yo, my man’s a Lord” or “do u know what u
owe 2 dude? U best respect dat!” U just did. If u took the time out 2 really
pree it, then oftentimes u wld find out that this person wld carry themselves a
certain way, conduct themselves in a certain manner, observe a certain code,
and most times without feeling a need 2 state any of this.
A lot of what was admirable in those individuals was the
fact that they acted with honour. Strangely enough, this is a term that, as
times goes on, falls n2 more and more disuse. Honour, some wld say, is almost
like an unwritten rulebook (although there r in fact written codes of honour,
usually attached 2 an institution of some kind, like certain belief structures,
military organisations, structured fraternities etc…), grounded in things such
as dignity, character, morality and integrity. All very nice sounding words. Bt
honour isn’t just abt high sounding ideas, bt abt what happens when grindin, and
dealing with the grimey, without becoming grime. That crazy high standard yr
grandmother wld hold u 2, and why the baddest man on yr ends showed her nothing
bt respect, yeah, that’s what we’re dealing with.
I recently saw Dr Maya Angelou on the opium box discussing
virtues, and in this discussion she stated that contrary 2 popular belief, the
greatest of all virtues was courage, 4 it emboldens a person 2 practice the
other virtues always. I felt that deeply, but as I delved n2 a deeper
contemplation whist sitting here writing this piece, I found that my view
differed slightly. While courage does indeed bring consistency to other
virtues, it isn’t in and of itself virtuous. I an’ I can perform courageous
feats and inspire many, bt that same courage can enable me 2 commit gr8 wrongs also, if I believe in the
validity of my actions, or believe that I need prove my superiority. 4 me, to
practice honour, not only enhances the practice of other values, but it also
gives meaning as 2 why those things r important as it self affirms without
needing affirmation.
As I just said, even the term honour seems 2 b increasingly
disused. I came across an article that tried 2 explain that honour within a
culture was opposed 2 a culture of laws. It attempted 2 show that having the
rule of law doesn’t allow a person 2 act in an honourable way particularly if
they have been wronged, and how a code of honour needs poverty, crime
profitability, and lack of law enforcement in order 2 b sustained. Yes Iyah,
madness. Honour is at its very essence virtuous, and grounded in decency, and
is not the rule of law set in the principles of decency? It kinda seemed 2 me
that I an’ I was being told to set aside what is decent so that decency can b
dispensed 4 me 2 practice. Izm skizms.
The true beauty of honour is that it’s not just an
observance, bt also a set of tools 2 practically apply when dealing with the
situations that we all experience, as well as dealing with our struggles, those
both without and within. My Cuz 1nce told me that the gr8est honour a King can
have is 2 b of service 2 his people. Indeed, 2 b of service 2 the people is
majestic, and even Divine.
One.
“Me, we.” Shortest known poem, by Muhammed Ali.
The Omega, the ending, or, more accurately, the end of the
beginning and the beginning of everything. Each individual is part of a
community, or even several communities, that represent something, whether
that’s family, tribe, vocational affiliation, trades group… whatever. Many
communities or groups form parts of our societies, our states, nations, reh teh
teh. We all understand that there r many ways in which there exists difference
between us, yet there is also the understanding that there is cause for the
recognition of commonalities, not just in specific groups, but even across well-established
divides.
There r many ideas, schools of thought, and theories that
run along this general idea. I an’ I will say this, that in the midst of all
this infinite diversity, that there is a oneness, and that it is wise 2
recognise this and make manifest. The concept of oneness can b found in just
abt everything. That has a ring 2 it, that oneness can b found in everything.
It sounds fantastical, like some sci-fi hocus pocus u can catch on a Friday
night. The really crazy part abt this is that the more u look, the more u come
2 realise “oh shit, there might b something 2 this!”
Ok, this might all b make believe, and I an’ I shd just deal
wid facts and science, right? Cool. So there I am, watching the opium box when
a voice comes on 2 tell me that “they” have found the God particle. Yeah, and
that this discovery will proceed a whole new understanding of the universe.
This is the thing that gives everything that exists its mass, and proves the
existence of the Higgs field. Ok, so that’s kinda heavy, and new, “they” cld
have this all wrong. But then there’s other stuff, scientific theories from way
back, like Grand Unified Theory, which is just that. All the fundamental forces
in existence and all elementary particles r united by a single constant.
There’s Unified Field Theory, which is a way of saying that all forces in
nature and all matter is connected by a single field. All this ain’t just some
madness from a few mad scientists, this is the holy grail of physics, and
regarded by many as something just not yet understood.
Lao Tzu talked abt the One Thing, from the One Thing came
the Two things, from which came many things, yet the purpose of the many things
is 2 find, and then connect 2 the One Thing and b. Many religions can b seen as
various forms of belief structures that show how the Divine (or God), the One
Thing, causes and connects many things. The word religion itself comes from the
Latin religare, which means to bind, to tie or connect.
Ever heard of the Collatz Conjecture, or the Syracuse
Problem? Simply put, take any natural number, if it’s an even number, half it,
if it’s odd, then times it by 3 and add 1. Repeat that process indefinitely. No
matter what number u start with, u’ll end up with 1. Crazy. My thing is this,
there is just 2 much that demonstrates the connectedness of us all 2 each
other, and everything else, 2 ignore. The realisation of this, and the
representing of the wholeness and connectedness thru Peace, taking guidance by
the light of Love with which we make these connections, and maintaining the
link, as well as conducting our behaviour to all with Honour, allows us all 2 b
our One true self, and b One with everything, as well as connect to the One
Thing and b…One.
All knowledge somehow keeps creeping toward a destination of
unified overstanding and a gr8er state of unity. Frightening in scope, mayb, bt
at the essence, it takes the incalculable and distils it 2 its purest form. The
elements that connect each of us 2 each other, and us all 2 everthing else, and
the One Thing, r within us. Therefore we r one with everything, and we r one.
Individually One. Collectively, One
I hope that this gives some clarity, and instead of singing
off in the usual, let me say this. 2 every1 who reads this, and 2 yr peoples,
and yr peoples peoples, I absolutely wish u all Peace, I wish u Love, I wish u
Honour, and I wish u One.
