The empire doesn’t get enough credit for propagandizing us into arguing with each other about whether our expensive new multifront cold war should prioritize escalations against Russia or China, instead of whether that cold war should occur at all. Truly a masterful manipulation.
❖
Opposing US imperialism shouldn’t be about ideology. It shouldn’t matter if you’re a communist or an anarchist or libertarian or whatever; murder is murder, and the US is the most murderous regime in the world. Principled people oppose its murderousness regardless of ideology.
It’s offensive how often people assume your opposition to US imperialism has something to do with the government it happens to be targeting today. When they’re ramping up against China you’re a commie, when it’s Russia you’re a Trumper. No, I just oppose the worst actions of the worst government on earth.
If you only oppose imperialist warmongering against capitalist countries because you are a capitalist, then guess what? You’re a dick. Same if you only oppose imperialist warmongering against communist countries because you’re a communist. It’s not okay to murder anyone, asshole.
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A government that is currently bombing other countries is worse than a government that isn’t. For fuck’s sake. For FUCK’S SAKE. How is this not extremely obvious to everyone??
So much propaganda has gone into manipulating westerners into believing that dropping explosives on human beings is fine and normal. People fail to recognize the horror solely because they’ve been propagandized in such a way that they don’t think too hard about what bombs are.
If people just had a really conscious understanding of what bombs do to human anatomy, how it’s impossible to prevent civilian deaths in bombings, and how bombs are actually being used in our world today, that alone would kill all public belief in the US empire’s moral authority.
Joe Biden kills kids.https://t.co/9kdvUvf8Wg
— Caitlin Johnstone (@caitoz) April 2, 2021
It’s stupid how often imperialists bleat the terms “whataboutism” and “false equivalency” in defense of US imperialism when the US empire is far worse than any government it targets. Yes, the US is not equivalent to empire-targeted nations; it’s far, far more violent and brutish.
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“I oppose all governments, not just the US government.”
If your opposition does not account for and reflect the fact that the US government is orders of magnitude more violent and destructive than any other government, you support the US government.
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The US empire is indisputably far more violent, thuggish and destructive than any of the governments it targets, and the aggressions of empire-targeted governments are usually a response to US imperialist aggression. Commentary on international dynamics should reflect this fact.
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“Why do you only criticize the US and its allies? There are other bad governments you know.”
“Why do you only focus on the fact that your house is on fire? There are other problems with your house besides fire you know. Like, the decorating is bad. And the paint is chipping.”
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You couldn’t ask for a better illustration of the way our minds are dominated by narrative than the fact that most politically minded Americans sincerely believe there’s been a major change in their country since January. Only the narratives changed, but they think reality did.
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Childish idealists say we should move away from the systems that are killing our planet and pushing us toward nuclear war. Smart realists say we should keep destroying our ecosystem for as long as it’s profitable and when it’s gone we’ll just fly up to space and frolic among the stars.
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The so-called liberal world order is a planetary status quo of nonstop murderous imperialism, exploitative neoliberalism and ecocidal capitalism running underneath a propaganda soundtrack babbling endlessly about how everything is fine and it’s going to get better any minute now.
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In liberal free democracies you’re allowed to think, speak and vote however you want, but they train you how to think, speak and vote from birth, and they keep on training you until the day you die.
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How to be a millionaire media pundit:
- Never have any idea what the fuck you are talking about.
- Be consistently wrong about everything.
- Never admit when you’ve been proven wrong.
- Only tell the truth when it serves power.
- Never feature leftist or anti-imperialist guests.
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Believing that mainstream perspectives are mainstream because they are better is as silly as believing mainstream music or movies are mainstream because they are better.
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The credibility of US government agencies was so damaged by Iraq that all interventionist agendas since have relied on consent manufacturing from much more diverse sources; foreign governments, “independent” NGOs, “independent” narrative management firms like Bellingcat, etc.
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At this point the labels “Russian bot”, “CCP propagandist”, “Assadist”, “conspiracy theorist”, “tankie” and “genocide/atrocity denier” all mean the same thing: “This person is disputing key imperialist narratives and the narrative management team would like you to ignore them”.
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If you think the anti-China hysteria is bad now, wait til the propaganda campaign really gets going. It hasn’t even started yet. It’s going to get so much worse.
