What kind of revolution are we going to start? What revolutionary methods will successfully replace the current violence and injustice? Will our revolution resemble the Fall of Rome, in which the foreign armies sacked, looted, and pillaged the city-state, after it had waited too long, and had become rotten from within? Or will it resemble the French Revolution, in which gangs of manipulated sociopaths perpetrated constant terror, breaking the society, and paving the way for Napoleonic hereditary rulership? Alternatively, will we choose to create a revolution of peaceful protest – perhaps resembling the independence movement in India, under the non-violent leadership of Mahatma Gandhi? What kind of revolution would you like to create?

The conditions are ripe for whichever alternative you choose. For example, we could do absolutely nothing to address the rot in our own societies, then passively observe whilst the foreign armies sack, loot, and pillage our cities. With equivalent ease, we could follow the orders of new (and violent) revolutionary leaders, who might promise to restore peace and democracy (but only after satiating their blood-lust by slaughtering the traditional elite classes). Alternatively, we could stage peaceful demonstrations, trying to convince the elite classes that we deserve greater freedom, and thereby (hopefully) inducing the elite classes to abdicate voluntarily. What is the best way to end the current violence, war-making, violently oppressive laws, and widespread injustice? [While considering your answer, please consider whether violence and injustice have been largely eliminated (or not) in contemporary Italy, France, and India.]

Now…how about a genuinely revolutionary alternative? All three of the above scenarios entail the replacement of an existing elitist system, with either (1) total chaos, and/or (2) the introduction of the next elitist system. How about a genuinely new approach? How about a revolution which creates a new society from within? How about a revolution which, instead of guillotining the elite classes, guillotines the very principles of elitism? How about a revolution whereby we choose not to replace our elite classes with a “new and better” elite class, but rather, we learn how to cope, to function, and to live our lives – without the requirement for any elite class, whatsoever?

This is a scary thought, for those who feel safest under a system of explicit laws (which are, preferably, normally obeyed), together with the physical force to punish or kill those people who break the laws for whatever reason. Our current societies entrust their power, absolutely, to the wealthy and well-connected upper stratum: the elite classes who are apparently much wiser than the ordinary man or woman. Accordingly, we gratefully accept their legal system and their powers of enforcement. Imagine the chaos which would ensue if “ordinary people” exercised their personal judgment! Such is the fear which has held us bound within the elitist model of human existence.

If you can imagine a world which contains neither kings, nor queens, nor the financial royalty (i.e., the global bankers), nor their respective puppet politicians and bureaucrats, then my proposal for a “revolutionary revolution” might appeal to you. If you seek the freedom to live as you wish, and if you will respect your neighbours’ freedom to live as they wish, then perhaps we should work together to make this happen. I would be delighted to participate with you. I have only two conditions for my participation:

1.  I will not countenance the slaughter of the existing elite classes. If we employ violence in order to stop violence, then we not only contradict ourselves (i.e. committing hypocrisy), but we also create new violence, perpetuating what we falsely claim to stand against. “Fighting for peace” is like “bonking for virginity.” Violence, in this context, is hypocritical, counter-productive, and certainly counter-revolutionary.

2.  I will not collaborate with liars and manipulators. We have been living under a blizzard of deceptions (for much too long); and I, for one, refuse to simply replace one fairy tale with another fairy tale. Our basic problem is that we have forgotten the importance of the truth. Our revolution will only succeed if we seek the truth, and tell the truth, all the time, every day. I am delighted to participate with individuals who willingly promise to tell the truth, as I promise you.

So, what do you say? What kind of revolution do you want to create? We can (1) wait until it is too late, leading toward collapse and dissipation; or (2) violently overthrow the elite classes; or (3) kindly request the elite classes to abdicate their power; or (4) reclaim our power from the elite classes, and build whatever society we choose to create, without the requirement for an elite class of any description. Maybe you have another option (5) to propose?

Where do you stand? What is this revolution about?

Matt Engelman
27 September 2006
www.mattengelman.com

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