#independent thinking

[vintage-tigre]

[aphrodites-child-punk]

'hello Hero'

Six girls'n'guys on the bleakness of the 1990s.

Dreams, wishes, optimism not entirely meant in earnest... and the desire for change. Knowing what is fair; what purpose hierarchies serve; what obedience does to people; that not even idiots need leaders; what it means to be human... and how far away that is. – So says the preface.

World Economic Forum, thoughts on friendship and development, Chiapas, 'fun guerrilla' tactics, a few reviews, the Mapuche, thoughts on being alone amidst classmates, the asylum vote, poems, pacifism, thoughts during shop class, staying cool while slowly dying in a car, trade agreements, thoughts on May Day, school and learning... and the Sion Games bid failed.

[stargazer333]

See? That's why I don't belong to this world, to this reality, cuz I don't quit or give up when things get tougher, or aren't easy... nowadays society would tell me to stop caring, that it's a waste of time, take a painkiller, go numb, switch off your feelings, suppress your emotions and I say no. I freakin care and it's no one's business what I choose to believe in or fight for. Nothing stops you from going for mediocre, but I'm here for the things that are better than that. You can't experience life with wearing your armor forever.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

“And so it seems to me that part of the duty of citizenship is not to be intimidated into conformity, to be skeptical. I wish that the oath of citizenship that you are about to take in the next few minutes included something like, ‘I promise to question everything my leaders tell me.’ That would really be Jeffersonian. I promise to use my critical faculties. I promise to develop my independence of thought. I promise to educate myself so I can make independent judgements.’ And if these statements are not part of the oath, you can nevertheless make such promises. And such promises, it seems to me, would be a gift that you can make your country.”

- July 4, 1992 Carl Sagan speaks at Monticello’s July 4th Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony

[phireco]

Why I think that voting is pointless. Vote with your dollar. Stop buying from Amazon and Walmart. And take the time that you spend trolling the internet to put out intellectual writing for others to absorb, instead of memes, that provide a unique point of view. We can't all possibly think either point A or point B is right. That motion is completely ridiculous if you have any respect for probability and math. The people that are running do not represent us and we have been stupid enough as a citizenry to put them back in office again and again.

I've been to over 20 countries and traveled all over this world and seeing all different ways of living it I'll tell you what, we are looking less and less like one of the Premier places to live. I give it 20 years before I would like the places I've been in Southeast Asia where you look to your left and right on the bus, and you see a goat in a chicken. There's already more tents in the major American cities than there are good jobs. God forbid the Democrats or the Republicans have a solution. The Republicans have the same man running in his third consecutive presidential election representing half of the country. The Democrats have a ANOTHER First time nominee that no one thinks is the best their party has to offer.

So I'm not even going to blame the awful selection of people that represent us. I'm going to blame the idiots that register Democrat and Republican which make up the vast majority of this country. All of you are willing to make up your mind on an issue before you even hear it based on which party is arguing in the issue's favor. Anyone who makes up their mind before they hear an issue is a moron. And our country, in both parties, is chock full of moron!

It’s not the politicians we should criticize anymore. Consider how they pander to people whose interests they consistently neglect. They represent none of their true needs, yet still, half of the population admires them while the other half despises them. The opposing figures experience the same divided loyalty—this cycle is fundamentally flawed.

The blame doesn’t lie solely with the politicians; it rests on us. We should have demanded better a long time ago, even rising up for change. It’s not the politicians who are at fault; it’s the public that deserves scrutiny. Let go of hope for a moment.

If the politicians were truly the sole problem, where are the bright and principled individuals who should be stepping up to lead this nation with integrity? In truth, we seem to lack such visionary leaders in our society. Most people appear consumed by trivialities, distracted in shopping malls rather than engaging with the critical issues we face. For my part, I’ve accepted a personal resolution: on election day, I stay home. I do not vote. My reasons are twofold.

First, voting feels meaningless. This country was bought and sold long ago. What transpires every four years is simply a reshuffling of the same rhetoric.

Secondly, I’ve come to believe that those who vote relinquish their right to complain. Others often suggest that abstaining from voting strips one of that very right—a notion I reject. Where's the logic in that? If you cast your ballot and elect dishonest and incompetent leaders who mismanage the country, then you shoulder the responsibility for their actions. You bear the weight of our current state, the dismal future we hand our children, and the decline in intellectual capability that increasingly permeates society.

I, having not participated in the electoral game—staying home on election day—hold no responsibility for the choices made by those in power. I know that shortly, there will be an exciting election that many seem to relish. I’ll be at home that day, doing very little, but I know one thing: the only difference between me and the people that vote is that I'll actually produce something that represents my interests, even if in a small way.

I don’t vote. I see through the charade. It's a diversions that distract us from the journey of intellectual growth. When confronted with the issues of low intelligence and poor decision-making, people often leap to the conclusion that education is the remedy. They call for more funding—more books, teachers, classrooms—believing more resources will solve everything. Yet when we point out that despite these efforts, children continue to struggle academically, the response is often to lower standards instead. This results in a temporary boost in passing rates, making the school look good while the national IQ quietly declines. Before long, gaining access to college might just require possessing a pencil, and understanding the complexities of the end that writes versus the end that erases.

