Tuesday, August 03, 2021

Reproach them Father, For they Know Damn Well what they're Doing

Woke up early with nothing to do, and this post is the result: nothing doing. Or nondoing something.

Here's a thought:

The noble man feels the need to admire, to venerate, to worship; the vile man on the contrary tends to belittle, even to mock, which is the way the devil sees things; but it is also diabolical to admire what is evil, whereas it is normal and praiseworthy to despise evil as such, for the truth has precedence over everything (Schuon, The Transfiguration of Man).

Come to think of it, Fr. Garrigou says something similar vis-a-vis the reductio ad absurdum of our cosmic situation, which comes down to a binary choice between True God and radical absurdity. The rest is either florid bloviation or metastatic tenure.

Under the progressive tyranny of relativism, "There are no longer any lies," -- because no Truth -- "but merely successive opinions." They say everyone has an opinion, but it's the other way around: opinions have the mind that permits them entry and propagates them.  

Regarding the need to admire, venerate, and worship, the Padre writes of how there is "nothing greater than a saint kneeling and humbling himself," and of how "we must form the habit of bowing profoundly before God and before whatever is divine in all souls."

Know what I mean? On the other hand, 

Respect for all opinions, however false or perverse they may be, is only the proud denial of respect due to the Truth. Sincerely to love the true and the good, we must have no sympathy with error and evil. Truly to love the sinner and further his salvation, we must detest the evil in him (emphasis mine).

Know what I mean? So-called "tolerance" always devolves to the totolerantarianism of cancel culture. 

Now, mockery is an essential characteristic of the left, as is the open admiration of evil (e.g. socialism, BLM, Antifa, Castro, CRT, racial discrimination, fake news, criminality, anti-religious bigotry, etc.). As such, it is both vile and diabolical. 

Except to say that the left isn't diabolical because it is evil, rather, the converse: it is the most evident instantiation of the diabolical in the contemporary world (bearing in mind that the corruption of the best is the worst, which is why, say, Youtube or the Enemedia are worse than the CCP, since no normal person expects anything of the latter).

Lies, smears, and violence have characterized the left's methods ever since... Well, no matter where we draw the line there's an ideological ancestor, but let's begin with Lenin; you will note that the left continues to follow his advice -- venerate it, one might say -- down to the letter:

In Lenin's view, a true revolutionary did not establish the correctness of his beliefs by appealing to evidence or logic, as if there were some standards of truthfulness above social classes. Rather, one engaged in "blackening an opponents mug so well it takes him ages to get it clean again."

If ever. Today's Leninists simply displace class to race, gender, and perversion preference: identity politics is just repackaged Leninism -- both approaches deny the truth of the individual, who is (diabolically!) dragged down and swallowed into the collective. It's no wonder they love their masks: no face, no problem.

When ideological opponents 

objected to Lenin's personal attacks, he replied frankly that his purpose was not to convince but to destroy his opponent.... You can see traces of this approach in the advice of Saul Alinsky -- who cites Lenin -- to "pick the target, freeze it, personalize it."

.... there was no need to understand opposing views before denouncing them, since the very fact that they were opposing views proved them wrong -- and what was wrong served the enemy and so was criminal. 

Trump, for example, only became a criminal, racist, and fascist the moment he posed a threat to Democrat (and Republican) power.  

I can't think of any trollian commenters (the merely fatuous ones excepted) on this blog whose first and last method of argument doesn't involve the ad hominem fallacy.  Over the years I have of course been called racist, fascist, and all the rest. It comes with speaking truth to the left.

You're one to talk, bOb! Aren't you engaging in the even worse fallacy of ad demonem

Could be, but the last person to determine this would be a secular leftist who denies the existence of the demonic even while demonizing his opponents. 

From their perspective, "attacking the demonic" would constitute nothing more than wrestling with one's own imaginary psychic projections, AKA mental illness. In other words, I am merely projecting my unconscious demons into the left, as a way to manage my own tenuous emotional equilibrium.

Again, could be. In fact, I am willing to concede that either I am doing this, or Sandy Cortez is -- or Al Sharpton, Michelle Obama, Maxine Waters, Adam Schiff, Joy Reid, Don Lemon, Rachel Maddow, etc. If they are normal, then I am certifiable. 

But when I speak of the diabolical, I am speaking of something I believe to be, 1) quite real, and 2) quite specific. It is not a vague projection, much less a smear. Conversely, the leftist does not say, "you're not describing the Evil One accurately." Rather, "you're either crazy or lying."

How are we to distinguish between mere error -- to which everyone is subject, without exception -- and something more sinister, something suggesting the soul has been hijacked by naughty vertical influencers? 

Let's consider the question from various angles. "The devil," writes Schuon, is "the humanized personification -- humanized on contact with man -- of the subversive aspect of the centrifugal existential power":

strictly speaking, evil or the devil cannot oppose the Divinity, who has no opposite; it opposes man who is the mirror of God and the movement towards the divine. 

Fr. Reginald says something similar, that God "cannot be the principle of error or of evil." Rather, "Our deficiencies require only a deficient cause, which is ourselves."  

