The real and the abstract
To speak of some individual humans as being a "burden on society" is as insane as speaking of how much faster buses could travel their routes if they didn't need to carry passengers, or how much more efficiently a hospital could function if it just got rid of all the patients.
One of the most valuable things about being an atheist is that I know my life's purpose is decided by me alone. My life is not cluttered up with some "plan" or "higher purpose" imposed by a "God" -- or in reality, of course, by those humans who claim to speak for that God.
"Society" is not an entity or an organism. It is an abstraction, a word we use to quickly refer to a network of relationships among a vast number of distinct individuals. Society and the nation exist for you, not you for them. To believe otherwise is mental slavery to those humans who claim to speak for an abstraction. It's the man behind the curtain brainwashing you with intimidating slogans and images so you'll obey his will instead of your own.
posted by Infidel753 at 4:37 AM
16 Comments:
Hello Infidel. I agree, which is why I couldn't understand the idea that corporations are people also? To me that is like saying trains are people, or TV are people. Hugs
A very important reminder.
I hate when I hear people saying that another person is useless or a burden to society. It makes no sense.
The idea that society should be at the service of the men that comprise it escapes anybody who takes part in organized religion, too. Basically because the rules that comprise their world do not allow for everybody to be included.
Also, some societies (like here in the US) are highly individualistic and random acts of altruism are seeing as a rarity and not as the norm.
Keeping our humanity is not the same as being human.
XOXO
This is very interesting and also really thought provoking. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Nicely said.
Excellent post!
Jesus, have mercy on his soul...
Thanks everyone!
Spider-Man, forgive the vowel-less one, for he knoweth not how goofy he doth sound.....
Great post!
Thanks!
The Anatomy of Slavespeak
Mind Control: a Field Guide to Language that Maintains the Master-Slave Relationship
https://climateviewer.com/2014/04/06/the-anatomy-of-political-slavespeak/
As I frequently said when I was a teacher "We could get a hell of a lot more done if we didn't have to deal with all of these damned students! I was, of course, being sarcastic and was addressing those who were trying to elevate other tasks into the "very important" category.
We are here to help ourselves and our fellow participants through the physical plane with as little s**t as possible. We are all the same in this endeavor. Religion, in this regard, is an impediment.
Many years ago, I read an LA Times op-ed that began with the line, "Welfare is the only way we know to deal with surplus people."
The phrase "surplus people" gave me chills. It still does. We can do better of course, but we are not heading in that direction and don't expect to be any time soon.
Ed: Some interesting stuff there, but perhaps I should clarify. I'm not rejecting the legitimacy of states and governments. They are very useful tools, probably indispensable, since all complex societies have them. My point is that they are tools, things created by humans to serve human purposes, and we should never start thinking that humans exist for their sake.
"Surplus people" is a disturbing expression indeed. It sounds like something from Orwell's 1984.
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