And then we scratch our heads, wondering why 24 countries produce more scientists than we do. We wonder why we are no longer in the top 25 and overall quality of education. Barely the best in this continent. We're just one slot above Mexico.

Politicians know how to wield the word “education,” and they often shield themselves behind three pillars: the flag, the Bible, and children. They tout programs like “No Child Left Behind,” yet it wasn’t long ago they were advocating for a “head start.” Are children gaining ground or losing it?

There is a fundamental reason why education falters, and it's not going to improve. Don’t expect a miracle; accept the reality as it is. The true owners of this country—wealthy business interests that orchestrate decisions and maintain control—are not interested in an educated populace capable of critical thinking. They benefit from a workforce obedient enough to follow orders, yet just intelligent enough to operate machinery and handle paperwork but not to challenge the deteriorating quality of their jobs, benefits, hours, or retirement security.

They have their sights set on your social security funds, too, seeking to reclaim that money to line the pockets of their Wall Street allies. They will achieve this eventually because they own everything—your future, your choices.

This is a vast, intertwined club, and neither you nor I are included. It’s a club that beats its members over the head with messages on what to believe and consume. The playing field is uneven; the game is rigged, and it appears that few notice or care.

Good, honest people from every walk of life—whether blue-collar or white-collar—continue to elect wealthy figures indifferent to their plight. The owners count on this ignorance, banking on the fact that Americans remain blissfully unaware of the injustices they tolerate.

The truth is simple: the American Dream exists because you must be asleep to believe in it.

When the terrorists attacked our country on September 11th 2001, we United as one and vowrd to never forget. Never in a million years did I think that's what we actually met was that, we're going to commemorate the anniversary of the year but they will accomplish their goal and destroy America and everything it stands for by knocking down a few buildings and killing a couple thousand people. Are teenagers have killed more since with guns. And don't mistake me. I'm not downplaying that tragedy. I'm saying that the terrorists knew what they are doing and we are playing right into their hands by standing here divided. Check out my video if you want to flash back to hell it felt To be an American in the weeks following that awful day.

[lancely-blog]

When Justice Becomes Dogma: The Cult of Moral Absolutism on Both Sides

All text copyrighted ©️ 2025 by Lancer Gareth Bailey

Author’s Note:

So many of us—smart, thoughtful, empathetic people—find ourselves keeping quiet these days, not because we don’t care or have nothing to say, but because we’re afraid of being misunderstood, misquoted, or mobbed for being honest. It’s a sad reality, but that’s not how free expression or meaningful progress is supposed to work.

What I’ve come to realize is that this fear is part of a much bigger issue:

• The loudest voices aren’t always the most thoughtful.

• Nuance doesn’t go viral. Outrage does.

• People are quicker to label than to listen.

But here’s the hard truth: If everyone who thinks deeply about these issues stays silent, the extremes win by default. They dominate the narrative while the middle ground erodes. The only way to change this is by speaking out, even when it feels risky or uncomfortable.

I don’t have all the answers, and I’m certainly not trying to provoke or stir things up for the sake of it. I’m just trying to use my voice—carefully, respectfully, and honestly. And I think that’s more necessary now than ever.

____________________________________________

In today’s hyper-polarized political climate, calling the other side a “cult” has become almost reflexive. Progressives often point to the MAGA movement and say, “Look at them—blind loyalty to one man, refusal to accept facts, demonization of outsiders. It’s a cult.” And in many ways, they’re right. The MAGA movement has undeniably fostered a kind of fervent, unquestioning loyalty that feels more like religious devotion than political support.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: some activist spaces on the progressive left are not much better.

This isn’t a defense of MAGA, nor is it an attack on liberal values (many of which I passionately support). It’s a recognition of a dangerous pattern that’s emerging on both ends of the spectrum—and especially within movements that claim to champion empathy, tolerance, and inclusion. Because while those ideals sound noble in theory, in practice they’re often replaced by performative morality, rigid dogma, and social control.

Let’s start with the most basic contradiction: many people who identify as “woke” claim to value inclusivity, yet practice ideological exclusion. If you deviate from the accepted narrative—even slightly—or if you admit confusion or uncertainty about a sensitive issue, you’re labeled problematic. There’s no room for error, no tolerance for disagreement, no grace for learning. One wrong word and you’re out.

That core contradiction—the gap between professed inclusivity and practiced exclusivity—is virtue signaling taken to an extreme. Another name for this type of hypocrisy is performative morality: a public display of values without private commitment or sacrifice. It’s the person posting about saving a library they’ve never once visited. It’s the person who posts a black square on Instagram for #BlackoutTuesday, then returns to their regular content without further engagement in racial justice issues. It’s the influencer hashtagging #BLM or #FreePalestine from a luxury resort without offering any material support for the cause.

