Listen to a reading of this article: The Times has published an article titled "Lady Gaga embodies everything China fears," subtitled "The singer’s uncompromising individuality makes her a serious threat to the mass imposition of cultural conformity through censorship," and its contents are exactly as horrifyingly idiotic as you would imagine.
Since I was quoting Cynthia Chung on your other thread, Caitlin, you probably know she reposted your article on US Officials Admit They're Literally Just Lying To The Public About Russia. Two of the smartest women in the room! Any room!
The mythology of the United States is breathtaking. It has always been and still is a bastion of colonization and parasitism, and it has exported its morally and spiritually bankrupt ideas through propaganda and force. I cannot even look at a flag anymore without shaking my head. I have never been less proud to be an American than I am today. But this just makes me want to be even more radically aware and vocal. I will not stop speaking the truth. Every voice matters, even if we feel like we are in the minority. I can say from experience that I have gradually opened people's minds. The truth is always the truth, and it is reaching people on some level whether they are conscious of it that moment or not.
Of course, what could be more desirable than enslaved population that thinks itself to be free because there are no visible chains. Great piece Caitlin, thanks.
We know that dumbing down process has been long in time and complexed in
its aspects yet it is hard to accept the smooth progression and the culmination
Yup, which is why most westerners aren't worth the time of day, in the US our prisons are full of the abused and cheated, yet they still are patriotic and love their country what we used to call a psychopath/empathy relationship they now call codependent. About the same relationship that we have with livestock, and our government with us.
“The mainstream population whose numbers could be used to effect revolutionary change are herded into political factions which are designed to prop up status quo power at every turn … and corresponding media echo chambers which keep them from providing any meaningful resistance to the machine. “
TL;DR in Muh Free And Democractic West, you can say and do whatever you want, with no consequences whatsoever, as long as you don't challenge the Empire's wars and censorship, and you don't question the way the economic pie is sliced.
Right, Lady Gaga makes them gaga, fucks with their brains. The freedom: it's fantastic: she even eschews the toilet in preference for peeing on the floor. You can't get more unconventional than that. The Chinese stay up nights thinking of ways to combat her influence. And she even has the balls to call herself "Lady."
While $180,000/year is a lot of money when compared to the $30,000 salary i was making back in 1974 (and that was "good money", I bought a house with it), it is hardly "massive".
Still, that the CIA was paying it.... Hmmm....
I'm not disputing Caitlan's point about the Dali Lama. I've often thought he was a fraud equivalent to Jerry Falwell or Jim Baker. But then, I gotta admit my version of God doesn't require me to do anything I don't want to do -- except "don't be evil". That seems to have worked out well for a certain company.
Would have loved to have seen Caitlin support freedom of thought, freedom of speech and individualism for all those fighting the totalitarian covid plandemic.
That the most marketable persona practical for a young woman in the entertainment industry is one of mental disturbance and angry, ugly, weirdness says an awful lot. Freak-shows were once marginal in American life, now they are central to the countries understanding of itself. Part of me feels desperately sorry for Gaga. Trading your dignity for celebrity is a vile bargain and her career expresses a lot about the rottenness in our corporate-industrial culture. She performs the role of skank, thereby affirming the lifestyle 'choices' available to her fans. The aesthetics of her performance reveal that dignity and self-respect are now increasingly rationed and for too many simply unavailable.
For a useful contrast to Gaga, see the lovely and dignified Polina Gagarina performing a famous and uplifting Russian pop-song to a Chinese audience.
I think there is a continuum in every society between conformity and non. Even nonconformists typically want love and respect or at least to not be judged. I think being your authentic self is more important than doing what you want. Since freedom in one sense is a state of mind one can be free anywhere.
We have freedom of movement in the US if we have money - the means to travel. Since, for example, the currency in Nepal is only good in Nepal, most Nepalese cannot travel.
I imagine there are free and critical thinkers in every society. The majority are focused on day to day living and struggles.
I remember hearing about the Iron curtain as a child in the 60s. I imagined a super tall iron curtain, light on our side and dark and terrible on the other. It was a scary image.
Since I was quoting Cynthia Chung on your other thread, Caitlin, you probably know she reposted your article on US Officials Admit They're Literally Just Lying To The Public About Russia. Two of the smartest women in the room! Any room!
