What is Colonialism?

[American Dream]

Whiteness is a socially constructed phenomenon rather than a case of inherent evil and it is the institutional factors that are most important in understanding what it means today.

Correct.

Next question.

Who is creating such institutions?

You argue that whiteness is unquestionably a socially constructed phenomenon, and youre probably right. therefore, surely we need to focus more explicitly on those who are currently constructing this phenomenon - following the example of Constantine of Rome.

What in your opinion has created this state of affairs? For all your knowledge of the exoteric, you appear to possess a disturbing naievety to the way this has all played out for the best part of 5000 years or so now -

A good starting point for you AD, might be a closer examination of the players who have meticulously constructed such institutions. What you will of course discover is that the Constantines of Rome of our civilisation - The honorable white dude, worshipped and adored amidst the eternally fooled have been crafting these kinds of institutions for as long as you and I have been here.

Divide, conquer, murder, rape, torture, steal, lie, corrupt, subjugate - just name your own destructive term of reference- these disturbed people hold all the aces in any such department. This is colonialism personified

And it needs to change. And we need to change it. And we can.

But you wont do that by pretending that such people dont exist, very much and strictly within this 5 sense reality tunnel, if you prefer to keep it so real.

Because they do.

Sure, to a certain degree the individuals who make up the social ecology, but not without a spotlight on Hierarchy, Capitalism, Patriarchy, Authority, Settler Colonialism, Fascism, White Supremacy and all the rest of the forces that help frame and structuree individual agency.

If and when you buy into "Bad Apple Theory" to the exclusion of a clear understanding of these factors, you make yourself vulnerable to manipulation from reactionary/far right conspirators, who have been playing this game for a long, long time.

At that point, you've surely lost the plot and are a part of the problem more than the solution, even though you may think you know who all the bad guys are...

[slimmouse]

Sure, to a certain degree the individuals who make up the social ecology, but not without a spotlight on Hierarchy, Capitalism, Patriarchy, Authority, Settler Colonialism, Fascism, White Supremacy and all the rest of the forces that help frame and structuree individual agency...

AD. The people Im talking about have themselves created the very frames of reference that you repeatedly appear to be making excuses for them for.

[American Dream]

See my further comments above, added on edit.

[slimmouse]

See my further comments above, added on edit.

Yep. Ive just read them, and my critique is actually even more applicable now.

You are free to do as you will, but I refuse to make excuses for these people.

Edit.

I should add that I seek no kind of retribution. Who the fuck am I to judge others? Ive got my own issues to deal with first.

Civilisationaly however , I just want it to stop.

[American Dream]

In my opinion, when you posit a conspiracy by a small group of rich and powerful people as being the prime cause behind everything- (especially when this putative cabal corresponds to the traditional boogiemen of bigoted reactionaries)- and set this off as diametrically opposed to an institutional analysis, you create a false dichotomy.

And therefore, miss the boat entirely.

[coffin_dodger]

[Searcher08]

In my opinion, when you posit a conspiracy by a small group of rich and powerful people as being the prime cause behind everything- (especially when this putative cabal corresponds to the traditional boogiemen of bigoted reactionaries)- and set this off as diametrically opposed to an institutional analysis, you create a false dichotomy.

And therefore, miss the boat entirely.

WOuld it not also be true, that if one plays down the effects of a small group of rich and powerful people, that this plays into the hands of those bigoted reactionaries?

I came across a case of this just a couple of days ago, when there was a Youtube video screaming "Rothschilds Exposed!" - yet showing an Antony Sutton video. Buried in the Alex Jones style comments were two things

First a comment that said "Tony Sutton did not mention them once in this video"
Second a comment that provided a link to a PDF of Sutton's book on the Wall Street funding of the Russian Revolution.

I searched the PDF for Rothschilds and there were NO entries.
In fact, he actually had an appendix where he forensically went into the whole question of "Jewish Bankers and the Bolsheviks" and demolished it.

There was NO evidence of any form of major involvement, AND there was EXTENSIVE documented evidence of Wall Street Banks (ie East Coast WASP) as being a driving financial force behind it.