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Condemning anti-Asian hate without condemning anti-China imperialist propaganda is supporting anti-Asian hate.
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It sure was nice of China to start doing a bunch of evil things right when the US empire began ramping up its escalations against Beijing to prevent the upending of the unipolar world order.
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Right wingers freaking out about China live in such tightly insulated echo chambers that most of them don’t even realize they’re parroting the CNN/Biden line.
Every US Secretary of State is a literal psychopath. It's part of the job description. https://t.co/InyvFW9KM5
— Caitlin Johnstone (@caitoz) March 30, 2021
The idea of land ownership wigs me out. Oh, you own it? Who said? God? Get the fuck outta here Doug, you don’t own shit.
You have a piece of paper whose fragile legality rests on the pillaging of pirates stealing land by force only a few hundred years ago, and now you reckon you can throw me out of my home because I can’t send you enough game points to your little bank app there? How about no.
❖
So many secretly yearn for a direct experience of the divine while adamantly refusing to consider the possibility that they are already currently having one.
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Spirituality, inner work, awareness of abusive dynamics, class consciousness, peace activism and revolution are all the same thing. They’re all an expansion of awareness into parts of humanity that have been lacking in consciousness, whether they’re in yourself or in the world.
It’s all about making the unseen seen, whether that be internal dynamics within yourself which cause suffering or large-scale dynamics out in the world which cause suffering. Clear seeing and dysfunction cannot coexist, whether you’re talking about war, racism or substance abuse.
Bringing consciousness to your inner childhood trauma is the same as bringing consciousness to the reality of imperialist propaganda. Bringing consciousness to your true nature is the same as bringing consciousness to economic injustice. It’s all the same expansion of awareness.
Nobody owns this. Nobody has mastered this. No one person on earth sees all dynamics in themselves and all dynamics in the world. We’re all endarkened in some ways, trying to make things more enlightened in more ways. We’re all part of a collective expansion of consciousness.
We’re all part of this movement from unseeing to seeing, whether we realize it or not. We’re either working to bring things into the light of truth, or we’re fighting to keep things hidden, or a little from both columns A and B depending on what we’ve got going on. Choose seeing.
____________________________
New book: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix.
The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for at my website or on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking me on Facebook, following my antics on Twitter, or throwing some money into my tip jar on Ko-fi, Patreon or Paypal. If you want to read more you can buy my books. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what I’m trying to do with this platform, click here. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish, use or translate any part of this work (or anything else I’ve written) in any way they like free of charge.
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26 responses to “Opposing US Imperialism Shouldn’t Depend On Ideology: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix”
Is the fecklessness of the American public solely or even mostly a product of belief induced by propaganda?
My view: propaganda simply reminds each of us that this is the narrative you must accept to enjoy whatever dog-ends of neo-liberalism the empire throws you.
While many do, most do not actually believe the endless BS. Rather, most understand that they must behave as if they do.
Most do believe that there is no economic, social, political, or cultural benefit in smashing the idols.
But what of spiritual benefit? Do not speak of spirituality. In the West, it died with God.
I don’t care if Caitlin swears because it reflects my own sentiments. People are tired of the shit and yes, that’s what it is. If ever there was morphic resonance, Caitlin and I share it as does a growing number of people that have grown a brain stem.
poor sad old incompetent, fart-bag US Empire.
If it prioritises China as the enemy, Russia is the supreme winner, China succeeds, USA implodes.
If it prioritises China as the enemy, China is the supreme winner, Russia succeeds, USA implodes.
This rings true to me. I said to my daughter not too long ago. When will we start caring about the kids in Yemen and Syria. I told her – that is the elephant in the room.
~
Sally and I took the southern route out of town. We both felt better in little places and off the interstate. We got to Mississippi and we drove along awhile easily. “Let’s eat” Sally expressed, and I agreed.
~
I can’t tell any more cause that time in Mississippi is when the story changed mysteriously. The rest of the story will be told elsewhere, but I’ll say this, Sally’s premonition was revealed as the truth and oh my Lord, the tables were turned. In a heartbeat. Better times on the horizon. It is a new dawn and a new day. Every day is such. Every day is a good day to be alive.
