From: Ant McWatt (antmcwatt@hotmail.co.uk)
Date: Sun Jan 16 2005 - 21:37:51 GMT
Matt Poot stated January 16th:
>For quite some time, I have disagreed with Platt on many different
>occasions, and have for some time sat out of discussions here at MOQ.org .
>This issue concerns me greatly, because I feel that if I can not somehow
>shed light into the mind of Platt, than I will forever be barred from
>making progress in the world around me, as there are many of like mind.
Dear Poot,
Yes, it’s an interesting issue why some people remain a part of the “docile
masses” (as Bill Hicks would say) and some people (often from a similar
background) develop a critical mind. As Gavin Gee-Clough mentioned earlier:
“the individual has to participate in [the] oppressive version of reality
for the control to work [though] unplug from the ‘matrix’ and you become
free.”
I was fortunate to have a grandfather (he’s the person dedicated in the
hardbound copies of my PhD) who told me (when I was a teenager) to question
everything including everything he told me and especially what teachers,
lecturers, politicians and religious principals said. As I’m sure Robert
Pirsig would confirm I have never stopped questioning the thought and
motives behind his philosophy. So even with the MOQ – I have never taken
anything for granted.
At the same time, I started to listen to groups such as the Beatles who
encouraged independent thought. For instance, note what George Harrison
(the writer of “Think For Yourself”) states on the penultimate page of the
Beatles Anthology book:
“I think we gave hope to the Beatles fans. We gave them a positive feeling
that there…. was a good time to be had and that you are your own person and
that the government doesn’t own you. There were those kind of messages in a
lot of our songs.”
And note Paul McCartney’s very final statement about the group on the
Anthology’s final page:
“I’m really glad that most of the songs dealt with love, peace,
understanding… It’s all very all you need is love and John’s give peace a
chance. There was a good spirit behind it all which I’m very proud of.”
Largely thanks to these influences, I then studied sociology at University
which further questioned the rhetoric of many social systems such as
government, institutionalised religion and the media. As value issues (such
as who defines the truth and the parameters of acceptable thought) seemed an
underlying common theme in these different areas, I then studied philosophy
to understand values further. And, of course, genuine philosophy takes
questioning to a new level e.g. am I dreaming, are the people round me just
computer programs, can we know anything for sure, what is the point of
existence, does it have any meaning etc.
Along part of the way, I also saw Bill Hicks on TV. The first comedian who
actually seemed to know anything about politics and the immense bullshit
that the average person in the West is fed by their schooling, media and
parents. Despite all his vitriol and sarcasm, at the end of his shows,
Hicks would always mention that we all have one basic choice – the choice
between love and fear. I’ve come to realise that this choice relates
closely to the perennial philosophy promoted by Pirsig and other mystics
throughout the ages. Love (or Quality as Pirsig usually terms it) is the
only reality, the only constitution, the only truth. Everything else is
just minor details. As David Buchanan stated earlier today “the perennial
philosophy is a real life saver. It’s all about making life better.”
So, though Platt occasionally tries the patience, I wouldn’t get too worried
about his more controversial statements. Even with all the negative social
conditioning that he’s gone through, despite all the demons that run amok in
our pulpits, TVs and newspapers, he still realises (though it is never
advertised on TV or mentioned by a politician) that there is something of
high quality in the perennial philosophy that the MOQ advocates. That’s one
for the angels and a poke in the eye for the demons. In the long run (with
a little help from their friends, of course) love and truth conquers all.
Best wishes,
Anthony.
P.S. btw, that was a really good e-mail on public health care.
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