What do I think? I think you are a genius!!! Excellent work - I knew I should have stayed in college for something!
Bill Roh
James Veverka wrote:
> UTism:
> A Geneticly Based Level 2 Xenophobic
> Memeplex
>
> Originally, in humankind's evolution, xenophobia was a winning survival
> strategy. Encoded in our genetic make-up, xenophobia probably uses the
> same neural pathways as those for facial recognition, which bonded
> parents with children and cemented small tribal communities together.
>
> UTism as xenophobia was useful in that territory, mates, children, and
> the natural resources of the community had an innate and nearly
> instantaneous protection against a poosible threat, the "different
> face". This face could well mean the death of the community.
>
> For thousands of generations this has served the tribal communities of
> this planet in a beneficial manner. But as the population has risen and
> civilization has evolved, people of different ethnic and religious
> heritages have clashed with results that exceed the original survival
> advantage of xenophobia. So, at the same time as cultures were evolving,
> we have witnessed an evolution of UTism to fit the culture.
>
> UTism is seen mostly within ethnic and religious based territorial
> conflicts. Family taboos against marrying outside of your race or
> religion are UTisms on a community level. Socioeconomic levels also have
> their unspoken UTisms. It is found within the political, scientific and
> religious debates within a stable community. People have a propensity to
> divide according to differences instead of uniting based upon
> similarities.
>
> Modern day UTism has found its place in our technological society.
> UTism seems to use every avenue possble to spread its memeplexes. It
> would seem that the press, the pundits and the politicians have enhanced
> and exacerbated UTism through every sort of information medium
> available. By way of intense scrutiny and criticism, through naive and
> blind praise and worship; with demagogery and damnation they have
> partitioned our leaders and ourselves according to their own divisive
> doctrines of UTism.
>
> Every cause or set of beliefs has leaders. These leaders are portrayed
> in such a fashion as to distorted and caricature all the groups and
> individuals associated with the cause. Not only are intimate followers
> of a cause caricatured, but some groups only remotely related are also.
> But it all boils down to a xenophobic foundation of an US against THEM
> platform. Everyone is neatly compartmentalized into this absolutist
> perception presented by the experts and the leaders. Everyone is
> pidgeonholed. Anyone pragmatic is considered lukewarm and has no spine.
>
> Are all christians fundies?
> Are all feminists radical?
> Are all Republicans gun-loco and pro-life?
> Are all Muslims radical Islamics?
> Are all Democrats socialists?
> Are all Protestants like Bob Barr?
> Are all Environmentalists chicken-littles?
> Are all prisoners dangerous and immoral?
> On and on it can go with UTist generalizations.
>
> In the present day environs of modern democracies, political and social
> discourses boldly insinuate UTism into the issues at hand. This is
> always put forth in terms of expedient and compulsory demands for
> decisive actions made in terms of FOR or AGAINST. Every issue has the
> voice of chicken-little and the need for a rush to judgement.
> Pragmatism and practicality are not given a voice because they dont fit
> into the scheme of OPPOSITES. A very good example is the CNN show,
> "Crossfire" which seems to speak for two small minorities in the more
> extreme wings of politics and society.
>
> There is a thriving business in self-replicating polarizations and
> positional absolutism in both social and political war zones. No leader
> dares budge for fear of losing the power in the magnetism associated
> with the polarization. Or for fear of losing votes if one does not
> adhere to the unequivocal clarity of the absolutist position. Citizens
> can then cling easily to these simplistic UTist polarizations and
> satisfy the need to belong to an ideological US opposing THEM.
>
> The oversimplification and generalizations of UTism that once protected
> a community have now become a primary danger to the overall stabilty and
> prosperity of society. We must realize this and reject it.
>
> ****************************************************
> Well, fellow virians, what do you think?
> ....................jim