Don’t you get tired of the messages of hate? On a day that commemorates a hate crime; we should look back a century and a half to Abraham Lincoln’s words: “Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?”
When people deal with people; they get wisdom: when people deal with governments; they get Doctrine.
Isn’t time we made the wiser choice?
Make your own Doctrine Flowcharts of community policies. While the actual government policies are predetermined, and the approval process ticks along unchecked; many meaningless branches are extended into the public arena: the questionnaires, the media enabled promotional articles, and of course, those public hearings where policy-maker-supplied “experts” reinforce the need for these changes and “a vision for the future” that’s as likely to happen as winning the Lottery.
Cornell-supplied experts and County bureaucrats placed a “Berlin Wall” across the rural Town of Lansing: producing a document that claimed the Agricultural Sector would keep taxes low by preventing the “high cost of services” of residential development — and that the development of a “bedroom community” Residential Sector in the south would also lower taxes. The existing 200-year old rural community; had no place in this document. The plan was immediately approved without public oversight or participation.
There are so many new words being created; I wanted to make a few for my book. Doctrine Holders like to hide their actions in the shadow of large words with commonly accepted meanings: like “equality,” but I prefer to coin words that show both the root and the fruit.
“You Ain’t All That” – Get Off the High Ground
Doctrine Holders always seek to occupy the moral high ground: to judge and control every interpersonal situation; even among themselves. Since they consider their Doctrine to be everything; and their Doctrine is always right: every contrary fact or assertion is either excusable, or a lying attack.
You can’t change their minds — but here are a few tips and techniques that can wipe the attitude off their faces:
WARNING: Strong opposition may flip their switch from “Smug Superiority” to “Doctrinal Hatred.”
Useful Tip:
Don’t let yourself be “questioned” — they will always try to put you on the defensive by assuming a mantle of unassailable self-righteousness and force you into the position of justifying everything [your facts, your beliefs . . . your existence . . . everything.] They will answer a question with a question – in an attempt to put themselves back in charge as the questioner.
Another Warning: They don’t want to erase God; the want to replace God: Their “Holier than God” façade is affronted by humor, ridicule, or anything that diminishes it to human or fallible dimensions: You may be verbally or physically assaulted as a result.
Useful Tips:
You can undercut the ground [but not the attitude] by pointing out their hypocrisy: such as the sexist use of coupling of “men” and Ladies” in conversation; putting women at a higher politeness level — you won’t get an apology or an admission; only a justification, or just plain anger.
Change their race and gender loaded statements to an “everybody” question; such as “Doesn’t everybody . . .” or “Don’t all politicians . . .” — using this distancing trick they employ themselves is a frustrating experience for them.
Their beliefs and actions conflict with those of every revered figure of human compassion and worth: quote from these people [and withhold the source until after they respond.] Say: “I live by the beliefs of these people; whose beliefs do you live by?” If they claim that they do agree with those quotes; have a petition for them to sign.
They have “dirty hands” — expose them. Should someone who promotes and benefits from a policy of discrimination on the basis of race, gender, and national origin; that is carried out in secret, and there are no plans for ever stopping; be lecturing you? If there was nothing to hide; it wouldn’t be secret. “It’s your actions that define you.”
Throw in traditional sayings like “Mad dogs only see straight lines” or “The path is made by walking” or “We tell them it is a bull, they say milk it”: they’re powerful adjuncts.
Ask them to “show the love and compassion” in their Doctrine. “It’s your actions that define you.” [You can’t say this enough times. Their actions of promoting discrimination; in order to end discrimination is very tough to defend; even if it’s true – and especially if they benefit from it.]
Take them at their word; and go a step or two further:
Argue for complete equality in all things; and full disclosure and full transparency in all social programs. Approach them with a petition for restructured social programs based solely on need; without any other criteria. [Signing a petition is a commitment that goes beyond lip service — you may see an immediate change in attitude.]
Argue that welfare fraud, tax fraud, and Medicare fraud penalties and recoveries should be used to fund social programs; and that these criminal acts take from the needy, and these sources should be pursued vigorously. Funding for social programs would also come from the repayment of student loans; and steps should be taken to insure recovery of that money as well.
Their “equality” is only a tool for monetary, emotional, and political gain: an unqualified equality that can’t be manipulated really scares them.
If they lose one “high-ground”; they simply run for another.
