xelent’s blog

Corporations and Govt's

Mar 24, 2009
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An interesting look at how corporatism goes hand in hand with statism

Marlena Shaw's version of wade in the water was always one of those tunes that got my feet a moving and sends goose pimples all over my body every time I listen to it. It's the mixture of brass, drums and soulful lyrics of Marlena that put me in a haze of pure ectasy. No exagerattion, believe. Watching Elanor Powell dance to this tune, I am truly amazed by her elegance, style and I am aware of moves she is using that could be considered as slightyly unhinged. When I say unhinged, I guess I mean in particular at 2:10 of the video below when she starts tapping the table and chair with her foot. In any ordinary instance, this action would be considered odd at best, but given the context of such an upbeat song one can fully understand her decision to improvise in this manner. Dance allows us to expresss ourselves on an emotional level that is almost imposible to do in any other circumstance normally, without being attacked by others for our candidness.

Marlena Shaw .. Berry Bothers.. Eleanor Powell .. Wade in the water.

There is something quite liberating about dancing, particularly when you can. I guess I've been blessed with a lean frame and a good understanding of beat and rhythm, that I was always able to express myself quite well in dance. I feel completely comfortable on a dance floor, as I allow myself to be completely enveloped by the music and I can transfer myself to a place that can only be described as heavenly, not to mention joyful as well. I think we are all capable of this, except for many people they feel uncomforatble being looked at by others. I haven't trained or been instructed in dance, but I did learn to gather my confidence with how my body reacted to music and decided to go with it. This brought about a huge sense of liberation like no other. Lets face it, it is very rare to express yourself in public without people attacking you. But when you dance how you feel, people notice you and become transfixed and rarely if ever complain about this kind of expression. Somehow, people take it for gratis that the way you move in dance is personal to you and admirable in its construction. Just so long as you are doing it for yourself, rather than others.

Now something that I was unaware previously about this song was that it was originally a song for black slaves. As described by the YouTube author of the video.

"Originally one of the 'Songs of freedom'(Wade in the water) was sung by way of instruction to escaping slaves .. travelling along the water's edge or across a body of water, would throw dogs and their keepers off the scent."

Now there is something quite synominous with ones fight for personal freedom within the self and that of the freedom to dance in an entirely expressive way for which people will implicitly understand. To be able to show people the way you express life (with integrity), like dance, albeit often seen as extreme in nature, can be liberating for those watching you from the periphery. If you can live a life with virtue, being true to yourself and your feelings, people around you cannot help but notice and be drawn to you.

So, for all of you out there desperate to be understood by your fellow man, why not try to understand your own feelings first and express them in your way, with the confidence of your own virtue and integrity. You will be guaranteed an audience of like minded souls for sure. Once you become yourself, no one will criticise you and the scent of your fear will have disappeared completely. So people, keep wading in the water and try to escape the serfdom that tells you to keep those personal expressions in check. Those expressions are there to inspire others..

More info about the origins of this song can be found here.

EDIT - This article was published on Lost Liberty Cafe as well...

The Madness of Christians....

Feb 18, 2009
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Dr John Sentamu

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu was quoted in an article in the Daily Mail today called, "People think Christians are 'mad' ".

"Christians are seen as 'mad' by the rest of society because they are motivated by compassion rather than the greedy pursuit of money, the Archbishop of York said yesterday. "

This is quite typical of the pious in times of economic struggle. Christians have a particularly spiteful way in which they inflict guilt on the masses in the hard times. This is but one of many examples in which the church has used feigned morality as a means to furthering their nonsensical beliefs. A comment left at the end of this article reminding the Bishop of where his own wealth comes from, struck a cord quite well I felt.

"He has got it all wrong, the rich coutries all run on "Greed", greedy people set up business in the hope of making a lot of money and by doing so create jobs. People invest their money in other peoples business to make money.
When greedy people go bust, all the jobs go = slump.

The whole World-Economy runs on "Greed", (think about it). Nothing to do with God what so ever. The next time John Sentamu goes around with his begging-bowl - He should ask himself, did this money come from greed?

- CJ, Ireland, 18/2/2009 9:25"

The Reverend Jerry Falwell made similar statements after the 9/11 attacks as pointed out below. I cannot help but wonder what magnificently corrupt world can create such hypocrites as these. For which he later had to recant on. They know nothing about humanity except their own pious dogma which tells them to preach self sacrifice at the cost of ones own personal gain. A gain for which can benefit many with jobs and prosperity. No, these pious men would like us to lay face down in the mud, begging for forgiveness for a made up belief in 'original sin'. Whilst they attempt to psychologically rob us of the little wealth that we have to benefit their own greedy desires.

Falwell and Robertson after 9/11

The madness of Christians has less to do with their so called compassion, but more to do with their pious morality, for which manages to benefit the minority (the pious and the powerful) in favour of the majority. Without some form of greed, where does Sentamu imagine electricity comes from? Or the plentiful variety of food in our supermarkets? Maybe Bishop Sentamu would like us eating curds and whey next to a flickering candle, whilst re-sighting the nonsense of the bible that calls for the heads of all non believers. Now I agree that the bankers and politicians have clearly been in cahoots with each other regarding the recent bail outs. But to lay the foundations of blame on the common man that has chosen a more rational belief in the non belief of God is truly the most audacious excuse for those that produce nothing except veiled spittle and bile in the name of God.

Free Range Humans...

Feb 11, 2009
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True News 13: Statism is Dead - Part 3 - The Matrix

An interesting take on our unseen incarceration, loosely based on the theme of the movie The Matrix.. I am fairly sure that I cannot add anything more to this otherwise wonderfully scripted video.. I did try, but profoundly failed.. Please enjoy.. For more of this click here..

