Good Huxley quote, but Andrew Jackson?!?!? I'd go Rosa Luxemburg, Eugene Debbs, MLK. And today, yes, Julian Assange. Unfortunately we have no revolutionary political leaders in the US today, only some journalists and academics. Heck, we don't even have any good revolutionary artists or writers like we did a generation ago.
His battle against the second central bank was legendary and extraordinarily drawn out and difficult, you should read about it. Before his death he was asked what he regarded as his greatest achievement, and he replied without hesitation: "I killed the bank."
Later when the Federal Reserve was established (the third central bank), they ultimately put his face on the $20 bill as a "fuck you, we won", because it was everything he was against. True story.
Hi Jean, I was responding to the prompt, which was "picture an anti-authoritarian figure...fighting the real power where it stands here and now".
Because I view the owners of the world central banks as the essential element pushing the feudalistic order we are all increasingly subject to, I give very strong weight toward those who fought against it when answering the prompt. Anyway, Jackson has a controversial reputation and isn't necessarily "remembered well" at this point.
On a broader level, all men have good and bad within them, so there will always have to be a value judgment about how one weighs a person's accomplishments vs failures. I will quote Solzhenitzyn on this: “If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? During the life of any heart this line keeps changing place; sometimes it is squeezed one way by exuberant evil and sometimes it shifts to allow enough space for good to flourish. One and the same human being is, at various ages, under various circumstances, a totally different human being. At times he is close to being a devil, at times to sainthood. But his name doesn’t change, and to that name we ascribe the whole lot, good and evil.”
Temporarily setting back the central bankers while simultaneously owning hundreds of slaves and aggressively participating in settler colonial genocide. Hmm. I'm going to say the good doesn't outweigh the bad here. Given what we know about Jackson, perhaps his opposition to the central bankers wasn't entirely from a position of aiding working class people? Slave owners and large property holders generally don't have that particular drive...
That is a very interesting take. Paper? I do wonder if you could find in his writings and speeches what his original intent was. I always assume evil when it comes from evil origin ha.
No, it’s not. I don’t need a lecture on how to understand men. I’ve been around them for 78 years and know every twist and turn of their attempts to mans’plain the worst of their ilk. What I don’t get is why can’t they hold other men to the same standard that they say they hold themselves to? Why are they always rushing to defend the worst in men by trying to say that “we’re all like that” as if they had a corner on wisdom. Well, we aren’t all like that. And it’s time we stopped elevating the killers of the past and started rewarding the peacemakers of today— and following their example.
You realize using the term, "Indians" is offensive and a product of the white man's ignorance and prejudice. To then get high and mighty as if you're an ally is laughable. You point and wag your finger at others who don't meet with your attempt at empathy for a group identity that you've chosen to adopt sensitivities for, while at the same time offending sensitivities that they have. Nice job Karen, offending while you bask in imaginary offense. Whatever it takes to try to absolve yourself of your white guilt...that failed outside of your own self-image as a white savior and protector of the poor, little, oppressed Injun!
Yes. Making fun of your comment. Helping to yank up those panties in a wad that you're wearing, so your sphincter muscles clamp up even tighter. Hilarity ensue. "Dropping the pretense of being polite to those with whom we disagree and telling it like it is." And all.
Yeah I recently read an article here on Substack (Badlands Media) about Jackson and how he challenged the bankers. I now have a newfound respect for him.
Rosa Luxemburg for sure ( " She told the poor the truth, so they did away with her), and Michael Parenti. I would also add Bertolt Brecht, Frantz Fanon, Antonio Gramsci. What about Fidel Castro and Che Guevara? Of course Julian Assange.
Yes Sartre thought freedom a burden which we are condemned to live in. I think many of us are aware of our chains but find them comfortable and reassuring.
I’m coming to agree with this, at least in this Yuppie Era. In my day—‘55 to ‘75 freedom was sought after, cherished and shared, but then in the late 70’s, as the Women’s Movement developed, I could see that most of the “activists” really did not want freedom. They wanted privilege for white middle class women and to ignore any one—especially gay women—who demanded equality. Betty Frigid the worst. And then we metastasized into the pearl clutching ‘80’s and have been a stain on the world ever since. So no, people with privilege don’t want freedom OR responsibility—they just want to hang on to their, as you say comfortable chains, and make everyone else do the same.
Good Huxley quote, but Andrew Jackson?!?!? I'd go Rosa Luxemburg, Eugene Debbs, MLK. And today, yes, Julian Assange. Unfortunately we have no revolutionary political leaders in the US today, only some journalists and academics. Heck, we don't even have any good revolutionary artists or writers like we did a generation ago.