And perhaps nowhere is this performative morality more visible than among young, progressive voters, who are often highly vocal online but notably absent at the ballot box. Passionate and idealistic, yes—but frequently disengaged from the slow, tedious mechanisms of real change. They’re disillusioned by the system, unimpressed by moderate candidates, and often unwilling to support someone unless that person reflects their beliefs 100%.

But politics is not religion. It’s not supposed to be about purity. It’s about compromise, strategy, and incremental wins. Adults vote for the lesser evil because they understand that moving the needle slightly forward is better than letting it snap backward. Expecting a candidate to embody every personal belief before supporting them isn’t just idealistic—it’s politically immature. It’s like refusing to take antibiotics unless they come in your favorite flavor. The infection doesn’t wait for your palate to be satisfied.

This refusal to engage with compromise or imperfection creates a culture where ideological purity is the only currency, and any deviation is punished with moral condemnation. That, in turn, breeds groupthink, social pressure, and even fear. It leads to performative expressions of solidarity—retweets, hashtags, aesthetic posts—rather than meaningful action. It demands total allegiance to the movement’s latest values or vocabulary. And if you fall behind—even unintentionally—you’re no longer “one of us.”

At some point, you have to ask: isn’t that kind of behavior cult-like?

Let’s break it down.

Cults often exhibit moral absolutism (“You’re either with us or against us”), punishment for dissent (shaming, ostracization, cancellation), insider language as a gatekeeping tool, rigid social hierarchies based on devotion, an us-vs-them mentality, suppression of doubt or discussion, and blind loyalty to a central figure or idea.

Sound familiar?

Because these same patterns are visible in both MAGA and certain woke circles. One side wears red hats and chants slogans. The other shares infographics and cancels anyone who asks too many questions. Different aesthetics—same psychological structure.

Both claim to be fighting oppression. Both speak the language of righteousness. And both end up creating systems that reward conformity over thought, allegiance over curiosity, purity over pragmatism.

What’s most tragic is that these movements often start from a place of real pain and real purpose. Marginalized voices deserve platforms. Racial and economic injustice are real. LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, healthcare inequality—these are not fringe concerns. They’re urgent. They matter. And yet, when the pursuit of justice becomes indistinguishable from the demand for ideological obedience, the cause loses its heart. It becomes about optics. About clout. About punishing the imperfect instead of persuading the unsure.

Ultimately, movements that demand total purity will cannibalize themselves. They turn potential allies into enemies. They alienate moderates. They reject compromise. They lose elections. They sabotage progress.

Real progress doesn’t require cult loyalty. It requires critical thinking, compassion, and humility. It means being able to say, “I believe in this, but I’m still learning.” It means showing up to vote even when the candidate isn’t perfect. It means listening to people who disagree—not to “own” them—but to understand them.

We don’t need more cults.

We need more citizens—independent thinkers with moral courage and open minds.

Maybe—just maybe—it’s time to stop pointing fingers at “them” and start asking what parts of the problem we’re silently upholding ourselves.

[pratchettquotes]

"They call you sir," said Angua. "Did you notice that?"

"I know. It's not right. People ought to think for themselves, Captain Vimes says. The problem is, people only think for themselves if you tell them to."

Terry Pratchett, Men At Arms

[simplicius-simplicissimus]

Spain 1935 - one year before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War: The young teacher Antoni Benaiges takes over the school in a small village in the province of Burgos. Thanks to his unconventional teaching methodolgy, he quickly builds a trusting relationship with his pupils. The applied methodology (based on French educator Célestin Freinet) involves producing a series of little publications or 'notebooks' in the form of drawings and texts made with a small printing press by the school's pupils, and which reflect how they perceive and understand the world. It is a way that enables the pupils to express, grasp, see and touch everything they learn.

The boys and girls of the village have never seen the sea, and in the following year the teacher ask them to imagine it and describe it. The result is the notebook „The sea. The view of children who have never ever seen it“. The teacher promises to take the boys and girls to see the sea that summer, and to visit his family home at the sea (Tarragona). But while he is planning his pupils’ trip to his hometown, he gets arrested, tortured and executed by Franco's fascists.

Comment: Alongside parents, teachers are probably the most influential people in the lives of young people. At the very least, they impart elementary knowledge for life. At the very best, they open up completely new perspectives, ways of thinking, possibilities - and fuel the mind, self-confidence and the development of one's own identity.

The focus of the film is not on the Spanish Civil War, but rather on the values ​​- in this case the education sector - that were destroyed by Franco’s military coup in 1936. And the focus is on the people who brought these values ​​into society before their lives were wiped out. Hundreds of thousands of them were buried in mass graves. Many of these mass graves have been dug up in recent decades in Spain. This is the way the Spanish are coming to terms with this dark time.

The movie is based on the true story of Antoni Benaiges. It’s important to tell such stories - especially in today's times when right-wing ideas are becoming socially accepted again. One of those films where you need a few minutes at the end to collect yourself.