Corrd the Seeker
(big up Sectretta 4 the spark)
00:42
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
We all have a few things that we love 2 h8, and if we were 2 b truly revealing, things that we h8 2 love. Not that I an’ I wants 2 tell u abt love, as there r so many giants who can speak on this, bt there r just some things that just slip in there, and 4ever remain. Things like that fam member who just rolls up in yr life and always leaves u just a bit worse off than when they arrived, the double choc cake that calls yr name whenever u walk past it, Barry Manilow songs yr moms used 2 make u listen 2 (come on now, y’all kno “pina coladas” is a classic!). Ting is, even tho we associate these tings with negativity, or with things and times that weren’t always the best, the love is still there, so we don’t ever really let dem go.
4 me, it’s that N word. Yeah… I kno, right?
Nigger.
That word we all love 2 h8, more revealing that the Emperor’s new clothes, more explosive than semtex, more welcoming than an embrace. Yet there r other words, words that denote the same thing; jiggaboo, jungle bunny, coon, spade, wog, spear chucker… only thing is tho, they don’t. Not really. Don’t get it twisted, each of those is offensive, bt THAT word, it says so much more.
I was checking out the opium box recently, and there was a man on there, well established in the skism, revered and almost beyond reproach. So dude was doing his thing, being the voice of moderation, balancing out the opinions of others, and facilitating a bunch of heads 2 bathe themselves in their intellectual understandings and give themselves props. Now they were discussing how 1 of the immigrants who had been given the opportunity 2 step thru the glass ceiling and got 2 b celebrated had misbehaved and stepped out of line, made even worse by the fact that not only had this happened b4, bt that no 1 had reminded them of their place. All well and good. Bt den it descended n2 a bit of he said/she said, an’ in the midst of this reh reh the dude, showing his sensitivity and understanding of issues made a point of questioning the existence of certain hypocrisies by saying that referring 2 some1 as white isn’t the same as saying the N word. Only dude didn’t say “the N word”. Dude said Nigger.
U kno, I get it, he was using the word in the context of its significance, and there was no hint of either an expression of bias or intent.
Yet it still pulled me up. I immediately scanned my memory of the last few minutes. Was there some underlying prejudice, was the dude, or indeed the broadcaster trying 2 pull a ting (happens all the time), or was it just a power move, like “if I can intellectualise a term and concept (tho it mayb a vessel of h8) and refer 2 it dispassionately as a point of reference… then in the company of intelligent people there shd b no issue”. Bt I wasn’t feeling that, feel me? My 1st reaction 2 this was “did dude really just… no... What?... no… what exactly… really??... How dare he!”
Anyhoo, the moment passed, and I allowed myself 2 b engrossed in the subject matter at hand. Bt still, it kinda stuck with me 4 a time, and not just the moment itself, bt my reaction 2 it. As far as I cld tell it was just an intellectual exercise and dat was dat; no harm, no foul. So why did it bother me? We all value free speech, and if we all felt freer 2 spk our minds, we’d probably b more evolved as a collective, if not a society (even if there is no such ting as some heads believe). Dude shd b able 2 say whatever. It just felt wrong, square peg ting, unnatural, like sheep going “moo!”, and…..invasive, like some1 all up in yr home uninvited, opening up stuff they have no business getting into… a violation. Just like that, like this is yrs 2 take and use as u feel.
Hold up! Even as I came 2 this realisation, I had 2 question it. Not yrs?? So is it mine? So what now, I’ma take ownership of “nigger”? This is crazy, with all the connotations that r implied with THIS word, it’s mine..?
So I start 2 think back, think of my moms telling me how, as a girl, a shopkeeper spat on a piece of fish she bought when he thought she wasn’t looking, how my uncles an’ cousins an’ dem had 2 kick off club doors back in the day, just so they cld have a gd time in an orderly fashion, my brother as a young child wld visit his white friend up the road, and his dad wld announce “yr little nigger friend is here 2 play”. I thought abt how this word, this 1 word, had its origins, a word that was used 2 dehumanise and bedevil men and women, and in doing so disempower them of the most basic of rights afforded 2 any individual. Most importantly, how this idea gave rise 2 self h8, and that said individuals r, by the natural order, less deserving, and r of less worth. Don’t doubt it 4 a second, Nigger, at its root origin, is an idea, a concept, an ideology and a lifestyle choice.
Yeah, I hear u, “yo, Corrd, wha’ u mean lifestyle choice?? What u sayin’, dat a man choose dat??” Well, yeah. Don’t flip now, bt here’s where it’s at. The idea was dat some of us r superior, others beneath, inferior, subservient. Now, that’s cool if u r in the superior category, bt what if the others (an’ bear in mind that we all need “others” 2 reassure us of our values, our status, our righteousness) don’t quite get that, well then u need 2 conceptualise this, an’ reinforce that conceptualisation, so every1 kno’s who is who. I cld spk on this in extreme depth, bt there r so many learned heads who have done so, an’ whereas I an’ I may differ in opinion on certain tings, my perspective may b no more valid. Look it up if u don’t already kno. The bottom line is that the concept needed 2 b spread, preached an’ forcibly ingrained so as 2 take root. In fact, the whole skizm had 2 b geared in this way so that moving 4ward there is a comprehensive vision, a world view, an ideology. When this is put 2 those who r already classed as 3/5ths of a human being, as well as preached 2 them as being the Holy an’ natural order, then if yr thinking is 2 do what is right, the social ideal, what is after all only Holy and natural, then 4 them NOT choose that life is 2 go against everything as it is, the whole system, an’ we all kno how dat game ends. So those of us in the superior category offer a narrow choice. Chose the path laid out 4 u, or die trying (whilst watching yr loved 1’s also suffer an’/or die). No need 2 bitch tho, still had a choice.
