Hello there.
I've never been particularly good at self-introductions. Not because I don't have much to say, but because I seldom know where to begin. I've labored over the possible ideas and topics to touch on in my first essay here at The Partisan, and I came to the conclusion that perhaps the best way to start is to simply write, and see what comes of it.
As my friend Phisto has said previously, he and I have known each other for several years now (six years as of April, as a matter of fact) and we have spent many hours discussing everything from science and technology to politics, philosophy, religion. As iron sharpens iron, Phisto has been the whetstone upon which my beliefs have been shaped and sharpened over the years. However, he and I both have our own different approaches to the same issues — as many have noticed, he holds nothing back in his commentary. For myself, I tend to be more reserved, or at least I strive to be, anyway.
The core idea that unites us, however, is anarchism.
Depending on who you ask, anarchism is seen as a utopian credo held by beatniks, unemployed artists, and bums, or as a sinister far-left ideology held by masked troublemakers and criminals bent on overthrowing authority and upsetting established order. And while it is true that there is certainly an overlap with the aforementioned, it is the narrow-minded who see anarchy simply as the caricatures depicted in modern society. So, with that in mind, I find myself inclined to write about anarchism as a philosophy rather than spending time to trying to solve the world's issues. There are others who have considered those things and come up with far better solutions than I ever could.
My path to anarchism started when I turned 18 years old. At the behest of my conservative parents, I registered as a Republican and voted in the 2008 presidential election for John McCain. It was the only choice I felt I had at the time. If you had asked me why I felt that way, I would have struggled to give you a thoughtful reason and more likely would have rattled off one of the GOP talking points at the time about Barack Obama. “He's a socialist! He wants socialized healthcare! He wants to cut military funding and weaken our standing in the world!” Not really understanding the reasons why I was saying those things, or what they really meant.
At the time, Facebook was still a developing platform, and getting into debates over policy with random no-names was a favorite pastime of mine. There were many fallacious assumptions and strawmen, an abundance of poorly-worded responses, and far more ill-considered arguments. But even as I engaged with people I disagreed with, my poor form was lending itself to shape the views I hold today. Regrettably, my desire to be “right” often won out over seeking truth, and so many friendships fell into disrepair as a result.
Being able to forgive my own youthful political naiveté is something I've only recently done. I see it less as an embarrassing phase and more as the first fumbling steps of a much longer journey. It's been fifteen years since I became politically engaged, and in that time I grew out of being a conservative, to being a libertarian, and eventually into becoming an anarchist.
There are many essays and treatise on anarchism as a political ideology and as a philosophy; I don’t intend to write anything more than my own personal observations and considerations here, as others far more well-versed and well-spoken have already explored the various nuances of the belief. What I offer here is merely my own personal perspective, the world interpreted through my particular set of lenses. My first and foremost wish is for others to understand how I see things, but I will not go out of my way to persuade people who have no desire to be persuaded. I will let my words stand on their own. If others see merit in them, then I have done my part.
The world is full of hate in this day and age. It is made worse by political leaders and talking heads in the media that stoke the flames. There will most certainly be those who seek to twist and misinterpret what I say here, but then again, what I have to say is not intended for those ears. It's for the ones still on the fence. Those who wonder if there's a better way than the constant tug-of-war and vitriol that saturates the discourse of modern politics. Once a person recognizes that it is a game played for the benefit of those in power, it changes everything. Suddenly the latest controversy is seen for what it is: a distraction, meant to blind and to baffle those who invest so much into something so toxic.
We live in a time where our current system thrives on manipulation, anger, and control, and it doesn’t take much effort to see that there is no room for solutions in it. Solving problems isn’t good for the bottom line of the politicians for the same reason that actually curing a disease isn’t good for the bottom line of big pharma. For solutions, you must look outside of the existing framework, away from the bleating of congressmen and presidents, and towards your neighbors, friends, and communities.
As I said before, the connotation that anarchists seek to upset and overthrow government is a caricature. I do not seek to overthrow any government. Instead, I seek to make it irrelevant. But this can only be accomplished if people look outside of the box that the media, the corporations, the government, and society wants to force everyone to exist in.
What does that entail? Consider the things you fear to do the most — the media tells you to fear and hate your neighbor because they don’t think along the same lines that you do. What would it take to change that? When you’re told to isolate, that’s the time to connect.
Authentic connection takes many different forms. Maybe it’s volunteering, maybe it’s breaking the ice while you’re sitting at the bus stop, or on the subway, or waiting for your flight at the airport.
It’s ironic that with all of the ways we can connect with others, we remain so isolated from each other. It’s as if we’ve become afraid of genuine connection. We hide ourselves within different labels and identities and watch as others do the same, all the while throwing stones and spitting and cursing at each other from a distance because the other person is different in all the ways we’re told we should hate them for.
We can’t survive as a species if we keep going this way.
I don’t have a step-by-step plan for changing things, but I know where we should try to start. We should reach out to each other. Try to connect, truly connect with one another. I don’t mean by asking about the weather. Ask someone how they’re really doing. More importantly, listen to them when they speak.
Yes, people will turn away, or accuse you of ulterior motives. Try to connect. Make the attempt anyway. The effort still counts, and maybe they aren’t ready to meet you in the middle. So be it. Move on when you feel it’s time to.
Stepping out of the prescribed framework will most definitely draw reactions ranging from confusion and misunderstanding to outright hostility. Don’t sweat it. If anything, take it as confirmation that you’re on the right path.
And that’s really it, isn’t it? We all want to be on the right path. The one we’re on right now is anything but. If you ask me, it’s going to take radical honesty with ourselves in order to change direction. But it can be done. Like all things, it’s a process. It won’t happen overnight. It might not even happen in our lifetime. But we can’t avoid the work just because we’re likely to never see the end result.
What I write here, it’s my way of “doing the work.” Not to speak “my truth” or “a truth,” but the truth, and going wherever it leads. That’s my commitment to you, dear reader.
With all of this said, I hope this will help you get an idea of what my aims are with my essays. There’s many topics to discuss, but I aim to look at things from a bigger picture. Time is a valuable commodity, and I want to make sure that by the conclusion that you come away with food for thought and, if nothing else, a sense of hope — something I think we all need more of these days.
So, how would one 'look outside the box"? How do you do that? When the author says "it’s going to take radical honesty with ourselves" I am unclear just what I am being prompted to do. Is there anything to do?
Taking minor differences and aggravating them into hatred and warfare is the hallmark of those who seek to destroy. To overcome that incitement, requires a broad perspective and seeing that each and every man is created in G-d Al-mighty’s Divine Image and thus there is not the possibility of dismissing or denigrating anyone regardless of what he says or does. Perhaps his action needs to be preordered, diverted or blocked, but he himself remains created in the Divine Image.