#Self-determination

[hexagr]

The paradox of binding your identity to victimhood is that it tends to generate social currency, but in a longer, broader perspective, it makes you spiritually and mentally weaker. This is true even if you're really a victim.

[fuckyeahmarxismleninism]

'The principles of the Great October Revolution guarantee the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent state.'

Poster published by the Palestinian Committee for African-Asian Peace and Solidarity, 1985.

Via Junius

[thepersonalwords]

Understanding of oneself is the first act in establishing a transformative philosophy for living a vivid and a reflective existence. Knowing thy self is essential to designing and instigating a meaningful life that is self-directed instead of exclusively controlled by innate traits and external determinates.

Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

[gregor-samsung]

The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 (Göran Olsson, 2011)

[quotelr]

Dare to travel on your defined path.

Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom: Great mind

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

[tidal123]

The way I see Xuanji’s condition with incomplete six senses, she didn't truly lack feeling, but she had difficulty connecting to her feelings. Just like she couldn’t realize she was cold or in pain, but her body’d still shake or bleed. Remember she visibly gulped when she first see Sifeng’s naked face and later was inexplicably possessive of him? That’s her feelings shining through. Xuanji’s self development is linked to her desire towards Sifeng.

Xuanji seemed ‘silly’ when she almost went along with the playboy dude about the mirror and when she didn’t realize Lu Yanran was being sarcastic etc. That’s because she had trouble discerning her own emotions/mind-states growing up, and therefore it’s naturally hard for her to learn to discern others’ intentions, but like Sifeng said, she is not someone completely without heart or feeling, and her own will is not to be unfeeling.

Xuanji has loved and chosen Sifeng instinctually even before she fully understood the meaning of love, and no one can deny the depth of her love as it penetrates the condition that blocked her from her inner experience. Like Xuanji later said, she also fell in love with Sifeng upon first glance. She just didn’t know what it is back then. It was ultimately not one-sided.

[tmarshconnors]

Today 2nd April marks the 42nd Anniversary of the Falklands War, a conflict fought over 8000 miles away from the United Kingdom.

"The people of the Falkland Islands...are few in number but they have the right to live in peace, to choose their own way of life and to determine their own allegiance." – Margaret Thatcher, 1982.

42 years on, we will still defend that right.

[infinitesofnought]

To stand, in the shadow of the stigma in the air.

Standing-for-no-one-and-nothing. Unrecognized, for you alone.

With all that has room in it, even without language.

– Paul Celan, "[To stand]", trans. Pierre Joris

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If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?

– Rabbi Hillel

[poligraf]

Order is light, peace, inner freedom, self-determination: it is power.

— Henri-Frédéric Amiel

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Individualism

The philosophy of individualism is a worldview that emphasizes the moral worth, autonomy, and rights of the individual as paramount. It holds that individuals are the primary units of moral and political consideration, and that personal freedom and self-reliance are fundamental to a just society. Individualism is often contrasted with collectivism, which prioritizes the group or community over individual interests.

Key Aspects of the Philosophy of Individualism:

Autonomy and Self-Determination:

Personal Freedom: Individualism asserts that individuals have the right to make their own choices and control their own lives. Autonomy is a core value, meaning that individuals should have the freedom to pursue their own goals, values, and interests without undue interference from others, including the state.

Self-Reliance: Emphasis is placed on the importance of self-reliance and personal responsibility. Individuals are encouraged to depend on themselves rather than on societal structures or other people for their success and well-being.

Moral and Ethical Foundations:

Moral Agency: Individualism views individuals as moral agents with the capacity to make ethical decisions and to be accountable for their actions. This perspective upholds the importance of personal integrity and the right to act according to one’s own conscience.

Rights and Liberties: A key aspect of individualism is the belief in inherent individual rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property. These rights are seen as fundamental and inalienable, meaning that they cannot be justly taken away or violated by others or the state.

Political and Economic Implications:

Liberalism and Libertarianism: Individualism is closely associated with political ideologies such as liberalism and libertarianism, which advocate for limited government, protection of individual rights, and free-market economies. These ideologies emphasize that the role of government should be to protect individual freedoms rather than to impose collective goals.

Capitalism: Economically, individualism is often linked with capitalism, which promotes free enterprise, private ownership, and competition. Capitalism is seen as a system that allows individuals to freely pursue their economic interests and rewards personal initiative and innovation.

Cultural and Social Dimensions:

Cultural Individualism: In individualistic cultures, personal achievement, self-expression, and independence are highly valued. People are encouraged to think of themselves as unique individuals and to prioritize their own needs and desires.

Social Relationships: While individualism recognizes the importance of social relationships, it emphasizes that these relationships should be freely chosen and should respect the autonomy of each individual involved.

Critiques and Challenges:

Potential for Isolation: Critics of individualism argue that it can lead to social fragmentation, isolation, and a lack of community. By prioritizing the individual over the group, individualism may weaken social bonds and reduce the sense of collective responsibility.

Inequality and Exploitation: Another critique is that individualism, particularly in its association with capitalism, can exacerbate economic inequality and exploitation. Without sufficient regulation or concern for the common good, individualism can lead to vast disparities in wealth and power.

Philosophical Justifications:

Rational Egoism: Some philosophical justifications for individualism are rooted in rational egoism, the idea that individuals should act in their own self-interest because it is rational and moral to do so.

Existentialism: Existentialist philosophers, such as Jean-Paul Sartre, emphasize individual freedom and responsibility, arguing that individuals must create their own meaning and purpose in life without relying on external authorities or pre-existing moral codes.

Historical and Contemporary Examples:

American Individualism: The United States is often cited as an example of a society deeply influenced by individualist philosophy, with its emphasis on personal liberty, entrepreneurship, and the "American Dream."

Global Spread: In contemporary society, individualist values have spread globally, influencing various aspects of culture, politics, and economics in different regions of the world.

The philosophy of individualism champions the rights and freedoms of individuals, advocating for personal autonomy, moral agency, and self-reliance. While it has been a driving force behind many social and political movements, it also faces critiques regarding its potential to undermine social cohesion and contribute to inequality. Balancing individual freedom with the needs of the community remains a central challenge within this philosophical tradition.

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[churchofsatannews]

To a Vigilant New Year!

To a Vigilant New Year!

Tomorrow begins year LVIII, Anno Satanas. We live in a time of social upheaval. Global economies are in spasms, kept in drastic flux by an ongoing aggressive war which has again raised the specter of possible military nuclear detonations. This chaos has provided an open season for authoritarian power grabs. While Christianity had played the role of a domesticated belief system—their most…

[thepersonalwords]

Writing allows a person to explore both physical reality and the internal workings of their mind. Writing places us in touch with our unconsciousness. Writing purposefully, applying the white heat of self-examination, can act to transform oneself. Writing allows a person with sufficient resolve to anneal their basic constitution, make their mind more flexible.

Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

[gregor-samsung]

Tell Me Lies [also known as Us] (Peter Brook, 1968)

[quotelr]

If you fail, don’ quit.Try again, and again but with much enthusiasm and continuous effort.You will soon master the art and skills needed to succeed.

Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!