I’m toast. (Butter and jam please - it’s Sunday) I attended the school of hard knocks (the University of Miami) and, after 10 years of nightmare (night) school, graduated with a BA in psychology and business administration.
This is sooo good. I noticed the wince on Moses Mike when Joe mentioned Trump bowing down to Putin. I think you are spot on wrt who lost. Your description of heaven’s cult members, Chef’s kiss. Thank you!!!
Even their new name for us—woke—drips with irony, as their power depends on their followers not waking up to the totalitarian threat to our American way of life.
You're speaking my language today, Greg Olear. I wrote an 'A' thesis on the subject of Paradise Lost, arguing that Satan was both main character and Hero of the epic. As for the overarching struggle between the angels, mankind barely has a dog in the fight, but it is clear Lucifer has the most in common with our condition
Greg, you always make me smarter although this was heavy for DST day. I do believe Joe read Paradise Lost last week. He was trying to AWAKE the masses! Alas I fear they are all still asleep.
I see your point and agree with you. In the way that you described it, to be obedient to "God" is to not think for yourself and therefore, to not be free. And this is what I see in most organized religions. But here's a scary realization as I watch the political discourse: the people who WE think are giving up their freedom by not thinking for themselves, they think that we are the one's who are trying to oppress their freedom by not following THEIR "God's" rules. They think Joe Biden is the oppressor. We can only hope they can break through the veil that has been dropped over them.
Having recently traveled from home in the blue, woke "Hell" of Massachusetts to DeSantis' "Paradise," where it's so hot that books are burning, I side with the devils.
As usual, I love your post. It reminded me of the glorious books I read while studying for a PhD in clinical psych and existential philosophy. That led me to wonder how the "poorly educated" have gained strength to put their fascist hero into office once and possibly twice. Why has education and knowledge not had power to lead us to better places?
Maybe because education isn't one-size-fits-all? Writers and philosophers study thinking, but biz schools are about profit, sports is win-at-all-costs, and law schools...? Biz and law schools do teach a bit of ethics, but what's valued on a resume? And why are most writers, artists, philosophers and non-Harvard teachers starving.
If we're lucky enough to escape dictatorship, how do we fix the priorities problems? How do we consign lawyers and business people to secondary advisory capacity? What would our country be like if, say, Greg Olear were President?
You’ve given me food for thought & much to ponder. I enjoy reading about your salad days studying English at Georgetown. (I had two cousins rip who studied law there). I haven’t read Milton since my Episcopal girlschool days, but now I feel inclined to read the conversations of Moloch & Beezelbub. Apropos to our current clime.
Why should I be called “The Left” when I’ve lived my entire life in the belly of so many Beasts 🐉 while constantly trying not to lose sight of due North on my compass of life and continuing to do “The Right Thing” ?
I think it's common knowledge among "normies" that Old Testament God was an asshole from start to finish. And New Testament God wasn't much better, being mostly an absent Father, except when He'd deign to show up for cameo roles like, "This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." (I capitalize ironically!)
Even back in Catholic grade school -- yes, grades 1-7 that I am STILL getting over 50 years later -- you could recognize that Heaven was a totalitarian dictatorship, what with all the worshipping, and obeying, and, I assume, bowing and scraping, only for the hope that for one moment, the Most High would gaze upon you. And yet, you never heard that about Hell. Sure, there was Lucifer, but there were LOTS of other demons whose names I'm not looking up to spell correctly, but they all seemed to have the same level of power and evil at their disposal. I really don't recall a Throne of Satan being talked about very much; certainly not as much as the Throne of God, who apparently sat around all day eating bon-bons, with Jesus at his right hand, and angels playing harps and shit. (YAWN!)
I agree with the thesis that "Paradise Lost" more represents politics than religion. And I watch the same news, so I can see the zealots overburdening the scale to where the snap-back will be more like a guillotine falling than a pendulum swing. It's funny to hear, on the one hand, that Holy Mike Johnson apparently had a "talk" with the Republican caucus before the SOTU and told them they should not put on "displays" because it was a solemn event, but then sat back there on camera, pursing his lips and shaking his head and oddly, also trying to clap for things that he agreed with, but under the table so MTG wouldn't see. I don't remember Kevin McCarthy EVER making a face or expressing anything while he sat behind Biden for the SOTU. But Mike couldn't help himself. He is also, apparently, scared of MTG because she wore that disgusting disgrace of an "outfit" all night, and nobody on HER side told her she was embarrassing the entire Congress and her office. Honestly, what a fucking pig!