The Birth of the Modern State

Feb 1, 2009
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WW1 in Colour - Hell in the Trenches

I take the creators own words here.

"World War I was the first modern global military conflict which took place in Europe between 1914 to 1918. Archaic military tactics met modern industrialised warfare for the first time, resulting casualties on a previously unimaginable scale. Men rotted in the mud, then were sent to face massed machine gun fire, modern artillary, tanks and chemical weapons. Over 20 million soldiers and civilians died and countless others were physically maimed or mentally scarred by the horrors of trench warfare."

Of course our states no longer inflict war on our own soil any more. However, in this case it took them another war to finally seek diplomacy in Europe. We now make war in far flung places like Iraq and Afghanistan, with false claims of liberty. But the futility of state aggression is well marked within this footage and the idea that this war gave us freedom is as much to mock our intelligence as the claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. The state clearly lies for its own ends and the men that start the war never pick up a gun or finish it. No, they leave that mess to the rest of humanity.

Music: Clint Mansell - The Last Man

The Irreplaceable Value: Your Life

Jan 31, 2009
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This is John Galt speaking - Part 4

XCowboy2's continuing adaptation of Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged, looks at the value of life and that it is our choice to live it. Life is very much about the living of it and the virtue and honesty that we can bring to that life. That to hide behind illusion may bring us temporary comfort, but will ultimately destroy our reason to live.

"But it is a wish one must learn to deserve.. Virtue is not an end in itself.. Virtue is not its own reward.. Life, is the reward of virtue.. And happiness.. Is the goal and the reward of life.."

The tail end of this speech is perhaps its most profound.. Please enjoy..

Oh Men of Athens

Jan 27, 2009
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The Trial of Socrates - After the Verdict

I think if there was ever a way to disrupt the thoughts and machinations of the mystic, both religious or political. Then perhaps Socrates parting speech to his judges and accusers deals a blow better than no other.

Stefan Molyneux narrates his speech with what can only be described as a true admiration for a man that exposed the hypocrisies of such mythologists. But for which the cost to his own life and future generations is made and felt abundantly clear.

The Trial and Death of Socrates

Anarchy in the City (Napoli)

Jan 27, 2009
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Another stunning collection of graffiti from Napoli, Italy. I particularly like the religious iconography used here. For a country so steeped in Catholicism it makes perfect sense that the street should reject it.. More of this

Obama, a murderer?

Jan 25, 2009
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I was recently having a conversation with a forum host about what can and cant be said on his forum, which revolves around politics and economics. His strict instruction was that one couldn't denigrate any company or politician with spurious and Ad Hominem attacks. Now I would agree that Ad Hominem is a most unproductive way to go and certainly lends itself to closing down debate, rather than enlightening it. This is why I left my title as a question, rather than a statement, so as to avoid the accusation of Ad Hom. However, lets look at the facts firstly and see if I cannot convince you of his guilt. I am quite sure that he is a murderer, but I appreciate that many of you would consider him as not.

My question comes as a direct result of this action taken by the the Obama administration. His recent authorisation of a missile strike on a small village in Pakistan would seem to be a rite of passage for most presidents. And so as not be outdone orders his own, killing three children in the process. It would seem that this was a muscle flexing move for Obama according to the Guardian.

"The strikes will help Obama portray himself as a leader who, though ready to shift the balance of American power towards diplomacy, is not afraid of military action."

The tacit suggestion that violence has a role to play in negotiation as much as diplomacy, supposedly gives Obama an air of strength and control. I am sure many of you would agree with this analysis. Many of you I would suggest believe that the state has the right to kill all that it considers to be its enemy. But why?

Obomba

Rightly so, if I decided to shoot my neighbours for whom I didn't like and ended up taking out half the street and killing not just my neighbour but most of the neighbourhood I would be considered as a murderer. But yet when the state decides to hurl missiles with poor precision, its seen at worst as accidental and at best even noble. Even if you believe that they were aiming at killers, one cannot deny the innocence of three children. And that in any other situation we would be screaming for justice. Do I need to say more?

We the men of the mind...

Jan 22, 2009
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This is John Galt Speaking - Part 2

I have talked about the issues this video raises before. For most people religion is seen as the only true form of morality, whether they are religious or not. The religious sink into a pious mythology about the self being worthless and that only death will bring true hope and salvation to mankind. The nihilist believes in nothing but death and so ruthlessly pursues his own pleasures, even to the detriment and cost to his own life..

"And no one came along to say your life belongs to you.. And that the good, is to live it.."

"Both sides agree that morality is the surrender of your self interest and of your mind"

Mystics beware, your morality sits on a precipice.. XCowboy2's second part of his adaptation of Ayn Rand's speech by John Galt in her novel Atlas Shrugged...

Freethinkers Updated: 9 minutes ago
Libertarians Updated: 3 hours ago
Freedomain Radio (host) Updated: Mar 24, 2009

xelent said:
Yes this book is a great insight into a possible future scenario.. The audio can be found here, if your... read more
on The Market for Liberty
wahed said:

[this is good]
Do you know ? I search for my liberty here in cairo but I can not find it . I... read more
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xelent said:
Sorry for the lateness in this reply.. I would like to draw this conversation to a close, but I am... read more
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lightandstorm said:
It can, but only if it is based on tangible reality. You cannot decide to make your fantasies truth. this... read more
on We the men of the mind...
xelent said:
"Why? Why can't you read them as allegory?Indeed you could take it as allegory, if your allegory was based on... read more
on We the men of the mind...