~
Peace,
BK
Comrades/Stakeholders STOP The Party will rid you of false consciousness STOP private property STOP and viruses STOP All land and genomes held in trust by Gates Foundation STOP Enclosure and eugenics will work this time STOP We promise STOP
Caitlin and Klaus
The language we use reflects our attitude towards our listeners or readers. Vulgar language like “F#%@K” offends some people. Using vulgar language on public platforms shows we do not care about what our listeners or readers think or feel. In effect it is like saying: “If you are offended when I say “F#%@K” then simple F#%@Koff my platform!”
State sponsored and managed propaganda-news, entertainment, education, and censoring keeps the masses hypnotized despite out efforts to wake them up. Money or wealth is the dominant power (the god) and therefore capitalists and money talks, not ideology. This is why the world’s great Liberator Yeshua said that His followers must aim their revolutionary tactics at the monetary system. As soon as they start doing that they become threats to the government which calls them traitors. That is what happened to Yeshua and His followers who were secretly arrested, tortured and executed one by one, starting with the supreme leader, Yeshua. Criticizing, complaining and condemning is only the first step towards revolution. The next step is to start acting. The third step is to convince others who criticize, complain and condemn the evil empire to commit to following Yeshua’s plan and strategy. Fourth step: Start putting the plan into action, the only practical strategy which can defeat the evil empire. Don’t expect many people to survive the coming implosion of our technocratic-military-industrial complex. Instead, look out for and team up with those few wise, alert, well-informed, realistic, honest, responsible, frugal, cooperative people. They are a very small minority but in collaboration with such types we can start preparing rural, eco-friendly, communities necessary to survive and thrive when everyone else is trapped in the global control system. Read more of this here: http://www.wisdompage.com/2013%20Articles/Molyneaux%20essay.pdf
I am becoming a big fan of Caitlin’s and It is distressing to see her repeated use of the F word, especially so as she is referencing Spirituality and Consciousness in the same article. Frequnet use of the F word isnt usually part of the vocabulary of people with highly developed consciousness or Spirituality. Ever hear the Dalai Lama, Rev. MLK , Gandhi , or Thich Nhat Hahn use a lot of curse words? Caitlin obviously is very intelligent, perhaps she can use her highly developed vocabulary to find other words to express her anger.
From what I’ve heard Jesus was quite vulgar. Jesus practiced his faith. How many of those others do? Violent people only understand violence, so whenever you see a congregation of people at mass all that you are witnessing are a bunch of hypocrites patting themselves on their backs for being so spiritual, a real soul would be secretly with the sinners to bring them into God’s fold.
Lol. Oh yeah the Gospels are just full of all the profanity Jesud used. Are you talking to eye witnesses? Lol. Fuck is an Old English word that meant Fornication Under Consent of the King. So English had a little sign that said “Fuck” indicating they had permission to have sex. You are making stuff up
In your head
When intelligence sources come to us saying these same nuclear weapons have been used in our own cities, on our own people, blamed on terrorists, or perhaps an earthquake or some other disaster, what and who can we believe anymore?
“How to be a millionaire media pundit:
Never have any idea what the fuck you are talking about.
Be consistently wrong about everything.
Never admit when you’ve been proven wrong.
Only tell the truth when it serves power.
Never feature leftist or anti-imperialist guests.”
.
How to live your life and one day exit This World with your head held high:
.
Always try to be well-informed about what you are talking about. Or, just shut up.
Always endeavor to be more right than wrong about everything.
Always admit when you’ve been proven wrong.
Always tell the truth. Period.
Cut out everyone in your life who doesn’t also try to do these things.
.
“The idea of land ownership wigs me out. Oh, you own it? Who said?”
.
Who said? This is just another aspect of narrative matrix peddled by a different branch of social manipulators who propagandize us in a different arena. ‘You own this because WE SAY you do. And you MUST BELIEVE US, ALWAYS…’
China has a system in place called Social Credits where depending on what opinions you express online, your ability to pay for goods can be turned on or off. China has been advancing AI much faster than the U.S.
China also has a surveillance system that can locate anyone anywhere in China within five minutes. Say something wrong, and you could be visited by people you hoped you would never encounter.
China isn’t taking the world by force of arms, China is taking the world by financial influence in every corner of the world, including in the United States. China is playing nice until it has military superiority and then the gloves will come off, when it will no longer be necessary to buy influence.
