(Hostile scrutinisers, kindly cf. here , here, here and here on
The vid and remarks below on the founder of Samizdat's fate
will help set our thinking straight on what false accusations of
mental instability by evo mat ideologues have already led to.
And, FYI, THIS is the sort of edu initiative I have in mind.)
The vid and remarks below on the founder of Samizdat's fate
will help set our thinking straight on what false accusations of
mental instability by evo mat ideologues have already led to.
And, FYI, THIS is the sort of edu initiative I have in mind.)
Michelle Malkin is "just" a 90-lb, Filipina blogger and "Grizzly Bear" mom, who happens to be a new media success story.
In the speech below, she reminds us of the power of samizdat (self-publishing) against truth-challenged, media and education system spin-driven ideologies that dominate the systems of a society:
(Oh, yes, you can see Mrs Palin without the hostile media filters and snippers here, and you may find the discussion of the "Occupy"/Acorn etc. vs. "Tea Party" movements here, interesting [and I do not approve of the advocacy of being grungy and vulgar that one panelist advocates]. And indeed, the precepts of the neo-marxist (yes, neo-marxist) Saul Alinsky -- who founded the Chicago school of "Community Organizers" -- will allow us to understand the significance of having a product of that school in the White House. The now "standard" trifecta fallacy smear and slander tactics of distractive red herrings led away to strawmen soaked in personal attacks or insinuations, and set alight through incendiary talking points, are also worth studying. But that is not my main point.)
What is the main point?
It is right there in the word, Samizdat.
Self-publishing.
In the old, Gulag Archipelago-haunted, secret police, knock- on- the- door- at- 4:00 am Soviet Union that collapsed in 1989 - 91 in large part due to the efforts of its despised dissidents, in the end the "long tail" of concerned citizens who said enough is enough, and investigated and spread the truth by literally writing it out on a few sheets of paper (or if they had a typewriter, typing it up with carbon copies) and sharing it around.
Let Wiki, speaking against known interest, inform us:
Samizdat (Russian: самизда́т; IPA: [səmɨzˈdat]) was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc in which individuals reproduced censored publications by hand and passed the documents from reader to reader. This grassroots practice to evade officially imposed censorship was fraught with danger as harsh punishments were meted out to people caught possessing or copying censored materials.
Vladimir Bukovsky defined it as follows:
"(...) I myself create it,
edit it,
censor it,
publish it,
distribute it, and ...
get imprisoned for it. (...)"[ . . . . ]Essentially, the samizdat copies of texts were passed among friends, such as Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita or Václav Havel's essay The Power of the Powerless. Techniques used to reproduce these forbidden texts varied, from making several copies of the content using carbon paper, either by hand or on a typewriter, to printing on mainframe printers during night shifts, to printing the books on semiprofessional printing presses in larger quantities. Before glasnost, the practice was dangerous, because copy machines, printing presses, and even typewriters in offices were under control of the First Departments (KGB outposts): reference printouts for all of them were stored for identification purposes . . . .Samizdat distinguishes itself not only by the ideas and debates which it helped spread to a wider audience, but also by its physical form. The hand-typed, often blurry and wrinkled pages which possessed numerous typos and nondescript covers helped to separate and elevate Russian samizdat from Western literature.[2] Though the physical form of samizdat grew out of the simple lack of resources and necessity of inconspicuousness, dissidents in the USSR began to fetishize samizdat for the sharp contrast between samizdat’s ragged appearance and the appearance of texts published by the state. The form of samizdat itself took precedence over the ideas expressed in it, and came to symbolize the resourcefulness and rebellious spirit of citizens of the Soviet Union.[3] In effect, the physical form of samizdat itself elevated the reading of samizdat to a prized clandestine act.[4]
In short, man does not live by bread alone, and there is a hunger for the truth and for the right that in the end cannot be quenched. A hunger that points straight to our Eternal Author.
How does that work, practically speaking?
Say, I spend a month investigating something and pull together my summary report. Next month, I share what I know with one other trusted person, and then a month later, we both share again. We are now at four who know more than Big Brother wants us to know. The next month, eight are in on the secret. After that, sixteen, thirty-two, and so forth. After thirty-three months, we are at 2^32 power, or 4, 294,967,296.