If you want to look at the problem that YT thread illustrates it all. A great, neutral, forensic researcher is misrepresented; some people will listen to Sutton's video and think it relates to the Rothschild headline when it does no such thing. Some small voices painting a very different story in plain sight.

I worry about the current incarnation of that group, especially when the shift from business capitalism to finance capitalism has concentrated resources (and is continuing to do so) in alarming ways.

Do you know what I have found out after all the time I have researched the Rothschilds? A fascinating family in the UK especially - they were wannabe Toffs, whose power is much more from their class and being in the centre of the UK establishment, but a family much more similar to "Dallas" than anything else and just as human and fucked-up as most other out of touch, coddled, aristo families.

[American Dream]

I can't ignore the elephant in the room: Searcher, what exactly did you report me for? And was getting me suspended for two weeks the outcome you were seeking?

[82_28]

Water under the bridge guys. I didn't realize you'd been suspended AD. I have no idea how that shit works even though I am friends with one of the mods. I guess I kinda do understand, but whatever. Just carry on and don't get into arguments -- to all. Seems like a pretty good rule of thumb in any phase of life. When I was young I had this girlfriend while I was a total hot-head and she told me to "just let it roll like water off a duck's back". It took a good 10-15 years for all that shit to sink in. "The shit" was the truth of the matter. Care about the shit that matters. The Internet has hastened the level in which we can respond in ways that ignore the circumspection we have been raised with. An example is this "bullying" mode and how serious it is. I was fucking bullied myself, but advice was taken to never stand down. This written by someone who has scraped by in life having never struck another (I once threw a tennis ball at my old dog just to see if I could hit him while he was running around the yard) but has been able to get out of any situation just by standing the fuck up to them, shaking hands and then that was it.

In fact when it comes to anything anyone posts here, I welcome it. I'll take you down as long as you have a thread of honesty to realize your agenda. If not, well then, I can go both ways. I ain't no ninja, but all assembled seem to be standup people and arguments are stupid. Discussions are for everyone.

It would be kinda fun to invite a resident racist or abuser or some kind of right wing idiot here. Just to document the proceedings. We couldn't get "pissed", but would have to "welcome" him and get him/her to spill their beans. Maybe I could do that with Early Clues, but I don't know.

Like a classified ad of "Looking for local and lovable racist". Eh, I don't know. Just thinking out loud. . .

[Searcher08]

I can't ignore the elephant in the room: Searcher, what exactly did you report me for? And was getting me suspended for two weeks the outcome you were seeking?

82, I read your post and would be grateful for your thoughts on my reply, as you are a pretty neutral, very empathic person.

I want to be honest AND I don't want to add to bad feeling AND I don't want bad behaviour AND want to see constructive stuff.

Does my response here measure up? If not, what is missing?

If I approach this from a position of my personal experiences:
This is just AD doing yet more gaming and manipulation - why ask me about this NOW? and HERE?
Why not via PM?

If I approach it from my feelings:
I wish you had just replied to my post first. When I share an experience and thoughts that are meant to be really focused and relevant to your thread and get ignored, it can feel like offering a handshake and the other person walking away.

If I approach it with a positive intent:
AD, if you want to talk about that subject, would you like to do it via PM? Or another thread? Or Skype?!

[American Dream]

If there is a difference of perspective, let it be honestly and openly aired here. I want this to be out here in the public as you cited a rule I wasn't clear about at all, Searcher. If I was caught by surprise by your charge of rule-breaking against me, it sounds like we're not at all on the same page here. We of course need to be, if we are all to support the same guidelines and to exist as a (relatively) functional community together.

[seemslikeadream]

are we talking about you mentioning a name that is not supposed to be mentioned here?

you know exactly why you were suspended ...don't be coy AD it's really not your style is it?

let's be honest here

[American Dream]

Did we we all know this was established as a "rule"? If so, how?

Please be specific.

[seemslikeadream]

how about this unspoken/really not a rule that I have lived by because of you

just to keep peace on this board I have censored myself because of you not because of an official rule ...you could do the same

you are way smart enough to know what we are talking about ..

[American Dream]

So maybe there is no "rule" commonly shared and understood by all of us here?