The crisis deepens. Red flags and warning indicators are appearing, one after another - in the financial markets, in the skies over the Arctic, in a broken White House with its broken strategy, in a shopping mall regime where the operative rhyming slogan is "shop until you drop," and the rhyming subtext follows: "the sheep are asleep." All cultures are corrupt and dishonest to some extent. But here, at the pinnacle of civilization, with unprecedented technology and access to knowledge, the intellectual level is declining. Elevation of mind is absent. To succeed a civilization requires certain minimum levels of courage and truthfulness - from individuals as well as nations. And today, sadly, in Europe or Asia, Latin America or Africa, the continents of man are sinking into a Great Dark Ocean of confusion. We are degenerates - part of a degenerated race of beings who've lost something vital within ourselves. We are the "last men" that Friedrich Nietzsche lamented in Thus Spake Zarathustra. "Alas," wrote Nietzsche, "there cometh the time when man will no longer launch the arrow of his longing beyond man - and the string of his bow will have unlearned to whiz!"
What can be said for our entertainment culture, featuring a confused and falsified individuality under a narcissistic creed, an empty "success" ethic and a cynical disregard of fundamental things? Perhaps we think we're going to discover ourselves when all our instincts, all our humility, and all our insight have been attenuated and diverted by television and consumerism. But wherever we run, there we are: empty, unable to see ourselves, afraid to do what is necessary, afraid to confront the little monsters, oblivious to the big monsters; tolerant of what should never be allowed, ignorant of fatal things and signs of destiny. If you do not know yourself, how can you recognize your enemy as he paints himself your friend?
The danger is great, and something must be done. Deep down we know there is a problem. We are empty. We have lost too much time. We don't know whereto or wherefrom. If lost in space and time we could not find our planet, our place in history, or that heart of special meaning misplaced along the hurried path. Time is running out. The clock is ticking. The bombs are already on the bombers. The madmen have taken power. The world is on the verge of collective insanity. We should have read more history. We should have considered things in a deeper way. It takes time to "know thyself," to compare people and situations. But we wasted our time with supermarket tabloids, sitcoms - and now we cannot calculate the DEFCON.
From first to last, the best minds knew the outcome wouldn't be a happy occasion. The foundations of our civilization were undermined over 200 years ago. The right principles were challenged by demagogues and corrupted by the homogenizing tendencies of egalitarianism. And yet, at this moment, the outward edifice still stands. It is a tedious job, indeed, to undermine a great fortress wall. But judging by the length of time the moles have been at work, and by the listing tilt of our superstructure, we haven't got very long to wait for the Great Crashing Down.
In an age of outward development and inward stultification, we reach out for substitutes. We reach out for "big ideas" (a.k.a., ideology, conspiracy theories). John Adams once declared that ideology is "the science of idiocy." And now we see a robust competition between idiots. The truth? What is that? The actors and pretenders on stage want to be recognized, worshipped and accepted as saviors or liberators. The narcissist wants to lead the parade. Who dares stand in his way? He needs to feel important. He seeks to soothe that painful emptiness within - squirming to escape the inevitable apocalypse when his undeveloped self cries out in despair against his hyper-developed ego.
The ideologists, the narcissists, the misfits and the criminals want control. They can take it from decent people because decent people are a shrinking power. "Politics is the preoccupation of the quarter-educated," said Russell Kirk. The neglect of institutions - like the institution of our national border - follows the advance of ideology (e.g., multiculturalism, free trade and political correctness). The politicians do not preserve the vital institutions. Instead, they drain the vitality out of them. They study the art of winning empty victories. They neglect that aspect of self-study: why one thing should win over another. Winning power is undoubtedly important. James Burnham once wrote that politics is about three things: "Power, power and power." But here is a built-in misunderstanding. Politics, like life, is about many things. While it is true that the instrumentalities of success should not be neglected, the thing that succeeds - the principle that triumphs - ought to be good. It ought to be noble. It ought to have substance. If we are to own our actions, retain our self-respect and self-love, shouldn't we cherish and nurture and build a positive framework? Shouldn't we protect what is good, oppose what is dangerous and say what is true?
But we've lost our way. We don't know what to believe any longer. We grasp at any thing. We pretend as we shuffle toward catastrophe. We are rotted with cynicism. We have become disciples in the temple of a Profane Oracle. It is smart, it is stylish to smoke, eat, wear and say what the God of Fashion proclaims. Russia is merely flexing its muscles, Iran won't have nuclear weapon for twenty years, Iraq is marching toward democracy, and the economy is doing well as financial crashes are a thing of the past. We need not worry. Pull that plastic bag over your head and apply a choke-cord. It's a new high you'll experience, and blue is the new facial look for the fall season.
Rest in peace.