So, I'm only waiting now for the snap-back in November. They have gone WAY too far and will be brought to heel. The Republicans seem to think that they will continue in their quest for a theocratic dictatorship, but that will not stand. They've had it good for themselves for quite a long while, long enough to reveal who they ACTUALLY are, and they will be losing their Paradise of Power very soon. "Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!" And VOTE!
My head spins, my brain awash with convoluted thoughts. Thank you for another thought provoking piece.
Am I foolish to now think that Autocracy = Paradise and Democracy = Hell? 45 = God? Everything in life is backwards?
This does explain much. MAGA-nuts, Christian Nationalists never question, simply accept the gospel according to the imbecile. Yet can this mean God = imbecile? Blasphemy of the highest order.
I and so many others live in a self made hell, making complex that which is actually simple, God's adherents live in a bliss of pure obedience and ignorance. 45 speaks, they listen, accept and follow. We on the other hand question, reason and try to be fair and do the right things. Bang our heads against the wall, searching for the answer to the question, how do we prolong the hell in which we live?
The simple reality, Democracy is hard work, a kind of hell. Autocracy is heaven, ignorance and blind acceptance.
I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I had had a good Lit teacher who had inspired me to actually read my Lit assignments instead of getting straight A’s by psyching out multiple-choice tests. (It was like that pre-Sputnik.) I excelled in other areas and learned other lessons, one of which (now that you mention Eden) was healing from Biblical literalism. Today’s lesson has glorious! I learned a lot!
I’m toast. (Butter and jam please - it’s Sunday) I attended the school of hard knocks (the University of Miami) and, after 10 years of nightmare (night) school, graduated with a BA in psychology and business administration.
Yea. I survived. Broke but not quite broken.
Thank you Greg for my Continuing Ed. Billserle.com
This is sooo good. I noticed the wince on Moses Mike when Joe mentioned Trump bowing down to Putin. I think you are spot on wrt who lost. Your description of heaven’s cult members, Chef’s kiss. Thank you!!!
Even their new name for us—woke—drips with irony, as their power depends on their followers not waking up to the totalitarian threat to our American way of life.
Thanks Greg! Paradise Lost just moved way up my read before I die list!
Thanks for this. I'm going to have to read Paradise Lost again.
Stand up and be counted!
Great post
You're speaking my language today, Greg Olear. I wrote an 'A' thesis on the subject of Paradise Lost, arguing that Satan was both main character and Hero of the epic. As for the overarching struggle between the angels, mankind barely has a dog in the fight, but it is clear Lucifer has the most in common with our condition
Greg, you always make me smarter although this was heavy for DST day. I do believe Joe read Paradise Lost last week. He was trying to AWAKE the masses! Alas I fear they are all still asleep.
I see your point and agree with you. In the way that you described it, to be obedient to "God" is to not think for yourself and therefore, to not be free. And this is what I see in most organized religions. But here's a scary realization as I watch the political discourse: the people who WE think are giving up their freedom by not thinking for themselves, they think that we are the one's who are trying to oppress their freedom by not following THEIR "God's" rules. They think Joe Biden is the oppressor. We can only hope they can break through the veil that has been dropped over them.
Having recently traveled from home in the blue, woke "Hell" of Massachusetts to DeSantis' "Paradise," where it's so hot that books are burning, I side with the devils.
As usual, I love your post. It reminded me of the glorious books I read while studying for a PhD in clinical psych and existential philosophy. That led me to wonder how the "poorly educated" have gained strength to put their fascist hero into office once and possibly twice. Why has education and knowledge not had power to lead us to better places?
Maybe because education isn't one-size-fits-all? Writers and philosophers study thinking, but biz schools are about profit, sports is win-at-all-costs, and law schools...? Biz and law schools do teach a bit of ethics, but what's valued on a resume? And why are most writers, artists, philosophers and non-Harvard teachers starving.