So time moves on and slavery ends, yet the nigger ideology, and all that comes with it, still prevails. It adapts and finds new methods of manifestation. We all kno how dat goes. Restrictive legislation, mores an’ taboos in place, white sheeted peeps, fiery crosses, closed communities, all under the guidance of us in the superior category. Many in the inferior category even choose 2 stand and fight 4 the skism, 2 b soldiers in wartime conflicts, both in civil disputes and worldwide, yet at the end of these wars there was no just compensation, or even the slightest recognition. As brother Malcolm said, 1 man puts a noose around the other man’s neck, both shouting out 2 Heaven, and the man with the noose around his neck wonders why no1 answers his prayer. Funny story.
Dr Carter G Woodson dropped the science like so, "if you can control a man’s thinking, you don’t have to worry about his actions. If you can determine what a man thinks you do not have worry about what he will do. If you can make a man believe that he is inferior, you don’t have to compel him to seek an inferior status, he will do so without being told and if you can make a man believe that he is justly an outcast, you don’t have to order him to the back door, he will go to the back door on his own and if there is no back door, the very nature of the man will demand that you build one.”
Things an' times keep moving, and all kinds of upheaval take place. There r movements 4 social justice, civil rights, suffragettes, nuff upheaval, an’ the ideology keeps doing what it does best. Now we have peeps in both categories so entrenched, that the very idea of choice seems like some dim reality. The vibrancy of youth is a beautiful spectacle 2 behold, as it pushes an’ presses an’ bucks against the status quo in its uniquely infectious way.
So many things change, bt we all still have the word. That word. Bt, here’s something really funny. Those in the lesser category, they found that they could take the ideology, break the concept, and redefine the word. Nigga!! Indeed fam, take a term of h8, of disenfranchisement, of self-loathing, of debasement, an’ flip dat, use it 2 express a shared understanding, experience, even camaraderie, not so as 2 hold on 2 the definitions of those who r lesser somehow, bt as a bonding of peoples having gone thru gr8 tribulations, a reminder of what was, a guide 2 a higher reality an’ a warning 4 the continued struggle.
That’s not 2 say dat the positive cancels the negative, and the original ideology still holds sway, even in this time of redefinition. In fact many wld say that this redefinition is nothing more than the old ways from the bad old days having a face lift so as 2 recapture and re(mis)educate newer generations. Both views hold some merit. I an’ I recognise the supposed hypocrisy. Bt then isn’t this journey abt sometimes ALL of us embracing our fears, both within and without? How else do we reach out 2 those we’ve vilified, or deal with the villain within?
Nigga.
New ideology? Hmm... Nigga, as both Signifier and Sign. A demonstration of what was and what cld b. Nigga, beyond nigger. Nietzsche’s Übermensch revealed somehow. Now dat’s some blow yr mind/defile yr boxers shit right there. The ultimate evolution. Is that the fear, some planet of the apes type future where the oppressed become oppressors? C, as I an’ I overstand dis ting, Nietzsche’s whole ting was looking at humanity an', coming 2 the conclusion dat our development wld progress without rather than within via our constructs and artifices, the Übermensch or “Overman” (or Superman) wld b the next step of dominant evolution. Bt, this Overman isn't so much the new ruler of the world, or the threat 2 our existence we need 2 b vigilant against, lest only 1 of us can inherit the Earth, some kinda war 4 dominance ting the smoke/mirrors industry try 2 frighten us with. We've seen how the theory can get warped in the hands of a skilled, passionate, intelligent leader... Hitler damn near destroyed the world (scarier still is that some of his opponents weren't adverse 2 his ideas, just his power lust!). Peep this grasshopper, the overman was never some scary mutant here 2 conquer, bt is 1 who moves from the crowd view and finds a new perspective while not needing 2 force it on others, a living testament of the way 4ward, a concept we cld all embrace in this time of realignment (see the blog times r changing). 2 look at how such negatives flower n2 blessings that humanity can all hold on 2 may b a bit wishful, then again...
Bt the word, this word. The love/h8 conflict subsides so that I an’ I am brought bk 2 the dude, an’ yet as I reflect, it still bothers me. I apprecilove the intellectuality, bt some tings r more than just dat. Some tings u feel, u carry, u pay 4 with the sweat of yr brow. As much as I can pree where he’s coming from, an’ whereas it’s not my word, or any1 else’s 4 dat matter, 2 delegate the usage of, I feel that this word, the N word, Nigga, that word, even with the enlightened perspective it may or may not have, this word is still a burden on us, yeah.. u, me, him, her, all. Our history, our journey, our coming 2gether in the 1ness that we all r. Not a burden 2 b laid down and discarded, bt the burden of its own truths, a burden, the right of which has 2 b earned. Not taken. Neither decided on by some intellectual exercise, nor some politricksical pandering. Not bartered, bt earned.
Earned, like the scars our mothers carry 4 birthing us, the war wounds of their labour of love. I can wax lyrical all day abt childbirth, see it up close, try 2 use examples 2 give clarity and definition, paint a scenario 2 explain it all in gr8 detail. Bt as I say the words, I can't spk their truth, so the words r hollow, false, cos I can never kno that ecstasy, pain, responsibility, that burden.
Not all of us can or shd carry this, cos not all of us can spk on this. Bt some of us can try, even if we disagree on how best 2 carry it, until all of us reach that promised land of the Übermensch. Bt then, when we all get there, none of us will b over any1 else, we will just b.
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker.
04:46
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
I am the face in the mirror that u never want 2 c, I am the man on the dark side of the moon. I am that which u love 2 hate, the road that u tread, the abyss. I am called Scourge, the reflection of yr goodness. The stone the mason rejected.
I am the myth that excited yr fantasies, and the bogey man creeping at the edge of yr nightmares. I was clueless 2 yr civility, let loose in my corner of the world. I served no purpose 2 u, useless, occupying space bt not paying my way. I was a curiosity, something just as u r… bt not, less than… somehow. I was that upon which kingdoms were built, empires forged, the shoulders that yr giants needed 2 stand on.