His battle against the second central bank was legendary and extraordinarily drawn out and difficult, you should read about it. Before his death he was asked what he regarded as his greatest achievement, and he replied without hesitation: "I killed the bank."
Later when the Federal Reserve was established (the third central bank), they ultimately put his face on the $20 bill as a "fuck you, we won", because it was everything he was against. True story.
He killed a lot of Indians too, but as long he made white men richer, he’s remembered well. Putain.
Hi Jean, I was responding to the prompt, which was "picture an anti-authoritarian figure...fighting the real power where it stands here and now".
Because I view the owners of the world central banks as the essential element pushing the feudalistic order we are all increasingly subject to, I give very strong weight toward those who fought against it when answering the prompt. Anyway, Jackson has a controversial reputation and isn't necessarily "remembered well" at this point.
On a broader level, all men have good and bad within them, so there will always have to be a value judgment about how one weighs a person's accomplishments vs failures. I will quote Solzhenitzyn on this: “If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? During the life of any heart this line keeps changing place; sometimes it is squeezed one way by exuberant evil and sometimes it shifts to allow enough space for good to flourish. One and the same human being is, at various ages, under various circumstances, a totally different human being. At times he is close to being a devil, at times to sainthood. But his name doesn’t change, and to that name we ascribe the whole lot, good and evil.”
I hope you find this response helpful.
Temporarily setting back the central bankers while simultaneously owning hundreds of slaves and aggressively participating in settler colonial genocide. Hmm. I'm going to say the good doesn't outweigh the bad here. Given what we know about Jackson, perhaps his opposition to the central bankers wasn't entirely from a position of aiding working class people? Slave owners and large property holders generally don't have that particular drive...
That is a very interesting take. Paper? I do wonder if you could find in his writings and speeches what his original intent was. I always assume evil when it comes from evil origin ha.
No, it’s not. I don’t need a lecture on how to understand men. I’ve been around them for 78 years and know every twist and turn of their attempts to mans’plain the worst of their ilk. What I don’t get is why can’t they hold other men to the same standard that they say they hold themselves to? Why are they always rushing to defend the worst in men by trying to say that “we’re all like that” as if they had a corner on wisdom. Well, we aren’t all like that. And it’s time we stopped elevating the killers of the past and started rewarding the peacemakers of today— and following their example.
Injuns. I think it's pronounced Injuns.
Are you trying to be funny? Cuz Uffda otherwise.
You realize using the term, "Indians" is offensive and a product of the white man's ignorance and prejudice. To then get high and mighty as if you're an ally is laughable. You point and wag your finger at others who don't meet with your attempt at empathy for a group identity that you've chosen to adopt sensitivities for, while at the same time offending sensitivities that they have. Nice job Karen, offending while you bask in imaginary offense. Whatever it takes to try to absolve yourself of your white guilt...that failed outside of your own self-image as a white savior and protector of the poor, little, oppressed Injun!
Yes. Making fun of your comment. Helping to yank up those panties in a wad that you're wearing, so your sphincter muscles clamp up even tighter. Hilarity ensue. "Dropping the pretense of being polite to those with whom we disagree and telling it like it is." And all.
Yeah I recently read an article here on Substack (Badlands Media) about Jackson and how he challenged the bankers. I now have a newfound respect for him.
Rosa Luxemburg for sure ( " She told the poor the truth, so they did away with her), and Michael Parenti. I would also add Bertolt Brecht, Frantz Fanon, Antonio Gramsci. What about Fidel Castro and Che Guevara? Of course Julian Assange.
All good additions. Maybe also Hugo Chavez, Nicolas Maduro, and Evo Morales. Sukarno, Patrice Lumumba.
I am with you totally. Maybe the human race has a chance when we have/had all these great people.
Yes Sartre thought freedom a burden which we are condemned to live in. I think many of us are aware of our chains but find them comfortable and reassuring.
I’m coming to agree with this, at least in this Yuppie Era. In my day—‘55 to ‘75 freedom was sought after, cherished and shared, but then in the late 70’s, as the Women’s Movement developed, I could see that most of the “activists” really did not want freedom. They wanted privilege for white middle class women and to ignore any one—especially gay women—who demanded equality. Betty Frigid the worst. And then we metastasized into the pearl clutching ‘80’s and have been a stain on the world ever since. So no, people with privilege don’t want freedom OR responsibility—they just want to hang on to their, as you say comfortable chains, and make everyone else do the same.
Harvey Milk?