I had to chuckle at that article on Medium, it's so one-dimensional and predictable it could be something straight out of any neoliberal media. Author's instant conclusion is that the "people will want to rebuild rule of law" - a statement that presumes what preceded this alleged "anarchy" was indeed a rule of law and considered worth rebuilding. You can collapse the world, but taking allegiance to power structures out of people's consciousness will take much longer.
The article follows the train of thought we've been exposed to our entire lives - "anarchy" was drilled into us as a dictionary definition of horrible disorder and chaos that would ruin us. Looking back at it now, I scratch my head at how long it took me to understand no one drills a definition like that into you because they care for you and your wellbeing in an allegedly orderly world. They drill it into you because *they* have something to lose and have to make sure you don't explore other options, but go along with the ways they've provided you with.
I can't say I ever truly believed that the state is here to make sure I'm safe and happy. I never thought about it as a child, teenager or young adult. I never deliberately thought about anything. I just went on with my everyday life immersed into the narrative I was born into. It was all I've ever known and by design, I had no skillset to understand anything else.
If you asked me about the cake Vs gun dilemma 10 years ago, let alone longer than that, I'd have told you I wanted the gun. My first instinct would have been fear of other people, competition and a need to protect myself and stay on top of everything and anything. My answer nowadays as an anarchist is of course cake. If I have to summarise why I became an anarchist in one sentence, it would probably be that *I chose active hope over fear.*
I love the phrase 'I chose active hope over fear' & love that you characterise Anarchism in that way. I think you are right. - Anarchism is choosing hope, and the conditions for hope to flourish, Hierarchy is choosing fear, fear of the power behind the hierarchy, its potential to hurt you, and the fear of being without its dubious claim of protecting us.
Absolutely, I see it in the same light. And I put emphasis on hope as an action, as opposed to what became known as "hopium," a passive act of waiting for saviours and surrendering yourself to an abstract wish that things will somehow work out.
Great piece of writing from you.
I had to chuckle at that article on Medium, it's so one-dimensional and predictable it could be something straight out of any neoliberal media. Author's instant conclusion is that the "people will want to rebuild rule of law" - a statement that presumes what preceded this alleged "anarchy" was indeed a rule of law and considered worth rebuilding. You can collapse the world, but taking allegiance to power structures out of people's consciousness will take much longer.
The article follows the train of thought we've been exposed to our entire lives - "anarchy" was drilled into us as a dictionary definition of horrible disorder and chaos that would ruin us. Looking back at it now, I scratch my head at how long it took me to understand no one drills a definition like that into you because they care for you and your wellbeing in an allegedly orderly world. They drill it into you because *they* have something to lose and have to make sure you don't explore other options, but go along with the ways they've provided you with.
I can't say I ever truly believed that the state is here to make sure I'm safe and happy. I never thought about it as a child, teenager or young adult. I never deliberately thought about anything. I just went on with my everyday life immersed into the narrative I was born into. It was all I've ever known and by design, I had no skillset to understand anything else.
If you asked me about the cake Vs gun dilemma 10 years ago, let alone longer than that, I'd have told you I wanted the gun. My first instinct would have been fear of other people, competition and a need to protect myself and stay on top of everything and anything. My answer nowadays as an anarchist is of course cake. If I have to summarise why I became an anarchist in one sentence, it would probably be that *I chose active hope over fear.*
I love the phrase 'I chose active hope over fear' & love that you characterise Anarchism in that way. I think you are right. - Anarchism is choosing hope, and the conditions for hope to flourish, Hierarchy is choosing fear, fear of the power behind the hierarchy, its potential to hurt you, and the fear of being without its dubious claim of protecting us.
Absolutely, I see it in the same light. And I put emphasis on hope as an action, as opposed to what became known as "hopium," a passive act of waiting for saviours and surrendering yourself to an abstract wish that things will somehow work out.
Cake always wins! Getting rid of the politicians would be so chefs kiss!