I was yr fuel, the engine that drove yr success, the unnamed hand, the unknown warrior who won yr wars. I was the discarded armour of your defence, the sword that u beat into a ploughshare. I was the hewer of wood and the drawer of water. I was the heathen in need of yr deliverance. The fact of my existence proved 2 u the goodness of yrs, the truth of my origin revealed the fallacy and baseness of yr own, and even tho my reality made yrs possible, I needed 2 b kept in place, underfoot. I learned 2 b thankful 4 this, reverent, understanding that all this was part of the gr8r whole and assured of yr righteousness. I wanted 2 b u, bt clued 2 the fact that I cld never attain ascension in this life, comforted that my reward awaited me beyond. I was the darkness in u made manifest. My voice screamed yr name, even as I had no name of my own. The savagery with which u showed me what my place and purpose was, that was justified bcos this was the only way 2 bring me yr culture, yr sophistication and yr salvation.
Somehow, I desired more, even when I knew this was a dream unattainable. I knew my place was below yrs, bt questioned why yr blood was as red as mine. The old answers no longer held water, the foundations were found 2 b feet of clay, and the strength of yr words became mud. The strength I gave in yr servitude, the strength that u took 4 yrself, was slowly becoming my own. Yet I was bound in my physicality. I fought and raged, pleaded and reasoned, slowly freeing myself. I had overcome… bt u had other plans 4 me. Whereas 1ce I was broken, all alpha forcibly removed, I became… broke, the physical bounds replaced by the social, economic, the academic.
My miseducation and underdevelopment made me n2 the agent of my destruction, yr despise 4 me comparable only 2 my own self-hate, my fear holding me in my place while my love made me grateful 2 have a place at all. I sought out my status, my caste, my class. I was as nothing, educating my younger self in the art of nothing, yet as I wasted away, my woman strived, becoming superwoman, and did this as she carried twice the burden. The embers smoldered. I craved recognition, marched 4 it, sat 4 it, bled 4 it, was raped 4 it, starved 4 it. Even as I began 2 finally receive it, I tore down those whose light guided me 2 the new path. Yet I was still a prisoner 2 yr grand design, yr guiding hand bcoming ever more subversive. U handed me a new set of tools, and I, still believing in yr love, gladly accepted these gifts. My families imploded, my communities devolved n2 war zones.
Even as I had nowhere left 2 go, u still pushed. I pushed back, with bricks, sticks, slipping on yr spit. I pushed back, with the songs of my ancestors, spiritual songs forged in the night of my soul. I pushed with sounds dark and blue, with the horns of the Bird and the Monk. I slipped in yr spit and stood tall 2 spit rhymes. Beaten, I beat back with nyabinghi and 808’s. Divorced from my tongue, I took yrs and gave voice 2 soul, my darkness shining 2 all hidden corners. I enriched culture, redefined sophistication, gave salvation 2 yr expression. My contribution far outweighed my compensation, yet I’m still not given my recognition. I am that which u relocate with yr gentrification, yet I am still here The refused stone now the cornerstone. The embers lit with broken promises. The dream unattainable now a dream deferred.
I am the face u refuse 2 c, the screaming voice drowning out with yr platitudes. I am the bogeyman manifest, I am love. I am no longer the face in the mirror, I AM THE MIRROR. I am hope, I am faith, I am rage. I am Alpha and Omega. I am a million desolate souls, I am the streets. I am hip hop, I am rock and roll, the scream and the silence. I am the winter of yr discontent, I am the hand and the stone, hurtling 2 the glass house. Generations of breeding made me the superman I am still searching 4. The shine of my darkness will guide us all 2 the light. I am yr deliverance.
I am the hate that hate produced, I am… La Haine.
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker.
23:11
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
Yes Iyah
Just wanted 2 give the I dem a quick shout out, I an'I realise that y’all really busy right know, doing all that “powers that b” stuff and whatnot, and I kno it’s been a hectic period, what with summering in the South of France, Tuscany and wherever, but I just wanted 2 let y’all kno that we down here in the trenches r supporting the skism.
C, I kno that over the past few days, the opium box has been flashing images of the yout’ dem seemingly out of control, rampaging and looting. And I kno that, bcos u love us so much and that u r only concerned abt the welfare of the yout’, that u had 2 put dem on lock down. I kno that the water canons y’all wanna bring out, whilst reminding us eerily of what u had 2 do back in the day 2 those of us of a darker hue (well, we didn’t kno our place then) r only bcos u wanna show that if we don’t play nice that we’ll b reminded that we r all disposable and that, well, a little shower never did any harm anyway. I also kno the the baton rounds ( or rubber bullets), whist they have been known 2 kill, r only there 4 the protection of our young people.
But, this is the ting… I kinda did tell y’all that this was coming. I wrote well over a year ago in the blog "Meanderings" abt how off key tings were, yet still y’all never holla'd back. I an' I kno dat u r telling us we have no right 2 feel the frustration and angst , even tho down here it’s like the air itself is almost 2 heavy 2 breathe. Not bcos some1 may not have the tools 2 articulate a feeling, that does not make that feeling less valid. But it's all love...
Now I kno it’s looks really dumb 4 the rioters 2 b burning down their own hoods, manors or ends, and I guess that’s why we need 2 b under even greater control. Even tho these ruffians c no reflection of themselves in the monuments and infrastructure around them, they shd have more civic pride, regardless of how little of said infrastructure is there 4 mental, emotional and spiritual upliftment. That’s not the point now, is it? They shd try harder 2 assimilate, as our Dear Leader did declare that multiculturalism is dead. He spoke the New Truth, so we shd all fall in line. I even heard the Dear Leader say that po-po have the power 2 now remove any face coverings at any time 4 any reason. I kno that even tho y’all wanted this 4 a long time, bcos let’s face it, some of these Muslim women r really scary, the recent events have helped 2 get this popping. Don’t say the yout’ dem never contribute.