That's over four BILLION.
One more month, and we have covered the world's whole population.
The world -- in principle -- can know the truth in three years, without access to instruments of mass manipulation, aka media and education power centres.
In short, sharing the truth a few at a time, and being motivated to pass it along repeatedly, has great power.
Potentially.
A power that is so great that the servants and dupes of deception make sure to put out their spin talking points to smear those who dare stand up, and to distort, confuse and polarise. Not to mention, to outright persecute if they think that will shut down the spread of the unwelcome truth.
Notice what Ms Malkin points out about the price paid by the founder of samizdat: she was seized, unjustly "diagnosed" as insane by corrupted psychiatrists -- ideologically driven abusers of science and medicine -- and locked in a mental institution. Probably, tied up in a straightjacket by corrupted nurses and attendants "just doing their jobs," to collect their pensions, and pumped full of mind altering drugs as "treatment," too. (And that was the "good days" of the USSR; in Stalin's day she would have been dragged off at 4:00 am to the Gulag's death camps and starved or worked or shot to death. Did you notice how the truth about Communism and its over 100 million victims somehow has disappeared from the major media stories? No prizes for guessing why.)
In short, fair warning: this is a day for courage in the face of possibly serious consequences.
I am not primarily speaking about the politics of the upcoming US presidential elections, I am talking about the spiritual war for the mind and heart -- and most importantly, the souls of men -- in our civilisation.
And, I am saying, in the teeth of the sort of people who would willfully twist scripture like this (as just discussed):
. . . that we need to create a latter-day, C21 College of Adullam's Cave, to equip a new David Generation, to become the greatest generation in the Caribbean's history.
Adullam's Cave?
 |
| Addullam's Cave, where David fled |
The very fact that we don't know this reference shows just how we have been starved for the guidance of the Scriptures. David, at maybe sixteen, had been sent to the battlefront with rations for his big brothers, and walked in just as Goliath showed up for his morning challenge to do a battle of champions, the same as he had done for six weeks. Not a man was willing to take him up, from the king on down. Until the boy too young for the army showed up with lunch for his brothers, a sling shot in his back pocket, and by the power of God, the vision that with lions and bears for breakfast, giants for lunch was no problem. (And BTW, anyone else noticed how the Philistines did not keep their side of the bargain, that the defeated side in the battle of the champions, should submit to the other side? No wonder, 800 years later, the Maccabees warned that the gentiles never keep their promises.)
But that is the story of the morning of quick victory.
No sooner had David beaten Goliath, than the jealous king -- regretting that he had given an opportunity for David to shine -- was scheming to undermine this "threat." So, while he became a general at sixteen, and proved that his victory over the giant was no fluke, there was scheme after scheme, and David literally had to be ducking javelins hurled at him by a jealous, half-mad king.
So, he fled for his life, into the Judaean wilderness and hid in Adullam's Cave. And at this point we read in 1 Sam 22:
1 Sam 22:1 David . . . escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. [NIV]
These four hundred desperate men became the hard core of equipped leaders who -- in the midst of a time of collapsing civilisations of the "first dark age" -- would carry Israel to its finest hour on the stage of world history.
In our time, we are not dependent on writing or typing out a few copies of hard to find news. We are not locked up to going to classrooms and lecture halls staffed by ideological foot-soldiers of the great Western Apostasy that is going on around us.
No, every computer and camera cell-phone wielding citizen can be a journalist.
Journalism is what we DO, not what we have duly anointed credentials that say we are. It is a skilled practice, not a learned profession. So, any reasonably intelligent person who is willing and has enough English to pass, can do it. And, BTW, so is education, i.e. teaching is a practice.
{U/D Jun 30: I am sufficiently moved by outrageous misbehaviour to add a proof of this by sampler, for a media statement -- aim for 250 - 300 words for a release, and for 600 - 750 words for a column or radio talk. The first is about 2 minutes speaking, the second four to five. They could work as a short slot announcement in say a church service, even if the spin-doctors down by the local daily fish wrapper or radio spin zone refuse to publish:
No, every computer and camera cell-phone wielding citizen can be a journalist.