The mythology of the United States is breathtaking. It has always been and still is a bastion of colonization and parasitism, and it has exported its morally and spiritually bankrupt ideas through propaganda and force. I cannot even look at a flag anymore without shaking my head. I have never been less proud to be an American than I am today. But this just makes me want to be even more radically aware and vocal. I will not stop speaking the truth. Every voice matters, even if we feel like we are in the minority. I can say from experience that I have gradually opened people's minds. The truth is always the truth, and it is reaching people on some level whether they are conscious of it that moment or not.
Of course, what could be more desirable than enslaved population that thinks itself to be free because there are no visible chains. Great piece Caitlin, thanks.
We know that dumbing down process has been long in time and complexed in
its aspects yet it is hard to accept the smooth progression and the culmination
of it to such degree of absurdity.
Yup, which is why most westerners aren't worth the time of day, in the US our prisons are full of the abused and cheated, yet they still are patriotic and love their country what we used to call a psychopath/empathy relationship they now call codependent. About the same relationship that we have with livestock, and our government with us.
“The mainstream population whose numbers could be used to effect revolutionary change are herded into political factions which are designed to prop up status quo power at every turn … and corresponding media echo chambers which keep them from providing any meaningful resistance to the machine. “
Which is why we are grateful to have YOU here.
TL;DR in Muh Free And Democractic West, you can say and do whatever you want, with no consequences whatsoever, as long as you don't challenge the Empire's wars and censorship, and you don't question the way the economic pie is sliced.
100% right!..... good old G. Carlin was, is , and will be forever RIGHT about America!.....my first and biggest shock .... still to this day!
Right, Lady Gaga makes them gaga, fucks with their brains. The freedom: it's fantastic: she even eschews the toilet in preference for peeing on the floor. You can't get more unconventional than that. The Chinese stay up nights thinking of ways to combat her influence. And she even has the balls to call herself "Lady."
While $180,000/year is a lot of money when compared to the $30,000 salary i was making back in 1974 (and that was "good money", I bought a house with it), it is hardly "massive".
Still, that the CIA was paying it.... Hmmm....
I'm not disputing Caitlan's point about the Dali Lama. I've often thought he was a fraud equivalent to Jerry Falwell or Jim Baker. But then, I gotta admit my version of God doesn't require me to do anything I don't want to do -- except "don't be evil". That seems to have worked out well for a certain company.
Individualism is the theology of consumer capitalism.
Would have loved to have seen Caitlin support freedom of thought, freedom of speech and individualism for all those fighting the totalitarian covid plandemic.
But she didn't....
Wonder why?
That the most marketable persona practical for a young woman in the entertainment industry is one of mental disturbance and angry, ugly, weirdness says an awful lot. Freak-shows were once marginal in American life, now they are central to the countries understanding of itself. Part of me feels desperately sorry for Gaga. Trading your dignity for celebrity is a vile bargain and her career expresses a lot about the rottenness in our corporate-industrial culture. She performs the role of skank, thereby affirming the lifestyle 'choices' available to her fans. The aesthetics of her performance reveal that dignity and self-respect are now increasingly rationed and for too many simply unavailable.
For a useful contrast to Gaga, see the lovely and dignified Polina Gagarina performing a famous and uplifting Russian pop-song to a Chinese audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1Co32bmmRw
Think different!
The difference between their dictatorships and our dictatorships: we commoners are prevented from seeing just who is doing the dictating...
If Lady Gaga was Julian Assange, China would lock her up without trial. Hang on a minute...
I think there is a continuum in every society between conformity and non. Even nonconformists typically want love and respect or at least to not be judged. I think being your authentic self is more important than doing what you want. Since freedom in one sense is a state of mind one can be free anywhere.
We have freedom of movement in the US if we have money - the means to travel. Since, for example, the currency in Nepal is only good in Nepal, most Nepalese cannot travel.
I imagine there are free and critical thinkers in every society. The majority are focused on day to day living and struggles.
I remember hearing about the Iron curtain as a child in the 60s. I imagined a super tall iron curtain, light on our side and dark and terrible on the other. It was a scary image.
What happened to love your enemies?