Y’all had the good graces 2 give us phones and social media, and these ungrateful yout’ just abuse yr beneficence, and then end up in court. I also kno that y’all have been bringing in magistrates from outside the local jurisdictions, even tho the point of magistrates is that they kno, relate 2 and understand the peeps that stand b4 them bcos they r locally based an' so they understand local issues, but I guess even tho I don’t get it, it’s in our best interest. I kno some parents lament that they have so much less power 2 discipline their children, and that the kids have so much power of choice, but y’all did that in the best interest of us all, so I think they shd play their position and chill, y’all got this…
I did say in my blog "1 is a Symbolic Representation of an Idea" abt how the unheard who feel the hand of po-po in their lives may just wanna express their plight, but y’all did outline 2 every1 that any expression shd only take the forms laid down by yr good selves, so I can’t tell u what happened 2 the yout’s... I guess they didn’t read that memo, but they probably need re-education.
However, pls 4give me but I had a concern, hence the letter. I kno that all of y’all r very well educated, and kno all abt social issues, urban planning, psychology, all dat. I kno y’all get all these reports, and kno us all better than we kno ourselves. So I just wondered… y’all knew this was gonna happen, and yet u did nothing. I kno it’s not my place 2 question, and again I appreciate the business of yr good selves, but I just wondered...
I kno that it’s all in I an’ I best interest, and I kno y’all r only motivated by love 4 us all.
Thank u so much 4 allowing me 2 write 2 u, and if u seek me out, and kick off my door 4 “inciting” anything u don’t approve of then it’s only 4 my own good. The Lady of Iron said in ‘81, “nothing, but nothing, justifies what happened”, and there is no need 4 disobedience in our society, after all the youth dem have nothing 2 complain abt, really. Then again, she did also say there is “no such thing as society. There is the individual, their families, and the State”.
Bye 4 now, it’s all love from the trenches as we await further guidance.
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker
02:55
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
Part of the reason that this (Vibes and Pressure) blog site exists is bcos of the love of harmony. Harmony is what unites I an’ I, strengthens the weak, turns discord and chaos in2 music. The gathering 2gether of voices can b a magnificent thing 2 behold, and this overstanding has, in part, given rise 2 the ideas and observations presented by the scribes who contribute to this site.
It is in harmony that the breadth of the power of expression can be seen, and the funny thing is that this power rests within I an’ I… yes, each and every 1 of us. The power itself is the contribution that each individual gives as a manifestation of their self-expression. As I delved in2 the concept of harmony I started 2 pree the expression of the individual.
2 give voice 2 a thing is not only to give it power, but also form. The expression of that form, the representation, is what allows others to know what that thing is and, in essence, who we are; yet that knowledge is based on the interpretation of the (re)presentation of the individual thru self-expression.
Self-identity is becoming an increasingly difficult thing 2 attain within our homogeneous environments, as mass shared culture, mores and values r becoming more prevalent due 2 the rise of the information age. Not that this (in and of itself) is a bad thing. But as the expressions used, more and more, r based on shared ideals, those expressions are merely reflections, or echoes, of concepts long since separated from their origins.
Yet all of us r capable of original expression, each of us has, and is, a voice as we make manifest our expression, which gives the expression of self form. The expression both informs and shapes that same self. 1 of the great struggles of our age is 4 each of us 2 b heard and understood. The only way that we can even know if this understanding takes place is thru the echoes of ourselves as shown 2 us by others. How we come across, what we mean 2 others, how much credence we r given, is measured thru our echoes. The power of the echo is not 2 b underestimated, as this incentivises us 2 redefine, and in that process, re-present ourselves, which in turn refines the voice. The voice, it can b said, becomes an echo of an echo.
But here’s the thing, even tho it’s the echoes around us that inform us, they r still just that, a facsimile of the self, and, in this age of ours, the types of expression used r based in shared cultures and cliches. So, even the expression of an individual idea is done via signs and signals used and understood within the confines of mass culture.
Now, thru the power of voice, and the echo of that voice, I an’ I finds form, and then refines and re-presents that voice (y’all remember that back in the day, the idea that brothers and sisters shd “represent” was a big ting!). Say that I had been involved in a family conflict, and those closest 2 me had then told me abt myself, as much as there may b much truth 2 what was said to me, that expression is based on a reflection coloured thru the prism of the individual who bounces that back 2 me , bearing in mind the original expression, my voice, has been spoken using tools acquired thru mass culture. The prism of the echo may b tainted by many things; our shared history, their own preconceptions of who they think I am (or should b), the echoes of others (multiple echoes, even from the same source, can distort each other) etc… And still, it is the acknowledgement of these echoes that helps refine and redefine the voice, and so give the individual form. Who I am becomes either what I desire it 2 b, or more likely what I’m shaped in2 being, based on the reflected distortions of my voice.
Some say that all tru knowledge is contained within, and we just have 2 relearn (as this is unlearned thru the process of our education and integration) how 2 access this inner repository. An overstanding of that fact means that no1 can truly, even with the best of both intentions and insight, tell u who u r. That overstanding can allow I an’ I 2 b free of the parameters of self set by the echo, and give I an’ I the freedom 2 find the voice.
Even in this free state, the voice may still not b truly of itself, as the tools used may still be those handed 2 us by our environment. Only by examining our own capacity 2 echo the voices of others can we comprehend how much of the tools used r inherent, and even then the process can b tricky. The thing that is most important is the recognition that the voice can become pure and distinct, even if this is then alien 2 all other voices around.
But then, if all voices become like this, no voice wld b alien, and it wld only b the fear of the power of the pure voice that wld motivate others 2 negate this.
As the times r a changing, it may b an idea 2 find that tru voice, its tru power, and as giving voice to a thing gives power and form, create 4 each of us that form, and that power.
Try 2 imagine, just 4 a moment, the sheer majesty of the harmony that such a thing cld make manifest.
Just imagine…
p.l.h.o
corrd the seeker62
23:55
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
Been thinking abt how Brother Clarence taught that it’s all mathematics. How the worlds' peoples r divided in2 percentages, y'all kno the figures (if not, check it out). How things can b looked at as equations, and that the slightest imbalance can bring un4eseen results. There is no gr8er example of that than Gaia herself, impulsive, impetuous, harsh, yet nurturing, sustaining, ever 4giving. Bear witness 2 what has been over the past few years. Indeed, heads need 2 take notice when an earthquake occurs of such magnitude that it shifts the earths’ figure axis, and human life is lost en masse in the blink of an eye.
