Before The Storm (Landscape)

[Pluto]

Where does society go? It moves in many directions at once. Those who meet and discuss the path of the world, what do they know, what do they see. China is at the top of the list, a superpower in-waiting. A clash, a coming clash like has never been seen. Culture has been telling us and showing us disaster for well over a decade. Preparing you through the virtual for what will occur as real. Yes we are at war, but it feels to those at home, like we are not. The shops are full, the celebrities a plenty. No talk of where we are. To disguise this, culture is streaming shallow. Art institutions say that with the internet, all times, past and possible futures, have crashed into our present, that our present is a continuous 'all time'. They shy away from saying what is happening in our time, socially and politically. Things are desperate, the war on terror, is a desperate act, by a power that is confused. Listen to art's well chosen words as to where we might be:

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[Pluto]

Of course it's difficult, so many things have gone wrong at once. Can a person see from the side-lines where the whole is going. It is a society on the move, constant move. Ideas of that which you thought worthy get over-used and worn out too quick. As you settle on the idea of being like that, it is already moving into something else. The whole thing is on the move. But where to, and who knows.

[Pluto]

Coming back to China though. Some think it sees itself as the superpower to trump the US. Military budgets could be more than three times that which is publicly stated. Taunting has already begun, with planes and subs moving through restricted space. John Pilger's The Coming War. The rise of China could be the reason the West is in the Middle East, the reason for The War On Terror. What is The War On Terror, it has depicted muslim as enemy, while at the same time Western Powers are in their homelands bringing death and destruction. Thing is, from the position of serf, it is hard to see what is happening up there in the sky of power. What is good for them is good for us. Not in our name. Our culture is not talking about seriously. National Security trumps all. The media god father Murdoch is guru to politicians, his empire of entertainment is extremely important in keeping people away from the action yet tuned to where they need to be. The shows show and you watch and take it all in. Imagine the inverse other of this culture.

[artisticsolution]

Does it really matter who the world super power is, pluto?

Humanity always seems to be consistent. Parents will still put their children to bed and comfort them around the world. Men will still make war. Historically, has there been that drastic of a difference anywhere as far as humanity is concerned? Different place, different time it all basically stays the same.

There is a fear where I live that terrorism will prevail. I am not afraid...eventually reason wins out in the end no matter who reigns for the moment...at least that has been my understanding of life.

[Pluto]

It probably does matter yes, to some. I'm more interested in trying to understand what is going on right now in the present. The War On Terror for instance, what is that?

[Impenitent]

It probably does matter yes, to some. I'm more interested in trying to understand what is going on right now in the present. The War On Terror for instance, what is that?

we have always been at war with Eastasia

-Imp

[Pluto]

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The war, therefore if we judge it by the standards of previous wars, is merely an imposture. It is like the battles between certain ruminant animals whose horns are incapable of hurting one another. But though it is unreal it is not meaningless. It eats up the surplus of consumable goods, and it helps to preserve the special mental atmosphere that the hierarchical society needs. War, it will be seen, is now a purely internal affair. In the past, the ruling groups of all countries, although they might recognize their common interest and therefore limit the destructiveness of war, did fight against one another, and the victor always plundered the vanquished. In our own day they are not fighting against one another at all. The war is waged by each ruling group against its own subjects, and the object of the war is not to make or prevent conquests of territory, but to keep the structure of society intact. The very word "war," therefore, has become misleading

― George Orwell, 1984

[artisticsolution]

It probably does matter yes, to some. I'm more interested in trying to understand what is going on right now in the present. The War On Terror for instance, what is that?

It's a stance against mean people.

[artisticsolution]

The war, therefore if we judge it by the standards of previous wars, is merely an imposture. It is like the battles between certain ruminant animals whose horns are incapable of hurting one another. But though it is unreal it is not meaningless. It eats up the surplus of consumable goods, and it helps to preserve the special mental atmosphere that the hierarchical society needs. War, it will be seen, is now a purely internal affair. In the past, the ruling groups of all countries, although they might recognize their common interest and therefore limit the destructiveness of war, did fight against one another, and the victor always plundered the vanquished. In our own day they are not fighting against one another at all. The war is waged by each ruling group against its own subjects, and the object of the war is not to make or prevent conquests of territory, but to keep the structure of society intact. The very word "war," therefore, has become misleading

― George Orwell, 1984

But what's the solution? Has any voice of reason throughout history stopped a person or country hell bent on going to war?

[Pluto]

But a war with who? As Orwell saw, and we can see, it is a war on us. The War on Terror is (partly) a war on us all by those in power!

The war is waged by each ruling group against its own subjects, and the object of the war is not to make or prevent conquests of territory, but to keep the structure of society intact

[artisticsolution]

But a war with who? As Orwell saw, and we can see, it is a war on us. The War on Terror is (partly) a war on us all by those in power!

The war is waged by each ruling group against its own subjects, and the object of the war is not to make or prevent conquests of territory, but to keep the structure of society intact

Yes, but what I am wondering if it would be any different if the roles were reversed? I don't think so. It's the 'us against them' mentality that is a human characteristic. I am wondering if that characteristic is the very thing that keeps us at war.

And, I wonder, if Orwell was right in his assessment...would the 'structure of society' unravel if war ceased to exist? I think that is impossible to say as it seems war is here to stay.

[Pluto]

Not Us against Them, in terms of nationalism, but Them against Us, in terms of those in power against Us. Power exists, and it currently views the people as enemy. Look around you. It's not so much that society would unravel, rather as Orwell says, to keep the structure of society intact. To keep current power relations untouched, to continue the project. To maintain positions of privilege.

[Impenitent]

when the roles were reversed, they called it manifest destiny...

-Imp

[artisticsolution]

Not Us against Them, in terms of nationalism, but Them against Us, in terms of those in power against Us. Power exists, and it currently views the people as enemy. Look around you. It's not so much that society would unravel, rather as Orwell says, to keep the structure of society intact. To keep current power relations untouched, to continue the project. To maintain positions of privilege.

No I meant if any of 'us' were in power, would we behave the same? It seems to me if those who are in power behave a certain way, chances are, if we had power, so might we. As human is a human is a human....

[artisticsolution]

when the roles were reversed, they called it manifest destiny...

-Imp

Thanks Imp, I'll look it up!