Tricking the “trickster” is always satisfying. Recognizing their tricks is an important first step. Here are a few that you may already have encountered:
Trick: “Righteousness Appropriation” — they will go to great lengths and grab at any material that bolsters their self-righteous attitude. Their sources are usually one-dimensional and questionable — so question them: If you’re told of a study that shows men have a gender bias in hiring; ask for the results of women’s gender hiring practices. And if you’re told there’s no such study; wouldn’t that be proof of an intentional gender bias?
Trick: “Princess and the Pea” — their self-sensitivity is legendary: Even the littlest non-conforming phrase or gesture is blown up into a major issue. Be just as touchy in your interpretation of their words and actions. Don’t accept any excuses; they don’t.
Trick: They control both sides of the argument: you can’t have your own opinions or beliefs – you can only have the opinions and beliefs that they say you have. Don’t waste your time: give them a couple of hand puppets.
Trick: The “Sinking Ship” – when there’s a problem; they claim they’re not in agreement with the policies, statements, and people that they have supported and have voted for: This is supposed to remove their accountability. They always keep one foot in the lifeboat.
Trick: The “Getaway” — If your points hit too close to home; they’re somewhere else instantly — another city, another state, and of course; another policy or perpetrator. And if you pursue your points: the Getaway becomes “Get away.”
The “Fallback Defense” — “It’s all a plot by their political opponents.” The fallback, fallback defense: you’re part of that plot.
Trick: The “Accusation” — they are always ready to shout “racist,” sexist,” and “Nazi” at those who disagree with them; and yet their own actions and brutish “end justifies the means” mentality make them a far better fit for the part.
Trick: “Generalizing”— if confronted with difficult specifics; they generalize it to distance themselves: “That’s a problem everywhere,” or “all politicians” are like that.
Trick: “Owed” — someone is “owed” something because they decided it. It’s what the Devil whispers in your ear.
Other tricks include: claiming “we’re all in this together” while distributing the burdens and benefits on the basis of gender and race, coining new terms to cover old sins [Equal Opportunity = legalized bigotry], and leveraging respect through selective labeling [“African American” and “white”].
Remember: This isn’t really a debate — you’re attacking their secular religion. If they meet you halfway; it’s only because they expect to take the other half later:
One Thought, One Taught • One Voice, One Choice
Doctrine is everything.
From the Questionnaire: “It’s a truism that by constantly telling people not to think of something; you only ensure that they will do so. Politicians know this.”
Do you ever wonder why things don’t get better? Maybe they’re not supposed to.
Do you ever wonder what happened to: “Power to the People”? It was given to the government; and a powerful government is not about to give it back.
It’s hard to get more hypocritical than to carol “it’s your actions that define you” and then blatantly excuse your own hateful activities; or to mouth the inclusive “everyone” and “for the Greater Good” at the same time you are doing just the opposite.
In an upcoming piece; I will show how Doctrine Holders assume a moral high ground that does not exist to protect themselves from questioning — and how to bring them down to earth.
Be careful. Violence may be the last resort of the incompetent; but it’s the first resort of the bigot.
There can be anxiety in the darkness; but also in the light: What will it show? Who is directing it? . . . And why?
This book is nearly ready for publication. It shines a light of disclosure on institutions and bureaucracies that can ignore laws and rewrite regulations at their discretion. While no one has disputed the facts presented; many have disputed the wisdom of publishing them.
And with winter coming . . . will there be footsteps in the snow?
This last Undercover Party piece was first to the finish line. Today; claims that non-doctrinal statements, or “slurs,” made the suspect “snap” are enough to dismiss the victim and all-but-exonerate the perpetrator. In the future you may just disappear; and if you do reappear: will “you” still be you. The beliefs are there, the attitude is there — and the line that marks “the last” may already have been drawn.
This “lesson” is in spite of [or because of] the “you have to be carefully taught” piece. Analogies, like fables, are simple touchstones for day-to-day living — a simple compass that tells you the direction in which you are heading; and [sometimes] how to get back. It’s up to you to look out for the cliff.
I once saw an old milk bottle decorated with the Quote: “There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey.” — John Ruskin.
It was a fired-on design. The milk was probably better for your longevity too.
This is not a satirical piece. I have been told by some parents that their kids are not only being taught exactly what to think; but which political candidates should be voted for. When exposed; these actions are simply excused and ignored. In Cornithaca County; the law is used to obstruct the participation of people in government and prevent any ethical accountability.
A number of parents Home School their children — but standing out from the sheep gets you noticed — and listed as non-participatory.
