Sean Cruz said:You might find this hard to swallow, but I don't think most people simply abandon their humanity. It’s more that circumstances force them to cling to a specific ideology just to protect themselves or their families. It’s a heavy subject; almost every system drifts toward totalitarianism, which means even decent people often feel pressured to conform to the majority. Very few actually stand up and say "no." And let's be honest, some people actually get swept up in that rush of feeling invincible. Have you ever read "Death and the Maiden"? It’s the kind of book that applies to pretty much any government system out there...
I’d apply that same logic to ideology. People lose their grip and completely disconnect from reality. Brainwashed sheep, or whatever you want to call them (personally, I’ve never been part of an ideology or a massive movement—nothing like that), just a mindless herd.
People lean on delusions and self-deception quite a bit. It’s a survival mechanism for dealing with a harsh reality, because the cold truth is that we’re all eventually headed for six feet under. Many struggle to accept that. I understand the urge to sugarcoat our existence, but what scares me are those who turn aggressive while feeding into those delusions.
That’s why I push back so hard against patriotism and organized religion. "Country" and "God" are often just excuses used by people to act like animals and scavengers.
There is truth to that, but patriotism has another side: defending one's home. The idealists—who, looking at it realistically, are just fools. I’ve been one myself. Those who left the country ended up much better off—returning with full pockets and zero trauma. But I don't regret staying; I would never have gained this particular life lesson if I had left. It opened my eyes forever...
Once someone stabs you in the back, they’ll definitely look for a second chance to do it again. People don't change, and "remorse" is usually just for show. I don't believe in sincere repentance unless someone commits a wrong entirely by accident—in those cases, they truly feel bad. But someone who executes a calculated, premeditated atrocity? Please. You stay far away from people like that. It's a certainty.😁
There’s an old saying: the naive person lets themselves be conned once, but the fool lets it happen twice.
Of course, intention is everything...
I haven't read it yet, but I did pick up Llosa's "Jarčev Celebration." It hits on very similar themes, and the whole thing is based on true events from back in the day. trujillev Dictatorships are interesting. It’s a chilling fact that back then, kids in school were forced to recite:
God, country, and Trujillo. That sounds incredibly familiar to me. 😁 In a totalitarian regime, you can't even trust your own family. It’s just pure, hysterical chaos—total neurosis fueled by a desperate fear of losing power, money, or territory, which inevitably leads to invading someone else's land. Honestly, there’s nothing healthy about it. 😵
I'm certain that not everyone who was aiming at Washington, D.C. and its residents actually supported what was happening on an intimate level. For a lot of people, they simply didn't have a choice. We saw similar dynamics back in the States too—though maybe not in quite this specific way—but there were certainly instances of forced encounters.
People have a tendency to spiral into various anxieties and engage in a lot of self-deception.
The problem with conformity and just blindly following the crowd. 🧐 Where is everyone? Even little Mujo is gone. I guess I'm just left standing here by myself while everybody else heads off somewhere else.
It’s just a way to cope with a reality that isn't exactly pretty. Let's face it: the only thing we can actually count on is eventually ending up six feet under. A lot of people struggle to accept that, and honestly, I get it. We all have this deep-seated need to dress up our lives and make things look better than they really are. But I have to admit, it scares me a bit—seeing how aggressive people can get when they're just hanging out at their local barbershops.
That’s actually really kind of you to say. I appreciate that. 🙂 I honestly think what we're seeing here is mostly just a lack of critical thinking and people following the crowd. It's classic herd mentality. Don't get me wrong, there can be some upside to that kind of collective movement, sure, but I’m worried. I really am. I fear the downsides of this phenomenon are much more serious and far more destructive than people realize.
That’s true, but there is another side to patriotism. It’s about defending your country. If you look at it through a realistic lens, the idealists are basically just fools. I know, I’m one of them. Those who left were much better off—they walked away with full pockets and zero trauma. But I don't regret it. I never would have gained this life lesson if I hadn't gone. It changed my perspective forever.
Defending one's country is really just about defending your own integrity. Every healthy individual strives for that; it isn't some foolish impulse. We do it because we're hoping for a better future.
There’s an old saying for a reason: you're naive if you let yourself get fooled once, but you're just plain foolish if you let it happen a second time.
Of course, intention is everything....
I agree. Even in Buddhism, they teach that the motivation behind an action is what determines if it's positive or negative.
This is what real conformity looks like—the witch hunts, the public shaming of individuals, the inquisitions, and the wars:
Can anyone actually justify behavior like this?