If we're lucky enough to escape dictatorship, how do we fix the priorities problems? How do we consign lawyers and business people to secondary advisory capacity? What would our country be like if, say, Greg Olear were President?
You’ve given me food for thought & much to ponder. I enjoy reading about your salad days studying English at Georgetown. (I had two cousins rip who studied law there). I haven’t read Milton since my Episcopal girlschool days, but now I feel inclined to read the conversations of Moloch & Beezelbub. Apropos to our current clime.
Why should I be called “The Left” when I’ve lived my entire life in the belly of so many Beasts 🐉 while constantly trying not to lose sight of due North on my compass of life and continuing to do “The Right Thing” ?
I think it's common knowledge among "normies" that Old Testament God was an asshole from start to finish. And New Testament God wasn't much better, being mostly an absent Father, except when He'd deign to show up for cameo roles like, "This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." (I capitalize ironically!)
Even back in Catholic grade school -- yes, grades 1-7 that I am STILL getting over 50 years later -- you could recognize that Heaven was a totalitarian dictatorship, what with all the worshipping, and obeying, and, I assume, bowing and scraping, only for the hope that for one moment, the Most High would gaze upon you. And yet, you never heard that about Hell. Sure, there was Lucifer, but there were LOTS of other demons whose names I'm not looking up to spell correctly, but they all seemed to have the same level of power and evil at their disposal. I really don't recall a Throne of Satan being talked about very much; certainly not as much as the Throne of God, who apparently sat around all day eating bon-bons, with Jesus at his right hand, and angels playing harps and shit. (YAWN!)
I agree with the thesis that "Paradise Lost" more represents politics than religion. And I watch the same news, so I can see the zealots overburdening the scale to where the snap-back will be more like a guillotine falling than a pendulum swing. It's funny to hear, on the one hand, that Holy Mike Johnson apparently had a "talk" with the Republican caucus before the SOTU and told them they should not put on "displays" because it was a solemn event, but then sat back there on camera, pursing his lips and shaking his head and oddly, also trying to clap for things that he agreed with, but under the table so MTG wouldn't see. I don't remember Kevin McCarthy EVER making a face or expressing anything while he sat behind Biden for the SOTU. But Mike couldn't help himself. He is also, apparently, scared of MTG because she wore that disgusting disgrace of an "outfit" all night, and nobody on HER side told her she was embarrassing the entire Congress and her office. Honestly, what a fucking pig!
So, I'm only waiting now for the snap-back in November. They have gone WAY too far and will be brought to heel. The Republicans seem to think that they will continue in their quest for a theocratic dictatorship, but that will not stand. They've had it good for themselves for quite a long while, long enough to reveal who they ACTUALLY are, and they will be losing their Paradise of Power very soon. "Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!" And VOTE!
My head spins, my brain awash with convoluted thoughts. Thank you for another thought provoking piece.
Am I foolish to now think that Autocracy = Paradise and Democracy = Hell? 45 = God? Everything in life is backwards?
This does explain much. MAGA-nuts, Christian Nationalists never question, simply accept the gospel according to the imbecile. Yet can this mean God = imbecile? Blasphemy of the highest order.
I and so many others live in a self made hell, making complex that which is actually simple, God's adherents live in a bliss of pure obedience and ignorance. 45 speaks, they listen, accept and follow. We on the other hand question, reason and try to be fair and do the right things. Bang our heads against the wall, searching for the answer to the question, how do we prolong the hell in which we live?
The simple reality, Democracy is hard work, a kind of hell. Autocracy is heaven, ignorance and blind acceptance.
LONG LIVE HELL!
Thank You, Greg!!! Blew my Recovered Catholic mind!! Yes! Makes perfect sense! Thank You!
I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I had had a good Lit teacher who had inspired me to actually read my Lit assignments instead of getting straight A’s by psyching out multiple-choice tests. (It was like that pre-Sputnik.) I excelled in other areas and learned other lessons, one of which (now that you mention Eden) was healing from Biblical literalism. Today’s lesson has glorious! I learned a lot!