But sometimes, the profound and incredible can b found in the most unlikely of places. I an’ I heard something that stayed with me, abt a street hustler known in his community as Basboosa. My man sold fruit and produce 2 makes ends meet, and also 2 hook up his Moms and siblings, even sending 1 on 2 higher education. Y’all kno how it goes tho, harassment by po-po is the norm, but that’s just the life of a hustler. These things occur on the regular the world over, the hand of the state slapping the unheard from time 2 time, just 2 keep it all in check. The balance is a delicate thing 2 maintain, after all. Mathematics.
The very temperature of the earth is yet another example, a few degrees this way or that wld have disastrous effects on all life. The sheer mechanics of what it takes 2 sustain life, from a universal perspective right down 2 the nitty gritty, is astounding, and fills any1 who tries 2 take it all in with fear and awe. The insignificance of the individual against the cosmos itself is, well, incalculable, so intelligent heads who have knowledge of these things sit back and observe the movements, attempting 2 gain insight in2 the Gr8 Mystery.
Been checking out the opium box, and I’m told of wave after wave of devastation, upheaval, unrest, and tragedy. I even heard the craziest thing, that the seat of European power, Brussels, exists in a country that 4 almost a year now, has no official government, and that if it wasn’t 4 the fact of the significance of Brussels in the Gr8 Order, Belgium wld cease 2 b what it is. On the real. And, it cld all fall down anyway, the fact that Brussels is the centre of Europe, and that it’s the glue that holds the country 2gether, notwithstanding. Yet, western ‘civilisation’ is the model 4 the world. A beacon, even.
Chaos theory, fractals, butterflies causing the banks 2 crash (not bankers or polytricksters, oh no!)… hmm. In all this awe and wonderment, all this terrifying circumstance and exciting unknowns, there r still individuals. I an’ I. All over the world, people looking out, hoping 2 kno what’s next, wanting something more, not only 4 themselves, but 4 their fam, wishing 2 just mayb catch a glimpse of a little respect, a little dignity, some faint acknowledgement. A life where the powers that b just offer that little bit of dignity, but 4 the unheard, the ability 2 gain this is as unattainable as the Gr8 Mystery.
Galileo famously said that mathematics is the language with which God wrote the universe.
So what can I an’ I do in the face of all that has been beheld? After all, the equation balances itself, right? All an individual can try 2 do is deal with what is in front of them. Do u. Handle yr business, kno yr role and play yr position. Code of the streets, feel me?
C, Basboosa, that’s all he tried 2 do, and the odd slap here and there, well its all part of the equation balancing itself out. Mathematics. Except, 1 day, after having his selling stock strewn in the streets, and getting literally bitch slapped by po-po, this hustler had enough. Phuc balance, phuc status quo. So he tried 2 link up with his local beaurocheat, just so he cld try get some kinda acknowledgement, mayb find a little dignity in all this. Dude cldn’t even get on the schedule, much less face time. So he took the only option he cld c, went back 2 that beaurocheats’ big yard, and lit himself on fire.
Years from now, only those who knew him and loved him will mourn his passing, will have a void that is irreplaceable, and cherish his existence. A son, a brother, a cousin, nephew, friend, fellow hustler, 1 of the unheard, is dead.
Yet in his final moments, he made a sound with a power so gr8, it brought down a government, and Tunisia is a whole different place, and all over the world a hustlers’ echo reverberates, moving hearts, inspiring minds, remolding political landscapes or just tearing shit up. All this from an echo that most don’t even kno whose voice it came from. In the face of the insurmountable, the insignificant performed the incredible, the profound. Bear witness.
Now there’s some mathematics 4 yo’ ass!
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker
07:39
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
Back when my pursuit of the arts of war was a more integral part of my existence, I used to come across articles written by a Grand Master who enthused that the universal purpose of life was 2 b happy. See it deh. Simple, succinct. Profound, even. But then, what is happiness, and is the pursuit of it really our purpose on this mortal coil? I mean, if I and I happiness comes at the expense of I and I, am I justified in this pursuit? It is after all my universal purpose from which I shdn’t b denied.
Even as I penetrate this, something’s off. Happiness can manifest in many ways; a debauched weekend, post coital bliss, familial contentment, or the benefits of an enlightened existence. Happiness itself is both elemental and conceptual. It can spring up on us by surprise in spite of ourselves, or can even b a state we will into existence. Every1 knows at least 1 person who has told themselves that they are happy with a particular situation enough times until the belief is held. Perception becomes reality, or rather desire becomes perception becomes reality. Cld even go as far as 2 say many of us have indulged ourselves thus.
Emerson came at the ting thus: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have to make some difference that you have lived and lived well”. That’s a good look right there… or is it? As much as this sounds like a universal truth, it’s somewhat subjective (like happiness!). It’s also dependent upon the context in which the statement is applied. If eugenics was acceptably applied (many revered 20th century leaders were believers in this, including the beloved Winston Churchill), wld the systemised culling of our own b neatly housed under this definition? And beyond that, Emerson’s’ statement implies that function and purpose r the same thing, in which case whatever your designated function, in whatever skism u r contracted 2 (yes, even the social contract, which is the dominant imposition), your practise of said function is the fulfilment of your purpose. Some heads hold this as absolute.
Uh…..yeah.
Now, depending on whatever principles you hold dear, either 1, or both, of the above perspectives contravenes moral rules in some way... not 2 get 2 deep on morality, perhaps a next time, but even if this is the foundation on which I and I can judge purpose, then that ground cld be a little shaky. More than a little as, according 2 greater minds, morality may well b of a transient nature.
Some of the ancients believed that the purpose of a thing was within the thing itself, and wld lead it 2 its final destination, or resting place. Now language being what it was, and concepts of existence being different from what we perceive now, purpose was something within, something integral, not just a quality, but that which exists in order for the thing itself 2 exist, and relative 2 the reality in which it exists.
