Then I am SURE to be on the path to success!!! You will have to stop by sometime, the sunsets here are awesome!
Bill Roh
James Veverka wrote:
> Sodom......I didn't learn any of this in college! Getting stoned on
> good BUD and reading science in the backyard was my method to my
> madness. !!!!!!!!
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: Re: virus: Level 2 Memeplex REWRITE
> Date: Wed, 23 Jun 1999 15:26:26 -0400
> From: Sodom <sodom@ma.ultranet.com>
> Reply-To: virus@lucifer.com
> To: virus@lucifer.com
> References: <23531-37715364-810@postoffice-152.iap.bryant.webtv.net>
>
> What do I think? I think you are a genius!!! Excellent work - I knew I
> should have stayed in college for something!
>
> Bill Roh
>
> James Veverka wrote:
>
> > UTism:
> > A Geneticly Based Level 2 Xenophobic
> > Memeplex
> >
> > Originally, in humankind's evolution, xenophobia was a winning survival
> > strategy. Encoded in our genetic make-up, xenophobia probably uses the
> > same neural pathways as those for facial recognition, which bonded
> > parents with children and cemented small tribal communities together.
> >
> > UTism as xenophobia was useful in that territory, mates, children, and
> > the natural resources of the community had an innate and nearly
> > instantaneous protection against a poosible threat, the "different
> > face". This face could well mean the death of the community.
> >
> > For thousands of generations this has served the tribal communities of
> > this planet in a beneficial manner. But as the population has risen and
> > civilization has evolved, people of different ethnic and religious
> > heritages have clashed with results that exceed the original survival
> > advantage of xenophobia. So, at the same time as cultures were evolving,
> > we have witnessed an evolution of UTism to fit the culture.
> >
> > UTism is seen mostly within ethnic and religious based territorial
> > conflicts. Family taboos against marrying outside of your race or
> > religion are UTisms on a community level. Socioeconomic levels also have
> > their unspoken UTisms. It is found within the political, scientific and
> > religious debates within a stable community. People have a propensity to
> > divide according to differences instead of uniting based upon
> > similarities.
> >
> > Modern day UTism has found its place in our technological society.
> > UTism seems to use every avenue possble to spread its memeplexes. It
> > would seem that the press, the pundits and the politicians have enhanced
> > and exacerbated UTism through every sort of information medium
> > available. By way of intense scrutiny and criticism, through naive and
> > blind praise and worship; with demagogery and damnation they have
> > partitioned our leaders and ourselves according to their own divisive
> > doctrines of UTism.
> >
> > Every cause or set of beliefs has leaders. These leaders are portrayed
> > in such a fashion as to distorted and caricature all the groups and
> > individuals associated with the cause. Not only are intimate followers
> > of a cause caricatured, but some groups only remotely related are also.
> > But it all boils down to a xenophobic foundation of an US against THEM
> > platform. Everyone is neatly compartmentalized into this absolutist
> > perception presented by the experts and the leaders. Everyone is
> > pidgeonholed. Anyone pragmatic is considered lukewarm and has no spine.
> >
> > Are all christians fundies?
> > Are all feminists radical?
> > Are all Republicans gun-loco and pro-life?
> > Are all Muslims radical Islamics?
> > Are all Democrats socialists?
> > Are all Protestants like Bob Barr?
> > Are all Environmentalists chicken-littles?
> > Are all prisoners dangerous and immoral?
> > On and on it can go with UTist generalizations.
> >
> > In the present day environs of modern democracies, political and social
> > discourses boldly insinuate UTism into the issues at hand. This is
> > always put forth in terms of expedient and compulsory demands for
> > decisive actions made in terms of FOR or AGAINST. Every issue has the
> > voice of chicken-little and the need for a rush to judgement.
> > Pragmatism and practicality are not given a voice because they dont fit
> > into the scheme of OPPOSITES. A very good example is the CNN show,
> > "Crossfire" which seems to speak for two small minorities in the more
> > extreme wings of politics and society.
> >
> > There is a thriving business in self-replicating polarizations and
> > positional absolutism in both social and political war zones. No leader
> > dares budge for fear of losing the power in the magnetism associated
> > with the polarization. Or for fear of losing votes if one does not
> > adhere to the unequivocal clarity of the absolutist position. Citizens
> > can then cling easily to these simplistic UTist polarizations and
> > satisfy the need to belong to an ideological US opposing THEM.
> >
> > The oversimplification and generalizations of UTism that once protected
> > a community have now become a primary danger to the overall stabilty and
> > prosperity of society. We must realize this and reject it.
> >
> > ****************************************************
> > Well, fellow virians, what do you think?
> > ....................jim