To counter this, the United States, under the Biden administration, will be rolling out a new program in the next few months called “The Vaccine Passport,” which is a nice sounding name for something that will be indistinguishable from the Social Credit system in place in China. Once this is in place, the U.S. government and it’s satellite corporations will have absolute control over the American people where dissent will be a word eliminated from language.
Your Zoom calls are funneled through Chinese servers such that, through the AI they now have in place, the thinking of activists around the world is being recorded in real time. This gives China an informational advantage, again no need to fire a shot when people willingly give you everything you ask for.
For an explanation of what the United States will be subjecting it’s citizens to, in the very near future, watch the following video.
I am really disappointed in the language. Does Caitlyn know what the “f ” word means. Does it sit comfortably on her tongue and in her psyche. At a personal level it is a filthy bomb dropped in the wrong place – and every place is wrong for any kind of bomb.
Sometimes outrage reaches a point where only expletives can express it. Apparently this is one of those times for Caitlin. I tend to agree. Of course after spending over half my now over working life on a construction site, they roll of my tongue regarding things and people I LIKE.
Supposedly cussing associated with honesty and intelligence.
https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/5-reasons-swearing-is-a-sign-of-intelligence-helps-manage-pain-and-more/collection_c295311b-3bf6-5055-b0dd-c0ff0b214062.html#2
Seems consistent with why I read this blog almost daily. Cant imagine why some God would really want to micromanage our use of individual words( as opposed to entire deceitful and manipulative narrative frameworks, which sanitize violence and elicit mass support from individuals who wouldnt ever condone what was actually going on) as much as people pretending on its behalf would insist, in order to lower our honesty and intelligence to force us to go along with whatever bs they’ve got to convince everyone of.
Really appreciate your last few posts Caitlin. You write about things I also see and its a confirmation between that and many of your commentators to realize that Im not the only person who realizes what’s actually happening, and how easy it is for people to be misguided into political ideologies divorced from the actual antiethics and morals being practiced.
In a world where the mainstream narrative has masses of people so utterly and completely brainwashed, your writing is literally one of the most important forms of solidarity, validation and sanity in my life.
Just one objection to “How to be a millionaire media pundit: Never have any idea what the fuck you are talking about.” It’s not that they don’t know. They know, precisely. And, in turn, this makes the success of their Acting abilities that much more evil.
https://seaclearly.com/2019/03/30/actors-stages-and-scripts/
They are clueless, these people believe their lies.
Not clueless, but they do believe them, which makes them pathological liars.
Yep, acting pure and simple… and a jolly good job of it too! Take that new American President for example, he would have you believe his cognitive ability has drifted away with dementia. Tricky tricky! It’s like that guy who ran the bogus Russiagate investigation to the tune of over $40 million dollars as a totally partisan hit job on then President Trump. Sharp as a tack he is and the ultimate dedicated patriot bureaucrat forever, but suddenly he turns into a pathetic bumbling old fool when called to testify before Congress. Madame Secretary Senator Former First Lady Presidential candidate “C”, who is widely regarded as the smartest woman in the world, also resorted to refrains of “I do not recall” when questioned before Congress. These people are more than entitled to a special edition Oscar for their acting abilities, as are the many fine players working the media with their smoke and mirrors magic. IMHO. God bless chicken pizza.
As usual, the words of a warrior with a clear vision. Much appreciated and respect
The structural foundation of this psychotic violence and its concomitant need for propagandised consent mechanisms is soundly presented in the interview transcribed in this article:
https://consortiumnews.com/2021/03/26/in-quest-of-a-multi-polar-world/
The more Looking into my own past the more I am “seeing” the depth of the dysfunction in my life and and the world around me. But the clearer things become the more hope I have that this could all get better. Thank you Caitlin.
I’m constantly baffled by this. That people can’t clearly see what’s right before their eyes, even bragged about. Not only are the US Psychopaths In Charge the most murderous ever, if I’m not mistaken, again, they are also the worlds leading arms supplier. Insuring there is always a conflict they need to get involved in.
The latest and greatest delusion is that somehow, Chinese Muslims are so much more precious than Middle Eastern Muslims are. I hold no such illusion that one is more or less precious than the other, because they aren’t. To openly use the argument as justification of foreign policy, policy depending on which side of a national boundary you’re on, is purely psychotic.
Very good Caitlin !