Thus, "Evil cannot be absolute, it always depends upon some good which it misuses or perverts" (Schuon); nor is it "by definition what causes us to suffer, it is that which -- even when accompanied by a maximum of comfort or of ease, or of 'justice' so-called -- thwarts a maximum of souls as regards their final end" (ibid.). "Social justice," for example, is the inverse of justice, and therefor its denial in principle -- a principle that cannot come from above, only below.

Two further points, the first from Garrigou, the second from Schuon:

1) Wisdom is "the science of things through their Supreme Cause; in other words: the science capable of making known the ultimate reasons for things."

2) "Progressivism is the wish to eliminate effects without wishing to eliminate their causes; it is the wish to abolish calamities without realizing that they are nothing other than what man himself is; they necessarily result from his metaphysical ignorance, or his lack of love of God."

Which brings to mind a third point, Reynold's Law, which goes to the difference between wisdom and progressivism:  

The government decides to try to increase the middle class by subsidizing things that middle class people have: If middle-class people go to college and own homes, then surely if more people go to college and own homes, we’ll have more middle-class people. But homeownership and college aren’t causes of middle-class status, they’re markers for possessing the kinds of traits -- self-discipline, the ability to defer gratification, etc. -- that let you enter, and stay, in the middle class. Subsidizing the markers doesn’t produce the traits; if anything, it undermines them.  (https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/464961)

We'll conclude with this bit of common nonsense, which alludes to the fact that for the left, every damn crisis is a damnable opportunity -- an opportunity for diabolical mischief, going back to... to page one of the Theo-Drama.

It makes no sense to believe in the devil and then each time, when he appears -- most often exploiting a specific situation -- to deny that he is involved (Schuon).

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

The noble man feels the need to admire, to venerate, to worship.
The vile man tends to belittle, mock, and be devilish.

Indeed.

I used to go around admiring, venerating and worshipping those times when governments actually solved national problems. But I was belittled, mocked, and bedeviled as a commie traitor.

So then I tried belittling, mocking and bedeviling those times when governments made national problems worse. But I was admired, venerated and worshipped as a freedom loving patriot.

It’s always something. Speaking of the rapidly shrinking middle class, as well as the rapidly shrinking church attendance, not to mention our rapidly shrinking successes at nation-building in both Iraq and Afghanistan (though I usually find handy scapegoats for those last two failures), I find it hard to be either noble or vile about any of those things. Only concerned. But as with everything which involves brainwashing, it’s usually all a matter of what one defines and perceives and believes within the context of the social acceptability of one’s own chosen tribe of sustenance. I was hoping that religion would cut through all that.

Still, I’m wondering if using handy scapegoats will make me less vile and more noble?

Anonymous said...

"It's no wonder they love their masks: no face, no problem."

WTF? So what is it when you wear yours, Mr. Godwin? Do you hate the mask as a necessary evil?

You have explaining to do and also you had better reveal your vaccination status.

Did you know this: You are being considered for a high-level military appointment in a certain regime?

If you want that appointment you need to have the right answers.

Gagdad Bob said...

I wonder who will be in charge of the nuclear codes when Obama is busy partying this weekend?

julie said...

But when I speak of the diabolical, I am speaking of something I believe to be, 1) quite real, and 2) quite specific.

...

How are we to distinguish between mere error -- to which everyone is subject, without exception -- and something more sinister, something suggesting the soul has been hijacked by naughty vertical influencers?


They absolutely love to infiltrate anything intended for kids. My daughter was watching "Shopkins" this week, which I thought was relatively innocuous even though completely vapid; one of the characters goes to France and gets a multi-page spread in "Oui" magazine. Slipped past me, because I had always assumed that was a general fashion mag, not one of Hefner's efforts. There was also a verbal reference to "panda eyes," which is something I wish I didn't know about. Don't look it up, it'll scar your soul. Of course, none of that means anything to her. The makers of this stuff just throw it out there like so many jagged metal Krusty-Os, then claim it's okay because the kids won't understand it.

Diabolical.

Gagdad Bob said...

Look just at their politicization of covid. Diabolical.

Gagdad Bob said...

The field of psychology has become stupid beyond belief -- file under The Left Ruins Everything. "Ironically," any sane person would find it repulsive. In this morning's email:

"After an exhausting year of fear, grief, and change, how can psychology help us plot a path through our new reality? Hear from provocative voices on fighting misinformation with psychological science, making the most of a new way to work, changing the narrative on mental health through entertainment, bouncing back from adversity, and finding the courage to discuss and dismantle racism.

"Hear can’t miss speakers -- like Anneliese Singh, PhD, LPC, on trans liberation is for everybody; Camara Jones on acting to dismantle racism; Robert Cialdini, PhD, on the power of persuasion and pre-suasion to create change; E.J.R. David, PhD, on exploring oppression’s most insidious consequence; and Tania Israel, PhD, on healing the political divide."

julie said...

Woe unto those who call sickness health, and health sickness.

Meanwhile, I know at least a couple of people who need real, functional therapy - and very little likelihood that they will get it, even if they see a therapist.

Gagdad Bob said...