This purpose thing still bugs me. Happiness. Usefulness. Honour. Love. Destruction. So many others, all wherein I and I can reside. But 2 what end? There it is. The rub, as they say. Peep this. I and I pree this, and the reality (if there is such a thing) or realness is that as much as the truths talked abt and many others promote (positive) purpose, all these things r still functionary. They r facilitated by other functions in order 2 allow other things to happen. In this they r higher, or deeper, functions, but they still exist in order to facilitate more specific things. If I’m happy, it allows me 2 affect those around me, enrich relationships, and so forth. 2 b utilitarian aids efficiency, promotes productivity, reh teh teh… Purpose within purpose? Nah b, function within function.
The ancients mighta been on 2 something. Purpose at creation, but actually not just of a thing, but the thing itself. The origin, the root. The place where the Vibe and the Pressure meet the Universe. Nature.
Yeah, I hear u, “Corrd, big hole yuh a miss, cause naturally, people function on the baser instinct, and then learn 2 function within the fam. Without the learning, chaos Iyah!”. Indeed. But remember, purpose is born of nature, on a core level, conception level. Not only born of, but that which it aspires 2, a true revolution, that eventually comes back 2 itself. The realness. Nature, as both beginning and end, facilitated by the functioning of purpose.
Nature. True nature, not 2 b confused with the baser instinct, which is reactionary and evolutionary, like that which is observed in the natural world. Man is different though, sentient, self aware, intellectual. Yet baser (natural) instinct is the simplest way in which man functions, and can’t b dismissed. If this natural self is the base, where does our nature take us? To what end?
I’ma drop it like this. Man’s true nature is 2 overstand his natural self.
Function (and purpose) becomes relative 2 nature, guiding I and I 2 a higher high. Alpha and Omega.
As the Universe realigns, its time 2 embrace yourself. Don’t b new 2 this, b true 2 this.
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker
04:51
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
We’re all taught that a species survives or dies, based on its ability 2 thrive in its surroundings, how it interacts with other species and whether or not it can successfully adapt 2 any change in its circumstances. We commonly refer to this as evolution, and view this process as a positive change to a more complex or better form. Evolution is not only abt survival, but progress, often resulting in the development of a new species… only 4 the process to start again.
All evolution, until recently, is influenced by the natural environment, as well as the growth of social and cultural conditions 2 aid natural selection in strengthening the gene pool. Enter Man, the most evolved of all species, master of his natural environment. Man is intelligent, he can visualise, plan 4 his future, increase his ability 2 survive and affect change through sheer force of will. Only, in our great wisdom, we went a step further; why try to better survive when we can adapt our environment 2 suit our own needs. Or better yet, let us use our superior intelligence, our capacity 4 imagination, our ability 2 build, and those resources nature itself provides 2 create our own environment. A “super” natural environment.
We design and construct ourselves this modern environment 2 facilitate a better quality of life, 2 promote human “progress”. We adapt this environment in2 varying landscapes, according 2 the concept of whichever lifestyle we think best suits our needs, continually adding in2 these increasingly complex landscapes gauges and restrictions 2 protect ourselves and aid in guiding the path of our assured, more comfortable existence. We spend the first 20 odd years of our life learning abt this modern environment, the basic navigational tools, and the rules of engagement when traversing these landscapes. We then spend another 30 to 40 years accumulating the things we perceive we need 2 both give us and facilitate the achieving this better quality of life the construct promises. Finally, we enjoy our twilight years in retirement, free at last 2 reap the rewards of achieving the goals our varying lifestyle ideals set 4 us.
Our ability 2 survive no longer is our driving force in our daily lives. We can focus our existence on other things, ascending 2 gr8r levels of sophistication, becoming evermore “civilised”, moving 2wards taking natural selection out of the equation al2gether and ensuring survival 4 both the fittest and the not so fit. Only our inability 2 accumulate wealth can prevent us from experiencing all the construct offers. Conversely, those of us who have gr8r material wealth and/or social influence not only have more opportunity, but in some cases get to shape our landscapes 2 suit our individual needs.
But, with the elimination of natural selection, how do we ensure the continual strength of the gene pool? Or even more importantly, if we continue to build towards a safe, secure environment where there is no more struggle, how will we continue 2 evolve? And if we no longer need 2 evolve, will nature, in its pursuit of constant change, bring forth another species 2 supersede and eventually curtail our existence? This is what we’re told happened 2 the Neanderthal, by us. Maybe, in the quest 2 eliminate natural selection, all we’ve done is anger the beast.
B4 modern society, natural disasters, disease, war and other calamities 2 befall humans, whilst destroying human life, ironically aided our survival by thinning the herd. Through medical and technological developments, our development no longer follows this Nietzschean phylogeny. Diseases that used 2 devastate populations r now held at bay, like cholera or malaria. Settlements have grown in2 towns, cities, then countries, with concentrated populations and multiple human traffic routes. This has proven to aid the spread of new, more insidious diseases, like SARS, or viruses previously unable 2 jump 2 different species, like bird flu, or superbugs like MRSA.
In creating the supernatural environment, we’re on our way 2 laying waste 2 the natural environment that first spawned us; depleting natural resources, contaminating both land and sea, and polluting the air, which is losing the oxygen we need 2 survive due 2 deforestation anyway. And if the construct exists to make our lives easier, why r so many of us unsatisfied, unfulfilled, or just lost, finding evermore creative ways 2 distract ourselves and escape this pinnacle of human development? Here, perhaps, is an even more disturbing question; is this phenomena an unexpected side effect our experience, or a predetermined part of the system, and therefore a necessary aspect of modern civilisation? Doesn’t the fact that we spend the majority of our life cycle either learning how 2 achieve or working 2 obtain the things we need in order 2 enjoy this superior quality of life somehow defeat the purpose anyway? More and more of us suffer from chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety attacks and stress related illnesses than ever before.
So we create more complex solutions, legislate more restrictions, exhaust more of our finite resources, and invent even distractions so as 2 lessen our struggle and negate our need for change in an environment that, by nature of the resources it draws upon, is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
All in the name of progress.
