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15 minutes of shame,
by spot Tuesday, Jun 19 2012, 2:42pm
international / social/political / opinion/analysis

a life lived in quiet desperation, or ...

In 1968 Andy Warhol coined the phrase, "... everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes!"

lapitupjulian.jpg

This clearly laughable and impossible suggestion/statement was nevertheless taken to heart by future generations until we inherited mass disunity and a society known for its narcissism and selfishness. The hedonistic, "it's all about me," generation of today has led to the complete indifference to the suffering of 'others' and the inability of society to adequately respond to major social injustices and State crime.

Today, media induced 'postage stamp' concentration levels and the limited 24-hour social memory span has allowed for heinous crimes and glaring injustices to plague the WORLD.

The pathetic existences most people live today are tolerated for no good reason, but that is the price we pay for our voluntary alienation and social disunity borne of selfishness -- the brazen frauds and crimes committed by the executive class today go unpunished as a result. What is tolerated today would have sparked GLOBAL revolution yesterday.

The socially powerless "me" generation is acutely aware that as selfish 'individuals' they are unable to achieve any lasting social change or hold the unified, co-operating criminal cabals to account for their criminal actions.

It seems that the possibility of establishing some form of social cohesion over a just cause is very remote. Social unity has all but been relegated to history.

Perhaps Warhol was poking fun at the pathetic and truly MEDIOCRE lives most people live when he made that ludicrous statement, but no-one really knows. However, as absurd as it was it took root in the collective cultural unconscious and manifests today as social paralysis in the face of State and white collar crime. Think for a moment and ask yourself why the vast majority of people tolerate the HUGE wealth disparities that exist today; or allow themselves to be subject to draconian new 'laws' legislated by bought and corrupt law makers/politicians?

The mediocre existences that people lived in the 60's were heroically transformed by a redeeming social principle that prevailed at the time; people were community and socially oriented, people tended to seek strength in groups; like-minded people came together almost spontaneously when issues confronted society; disparate groups formed into dynamic mass social movements against a common enemy, a faltering and thoroughly corrupt State apparatus. Opposition to the status quo was an everyday reality and the tenure of the criminal ruling elite was under severe threat at the time.

So what's it to be, 15 minutes of shame and a lifetime of mediocrity or the removal of the corrupt ruling executive from power? Indeed, we are assured of fame when we work together and seek to establish policies for the common good. Undertaking such actions is its own reward; nevertheless, pursuing just causes is certainly preferable to a life of social repression and demeaning mediocrity.

The remote possibility of 'personal' fame continues to be offered today by a cunning ruling elite; it compensates the mediocre and feeds their illusions; however, personal fame remains an unattainable goal for the vast majority, but keep at it while you continue to be shafted on a daily basis -- dumb donkeys chasing carrots.

And for those who manage -- at GREAT cost to others -- to get their picture on the cover of TIME magazine, they can always seek asylum in Ecuador, after the millions of dollars in public contributions (meant to support WikiLeaks) have been exhausted on parasitic and useless legal fees for Assange. But it is "all about me," after all!

Banksy
Banksy


 
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