On the other hand, who needs therapy when you can chart a pathway through a new reality, forge a pre-suasive narrative, find the courage to discuss & dismantle racism, and heal the political divide all at once?

Gagdad Bob said...

"It makes no sense to believe in the devil and then each time, when he appears -- most often exploiting a specific situation -- to deny that he is involved":

California may be on the verge of making bacon a contraband substance, or at least a scarce luxury good.

Anonymous said...

You cant work at Fox News without a vaccine passport. I'd think that'd tell everything one needs to know about what that place is all about. But I'd rather Rachel Maddow tell us. She was after all, famous friends with founder Roger Ailes.

But asking the question: "What would Lenin think?" seems more important around here. I bet he'd call them both capitalists.

julie said...

And yet somehow, the street taco stands will still be offering carnitas and chorizo, no questions asked.

You think the illegal drug trade is bad, just wait until the bacon smugglers get busy...

Anonymous said...

Bob, I can find nothing wrong with this:

"After an exhausting year of fear, grief, and change, how can psychology help us plot a path through our new reality? Hear from provocative voices on fighting misinformation with psychological science, making the most of a new way to work, changing the narrative on mental health through entertainment, bouncing back from adversity, and finding the courage to discuss and dismantle racism."

What part of it didn't you understand? Are you a human being? Have you been through a pandemic? Yes you have. So where is your emotional response to the pandemic? You're not a robot, and you are not some "macho" guy who guards his feelings.

So don't act like one. You're scared, you're vulnerable, you have held off getting your vaccine and now Delta is loose, you are wetting your pants, and you can't sleep at night. You compulsively wear a mask even when alone, and are damn glad for masks and you understand perfectly the reason for using them, BECAUSE YOU TOOK A SCIENCE CLASS AT YOUR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.

So cut the crap and the posturing. You're devil speak in this post is pathetic. Not that I'm saying you are too, but you don't want to go any farther in that direction.

And the left is five times worse than you have described. You are damning us with faint denunciation.

Petey said...

The left is a revolt of the parasites against their host.

Gagdad Bob said...

Agreed: "We know self-governance only works with certain people. And since those certain people aren't running the country anymore, of course self-governance is tossed in favor of the old primitive solutions. Patron/client. No surprise."

Anonymous said...

I think we can all agree this country is well-governed.

A visit to the urbane and civilized neighborhoods of, let's may, Carlsbad, CA, (or Temecula, or Fallbrook, or any city large or small in America, confirms we are getting it right.

Technology is thriving, private sector space flight is being developed, the art scene and music scene are thriving, universities are filled with bright, sensitive young adults, and America is off to a galloping start into the 21st century. Climate change is, at the 11th hour, being addressed by the scientific and business communities in a joint effort.

Future historians describe these times as an oasis of stability, wealth, and common sense amidst the turbulent tides of history.

Pre-planetary diaspora Earth is celebrated. Because weird and wicked things happen in the 22nd century.

But you just go ahead and find things wrong and evil right and left if that floats your boat. Just know it probably doesn't float anyone else's except Julie's boat. Julie has an even dimmer view of things, if that's even possible.

My mother used to call father a "wet blanket" when he didn't want to go out. Or a party pooper. What do you want to be? A wet blanket or a party pooper?

Oh yeah, the August reinstatement did not happen. Boo hoo hoo. I'm so torn up inside.

Anonymous said...

Dude. August isn't over yet.

Anonymous said...

I once went to a party with lots of wet blankets and party poopers. But it wasn't one of the boring kinds of parties. It was one of the really wild ones, which took days to clean up.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous, that is disgusting what you commented.

That being said, there is a fetish behavior where a kinky person wears an adult diaper and then another kinky person changes the diaper, and this is said to be not uncommon.

But enough of all that.

GDB opined "So-called "tolerance" always devolves to the totolerantarianism of cancel culture."

The use of the word "always" is a red flag. Fighting couples who have become exhausted and don't believe any resolution is possible often use absolute terms as they wearily lob the largest possible missiles with the last of their strength. They are knackered.

Has GBD come to that place of defeatism? I don't think GDB believes the conservative intellectual cause has a chance of prevailing any more.

So GDB, how do you tolerate anything without participating in cancel culture? So you don't tolerate anything? You are 100% intolerant? Hardly.

I empathize with your plight. You are a lapsed leftist much more so than a true conservative. You are too intelligent to be a true conservative. And don't try to act like you don't know what I talking about.

You know you don't really fit in with "them." The red-neck crew. A conservative egghead is almost an oxymoron.

Do you think you could sit down with Trump and discuss Balthasar? Schuon? Nope and nope.

So what's a guy to do.... it is such a frustrating world.

Anonymous said...

I don't think GDB believes the conservative intellectual cause has a chance of prevailing any more.

This is a real shame. We need conservatives to act as watchdogs against government overreach, to protect against besmirching the Founders vision, to fill our churches with moral Christians. As it is, they’re only any good at wet blanketing and party pooping anymore. And I’m not talking about the good kind.

Do you still have faith in liberal democracy? Or do you prefer conservative fascism?

Theme Song

Theme Song