Suicidalism

Armed and Dangerous » Blog Archive » Gramscian damage:

I’ve called it suicidalism. It was designed to paralyze the West against one enemy, but it’s now being used against us by another. It is no accident that Osama bin Laden so often sounds like he’s reading from back issues of Z magazine, and no accident that both constantly echo the hoariest old cliches of Soviet propaganda in the 1930s and ’40s.

Another consequence of Stalin’s meme war is that today’s left-wing antiwar demonstrators wear kaffiyehs without any sense of how grotesque it is for ostensible Marxists to cuddle up to religious absolutists who want to restore the power relations of the 7th century CE. In Stalin’s hands, even Marxism itself was hollowed out to serve as a memetic weapon — it became increasingly nihilist, hatred-focused and destructive. The postmodern left is now defined not by what it’s for but by what it’s against: classical-liberal individualism, free markets, dead white males, America, and the idea of objective reality itself.

The first step to recovery is understanding the problem. Knowing that suicidalist memes were launched at us as war weapons by the espionage apparatus of the most evil despotism in human history is in itself liberating. Liberating, too, it is to realize that the Noam Chomskys and Michael Moores and Robert Fisks of the world (and their thousands of lesser imitators in faculty lounges everywhere) are not brave transgressive forward-thinkers but pathetic memebots running the program of a dead tyrant.

I've linked to this Eric Raymond essay a number of times in the past several years but it really deserves a post of its own.

Suicidalism

Armed and Dangerous » Blog Archive » Gramscian damage:

I’ve called it suicidalism. It was designed to paralyze the West against one enemy, but it’s now being used against us by another. It is no accident that Osama bin Laden so often sounds like he’s reading from back issues of Z magazine, and no accident that both constantly echo the hoariest old cliches of Soviet propaganda in the 1930s and ’40s.

Another consequence of Stalin’s meme war is that today’s left-wing antiwar demonstrators wear kaffiyehs without any sense of how grotesque it is for ostensible Marxists to cuddle up to religious absolutists who want to restore the power relations of the 7th century CE. In Stalin’s hands, even Marxism itself was hollowed out to serve as a memetic weapon — it became increasingly nihilist, hatred-focused and destructive. The postmodern left is now defined not by what it’s for but by what it’s against: classical-liberal individualism, free markets, dead white males, America, and the idea of objective reality itself.

The first step to recovery is understanding the problem. Knowing that suicidalist memes were launched at us as war weapons by the espionage apparatus of the most evil despotism in human history is in itself liberating. Liberating, too, it is to realize that the Noam Chomskys and Michael Moores and Robert Fisks of the world (and their thousands of lesser imitators in faculty lounges everywhere) are not brave transgressive forward-thinkers but pathetic memebots running the program of a dead tyrant.

I've linked to this Eric Raymond essay a number of times in the past several years but it really deserves a post of its own.

Okay, this is hilarious.

'Ingrid of the Jungle': the wacky comic version of Betancourt's story | The Observers:

What if Ingrid Betancourt had travelled to the Colombian jungle after agreeing to a fake high-profile kidnapping? What if Nicolas Sarkozy had orchestrated her rescue to boost his popularity ratings and to settle an old score with former primer minister Dominique de Villepin?

Just as Franco-Colombian politician and former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt launches her memoirs, Even Silence Has an End, a whole different version of her story is also hitting bookstores in France. Ingrid de la Jungle (Ingrid of the Jungle), a comic book written by French writers Serge Scotto and Eric Stoffel, and illustrator Richard di Martino, is a highly politically incorrect take on Betancourt's captivity and its political implications in France.

Usually I blow off 90% of what shows up in my inbox from France 24, but once in a while they deliver some amazing (or at least interesting) stuff. I wonder when someone will get around to doing this for that lying popinjay Rigoberta Menchu.

Okay, this is hilarious.

'Ingrid of the Jungle': the wacky comic version of Betancourt's story | The Observers:

What if Ingrid Betancourt had travelled to the Colombian jungle after agreeing to a fake high-profile kidnapping? What if Nicolas Sarkozy had orchestrated her rescue to boost his popularity ratings and to settle an old score with former primer minister Dominique de Villepin?

Just as Franco-Colombian politician and former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt launches her memoirs, Even Silence Has an End, a whole different version of her story is also hitting bookstores in France. Ingrid de la Jungle (Ingrid of the Jungle), a comic book written by French writers Serge Scotto and Eric Stoffel, and illustrator Richard di Martino, is a highly politically incorrect take on Betancourt's captivity and its political implications in France.

Usually I blow off 90% of what shows up in my inbox from France 24, but once in a while they deliver some amazing (or at least interesting) stuff. I wonder when someone will get around to doing this for that lying popinjay Rigoberta Menchu.

Good news for Nationals fans

Washington Nationals Rally For 7-Run 8th, 8-4 Win Over Houston Astros. NO 100-Losses!!! - Federal Baseball:

• The Washington Nationals will not lose 100 games this season.

Well, after the early-season hope that they'd contend, it's not much, but an end to the 100-loss seasons is a Good Thing.

Good news for Nationals fans

Washington Nationals Rally For 7-Run 8th, 8-4 Win Over Houston Astros. NO 100-Losses!!! - Federal Baseball:

• The Washington Nationals will not lose 100 games this season.

Well, after the early-season hope that they'd contend, it's not much, but an end to the 100-loss seasons is a Good Thing.

For Onsenmark

Gmail - Blade Kitten now available for XBLA, PSN, and Windows PC!:

In Blade Kitten, join Kit Ballard as she explores the mysterious world of Hollow Wish to hunt down rogue mechs and soft targets. Blade Kitten is out now for Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation®Network, and Windows PC.

Jump right in and begin exploring and fighting your way through multiple levels loaded with secret areas and hidden collectibles. With her alien sidekick Skiffy and her sword, the Darque Blade, customize Kit's abilities such as weaponry and armor to make her the ultimate kick-ass bounty hunter!

I dunno how I got on their mailing list, but, uh...thanks?

For Onsenmark

Gmail - Blade Kitten now available for XBLA, PSN, and Windows PC!:

In Blade Kitten, join Kit Ballard as she explores the mysterious world of Hollow Wish to hunt down rogue mechs and soft targets. Blade Kitten is out now for Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation®Network, and Windows PC.

Jump right in and begin exploring and fighting your way through multiple levels loaded with secret areas and hidden collectibles. With her alien sidekick Skiffy and her sword, the Darque Blade, customize Kit's abilities such as weaponry and armor to make her the ultimate kick-ass bounty hunter!

I dunno how I got on their mailing list, but, uh...thanks?