Journalism is what we DO, not what we have duly anointed credentials that say we are. It is a skilled practice, not a learned profession. So, any reasonably intelligent person who is willing and has enough English to pass, can do it. And, BTW, so is education, i.e. teaching is a practice.
{U/D Jun 30: I am sufficiently moved by outrageous misbehaviour to add a proof of this by sampler, for a media statement -- aim for 250 - 300 words for a release, and for 600 - 750 words for a column or radio talk. The first is about 2 minutes speaking, the second four to five. They could work as a short slot announcement in say a church service, even if the spin-doctors down by the local daily fish wrapper or radio spin zone refuse to publish:
MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/EMBARGOED UNTIL DD/MM/YYYY ,TT:TT am/pm
Contact : [name of spokesperson]
Contact Info: [web page or blog etc]
email: name@provider.com (use a throw-away, there are stalkers)
Date: Date
Re: [subject]
CITY, LOCATION, Month, dd, yyyy -- Lead sentence and para, stating a current incident or issue or event on which the statement hangs. It should give who, what where when why how info, in the context of significance to the target audience. Begin , then, with a one to three sentence short paragraph that provides a quick overview of the news-worthy incident or issue and why it is important. It should read easily and make the bridge and body of your statement/commentary to follow sound exciting to a general audience – the intelligent 12 year old.
Next, provide some bridging and background information on the focal topic, and perhaps, the point you are contending for. Give pros and cons, or new info that is pivotal. Highlight apt quotes or the like, to strengthen the points. Draw a conclusion and invite a positive response, explicitly or implicitly. Make sure to write your statement in terms that readers, consumers, your target audience, and the general public will understand. Do not use industry terminology, and provide definitions that readers might not know about or understand.
Your text should explain the purpose, target audience, and benefits of your conclusion and recommendation or invitation to action. It should intrigue the reader to find out more, visit your website, contact you for more information, recommend your key points to a friend, or promote your points to friends, neighbours, co-workers etc.
_______There, we are all journalists now.}
ABOUTThe final paragraph should be a brief description of the author, his or her basis for credibility and the products and services s/he provides. Include a summary of other key views supported, and a brief history if relevant. Also include "For more information, contact: " as the last sentence.
But, the above -- except for the part on the College for the desperate held in Adullam's Cave, professor David presiding -- is not my main focus.
It is time, high time, maybe past time, to take education back; especially first level tertiary education to the Associate degree standard. Hence, the proposed Associate in Arts, concentration in Caribbean Christian Service, with a strong second emphasis on moving on from being consumers of digital technology to being productive with it:
With the accessible web technologies, the pool of educated people, the facilities we already have largely sitting idle in our churches, community centres etc, and some modest development effort, we can create a viable education and training programme as just outlined. One that breaks through the artificial barriers that are holding our people -- especially our youth -- back.
Just think of the cumulative impact of waves of a programme like this, distributed across our region and backed up by the cumulative resources, institutions, facilities and educated people we already have all across the region. (And, if you want to build up people to Masters level, why not let us do a similarly structured micro campus and cyber campus based Masters in Education?)
________
PS, Jun 18: I have updated the title to reflect the cultural struggle aspect of our spiritual war. Let me cite a bit on this:
First, on the worldviews struggle aspect:
2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) [AMP]
Next, Christian ethics of proclamation and persuasion:
2 Cor 4:1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,[a] we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice[b] cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants[c] for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.[ESV]
And of course we cannot omit:
Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. [ESV]
We also set all of this in key context, noting the key method of multiplication of truth:
Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self,[f] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another . . . .
5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. [ESV]
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son,[i] with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. [ESV]1 Peter 3:15 . . . . in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. [ESV]
Spiritual war is in critical part the battle for the transforming, liberating, protective power of truth in the hearts, minds and souls of men. That is why we ought not, dare not, cannot cede the information and education spiritual battle-space to the willing servants and simple dupes of demonic evil.
