Friends, as hard as it is to do, I have to admit that the ‘flat-earthers’ , bye and large, still rule the world.
I say this as someone who has spent more than a decade trying to get people to think, to question, to look at all the exciting possibilities that are available during our life if we did things differently as people, as nations.
Except for the people that contribute to this blog, I have failed. Indoctrination has won hands down.
People are most comfortable when clinging to the mindset imposed upon them when they were children. They are even more comfortable when imposing this mindset on their own children.
And in the company of other flat-earthers, they feel completely at home. They give each other support, reinforce the lies they were told, slap each other on the back, drink toasts to the unassailability of their mutual ignorance.
I’m worn out by the struggle. The biblical saying about the foolishness of throwing pearls before swine comes to mind.
Flat-earthers are stubborn. They will fight you all the way. They will gang together to vanquish anyone who tries to make them think. They will stab you in the back quick as a wink, shout you down, trample you, ascribe dastardly motives to you, spread nasty rumors, do whatever it takes to get rid of you!
“Hurrah,” they call when you are gone. “Peace again. We love our flat earth, our empty minds. Oink, oink!”
David,
You can only affect yourself and the people you come into contact with – don’t under estimate the positve effect of the wonderful, subversive ponderings that you share with the rest of us.
I don’t read your blog everytime (life’s busy) but it encourages and validates me that there are other people out there who think the same way I do.
Please don’t give up ….
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David G Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Carmel, your words have eased my despair. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Hopefully you’ll call again.
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It is said that personality is formed by the time a person reaches the age of five years. Unless you can reach these little ones before their 5th birthday…
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David, I always feel better after reading your articles and seeing the pictures of the real world. Although some of the pictures are painful, I still want to know what’s going on in the real world, since our biased right-wing media in the U.S. doesn’t allow us to.
It’s true our early years have a lot to do with the way we think, but I believe we’re supposed to grow and evolve and not stay the same. Nothing stays the same in nature so why should we? I believe in karma; I believe there is justice in the universe. I guess karma takes time and I’m impatient to see things improve. Patience is what I need to work on. Take good care of yourself, David. You have more friends than you realize
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L.T., personality is largely formed by ten years of age and it does alter throughout life. So grabbing kids while they’re young is a pre-occupation of all religions.
Kristen, without the friends that visit this blog, I couldn’t keep going. Thanks.
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It is quite likely, David that you /we can not change the world in our lifetime but at least a seed can be / has been planted.
There’s a Danish proverb saying: “As you sow – you may harvest.”
On the other hand things can change rapidly if the ‘right’ people comes to power.
a funny thought is, I think, that both India, and China, separately has a bigger population than (the so called) [THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY] we are talking about – the disillusioned and destructive western (EU/US) world.
Thanks to Carmel Boyce’s. it’s uplifting to hear yet another genuine voice from the throbbing/silence life of the world – and especially the words. -
” Please don’t give up ….” David.
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I have been reading more about climate change and peak oil recently and the increasing numbers of people who do not beleive that either is real.The deniers all refuse to use even the smallest bit of intelligence to see that the lifestyle path developed countries are on is leading to disaster, and a major part of the trouble is the huge number of people who beleive that the oil will be there forever and that climate change is just some liberals trying to take away their fun.
Their refusal to give up the “american dream” which seems to be mostly more of everything. More money, more stuff, bigger, faster, more expensive stuff going on endlessly until you die or go bankrupt and then can start over from the beginning.
That we need to make drastic changes and sacrifices if only to make the change less painful is something they refuse to admit. There blindness is bringing everyone into a world, that will be as the oil runs out and the climate spins out of control, filled with hunger, cold, fear and danger. Add a christian/facists government and there will be a hell. One on this earth.
I know when I try to talk to most people about any of this they treat me like I am crazy. They are waiting for the recession to be over and the world to return to what it was 3 years ago. They simply refuse to admit that it is all downhill from here. Instead of try to put on the breaks they want to help the descent go faster.
While you may be preaching to the choir David the choir needs all the support it can get. Please don’t give up, we need you!
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APROPOS the proverb “As you sow – you may harvest.”
It was ‘THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’ who sowed (the) weed in Palestine.
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Your last full paragraph meant a lot to me, has hit home, DG, because that snarky behavior, in each aspect, is exactly what I have and still are experiencing from those who cannot bear to think, like me. It is shocking to know that any in the USA or other ‘developed’ nations still believe the world is flat.
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David- I know all to well of what you speak. Many of my closest friends refuse to except an alternative view to the MSM. Not many people have the luxery of time to access news from the internet on a regular basis. Besides discretion is a must. I very much enjoy this site and perspective. Yes, I do get overwhelmed how comfortable ignorance appeases the masses. Don’t give up my friend, you do make a differance. Cheers
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John, I guess that, on this blog, sometimes I forget that the people here are not like those in the broader community. The people here are special. I don’t have to moderate comments here except on very rare occasions.
When I move out into other bigger blogs, I am confronted by the ignorance, the rigidity in thinking, the extent of the indoctrination, and the pettiness that there is in the world.
Jeannie, I can’t give up. I need this blog as much as you do!
Therese, life teaches us that many humans have a cruel streak and will stab you in the back if they can. Such people are worthless and should be ignored.
76-water, that I make a difference to a few decent people is enough for me.
Peace and love to all!
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Flat- earthers is a subject near and dear to my perception of a large population of earth-dwellers.
It is when I stepped out of the paradigm of guilt, shame and obligation of my family of origin that I looked out and saw so many of my fellow humans, afraid to take that leap.. There is a world full of people obligated to a toxic reality that are afraid to step out. For fear of falling off the edge..
If I ever start my own blog I might call it Postcard from the Edge. If that hasn’t been taken.
Love and peace, all.
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David G Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 8:54 am
The ‘edge’ describes well where the world is at the moment, Grace. I’m not optimistic about the future at the moment.
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