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker
05:36
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
A big part of the human experience is our relationships. The connections between I an’ I; parents and children, loved 1’s, colleagues, friends, etc... c, relationships r not just the abt foundations and connections, but abt real-time interaction, ongoing communication, and how we relate and relay that 2 each other. Y’all kno that say u have a bredren or sistren, and that person gets u a work hook up, the relationship may take on new dimensions. The ongoing experience may then have a new root, and spread thru new connections. This can develop more complexity if, thru duties and responsibilities, formal connections are forged, say 1 person has to report 2 another. I an’ I c this manifest in so many different ways, on many levels. This kind of evolution occurs in many situations, and influences our perception of self, our environment, even the world. It certainly influences the way we see each other.
Our mode of relating 2 each other makes a difference as well. 4 example, if most of a relationship is spent say, on the phone, and then suddenly the persons involved get thrust into an extended period of direct close physical proximity, then the dynamic of that relationship gets shifted, being that the majority of 1 on 1 communication is non verbal. This then means a reassessment in order find comfort in that relationship so as 2 conduct said relationship going 4ward, or assess the future level of investment in it. So, changes in the mode of relating bring abt changes in perception, which then changes how we relate.
What made me really pree this ting is an event I an’ I witnessed abt a year back that kept bugging I. 1 of I an’ I generals, as well as myself, was passing thru a train station when he met a female friend going the opposite way. After the usual “hi, how r u, what u been up 2” phase, they began to exchanges info abt people that they both kno, who saw who where, reh teh teh… The bredren then said that he kept in touch with a 1 known 2 both on facebook. The sistren then asked him “r we friends?” , to which he replied, “I don’t kno… when I get home I’ll check!”.
R we friends???
Now (interweb) social networking is an emerging phenomenon in the human experience. Its still 2 early 2 give definitive data on its impact on us individually or as a whole, and I’m no sociologist (til I touch some henny, at least), but it’s somewhat apparent that wherever interweb usage is the norm, i.e. most of the planet, people not only define (and redefine) relationships, but even themselves thru social networks. In fact, entire communities’ r generated solely thru this device. For many, this is the preferred method of finding a partner or spouse, or the bringing 2gether of people for an event. Bonds r forged and broken within this space. Yet despite the fact that many servers, untold miles of cables, and vast amounts of memory help 2 build and maintain this construct, most of the space on which all this and more happens occurs on mental real estate. We, all of us, participants or not, by virtue of our belief and investment in this virtual plane of existence, give life 2 the beast.
We invest the cranial capacity that makes the endless rows of code, the images, and the hardware in2 a functional environment (the irony that u may well b read this via a screen is not lost). With new communities come new social conventions, new protocols (both in the construction of the device and the application in real-time, if there is such a thing), new mores.
I came across a study that said that increased usage of the interweb brings abt a rewiring of the neural pathways… yes Iyah, changing the way the brain functions. Brain adjustment. Suddenly, 5% teachings seem like mathematics, and the great works of sci fi scribes r somewhat prophetic. Indeed, I was reasoning with a nex’ I, who has strong knowledge of self. He relayed that in recent times that he not only found a gr8r preoccupation with social networking, but that even his thought processes had somehow shifted.
I an’I overstands how the device has increasingly become the currency of exchange in the marketplace of the self, some avatar or web space plot (myspace, MSN, facebook page endless others) must exist in order 2 even seem as if there is a reason 2 b taken seriously. Yet all this representation is based on a system that is supposedly free. The masses r now liberated and tru expression can now b found. So why is it that the scope of what is expressed, and the comprehension of the world we live in, is bcoming narrower? The rise of celebrity as genuine matters of pertinent interest, the growing need 2 express the minutia daily life, the increasing commonality of mass opinion making, the coalescing of the vibrant youth in2 an inert mass subject 2 the whims of polytricksters and glossy imagery, whilst doped up on the opium of the nation… is this the liberation?
U kno that study, it also said that this rewiring of the neural pathways cld remap the brain 2 look something like, well, the interweb. Huh. I also came across a dotcom entrepreneur who read the same study and was so alarmed by this that he created a website whose only function was 2 make the visitor not interact with the interweb and merely observe imagery 4 just 2 minutes. Over half of all users failed.
So, Wha’ppen Daadi? How did all this just happen? We have a brave new world, full of wonders 4 every1 2 explore, and it just is… what it is. And remember, we still have conventions and mores that guide us within this new socialisation. Brother Malcolm 1ce said that if the rain is real, how can the circumstances that cause the rain b unreal? Where r the leaders within these new communities? Who even leads the masses in this socialisation? 2 what end? All devices, all systems, r built on rules. So even the social network must be built, engineered, in order 2 exist, and engineers will have 2 maintain and redesign the device as its need 4 gr8r capacity grows. Social engineering 4 the brave new world.
Still can’t shake that conversation tho. “R we friends?”. Here’s the thing grasshopper. U, I, all of us still provide the mental real estate that makes all this possible. It’s the willingness of I an’ I, us, them, that gives life to it. We acquiesce our overstanding of the organic in order 2 b compliant with the virtual in a bid 2 get on, move up, redefine, belong. Everybody needs 2 belong, form identity and connect, and the funny thing is that actually we socialise less. And this is a good thing, we’re told. The way 4ward, the future. And tell u the truth, I despair, bcos kno matter what any1 says, ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby. 2 gather in fellowship, 2 vibe with a 1, even 2 stand and experience the harmony and melody of voice. The less we feel, the less we have the capacity 2 empathise with each other and keep at bay apathy. The re-socialisation of the masses, the bigger investment in our new communities may well cost us that which defines humanity.
But then again, is this not the time of redefinition? Mayb I an’ I have it wrong. Mayb that now makes me an anachronism. Why shdn’t the definition of friendship b a code based electrical connection in a people fuelled virtual existence. I bet HG Wells wld laugh his ass off that constructs and devices dictate whether a relationship between 2 humans is a reality. Or he’d weep.
“The formula ‘two and two make five’ is not without its attractions.” Fyodor Dostoevsky
…and so it wld seem, so it wld seem…
p.l.h.o.
Corrd the Seeker
04:47
Category:
Corrd the Seeker
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