Self-mentoring XXI ... Submission doesn't grant peace
… and aligning yourself with a villain doesn’t grant you power. Do I need to continue? Possibly not but I will anyway. Otherwise this would be one really short lesson.
We see this phenomenon all the time, especially recently with all the mess in the world. So many people align themselves with some verifiably evil people just so they too can “benefit” from the power. Or they’ll bend over before the seemingly stronger force just so their calm doesn’t get upset. But what do they gain? Well, my dear reader, keep reading and you’ll find out. (muhahaha, clickbait >:3)
Let’s start with the first, “Submission doesn’t grant peace”. Imagine, actually, you don’t even have to imagine. You just need to look at present day world in which we already have one “underdog” turned into an unexpected sword and shield of liberty, fiercely resisting the perceived might of a paper bear. But what do we hear from so many people?
“It’s their fault.”
“Why should we care?”
“Make them stop so we can go back to normal.”
No, no, NO! ABSO-FUCKING-LUTE NO!! None of this is helpful and none of this brings the peace you oh so much desire. Why? Because you only need to show the abuser one weakness for it to be exploited. One soft spot in your mind and suddenly you’re on a leash (and not in the pleasant and playful way in case this is your thing). Now tell me, how is this peaceful? How much freedom do you think you have, knowing the “owner” can pull that leash any time they please? And you can do nothing about it because “I must not upset the master.” Now tell me, do you feel at peace? Do you smell how peaceful it is? Can you taste all this delicious peace? No, no you can’t. But I bet you can taste plenty of fear. And to quote a character who’s pretty ubiquitous in popular culture:
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
And you already have plenty of fear so the path to anger is wide open. Anger at yourself for being so foolish. And you’re reminded of this every day, every minute of your life. And such reminders are a rich soil for hate to grow from. Hate aimed at yourself for being a useful idiot. But you don’t want to live with it because no-one wants to steep in hate. So you project it outwards. But all you do is cause suffering; to yourself and everyone around. Now tell me, do you live in peace?
Was aligning with the villain worth it? Because, my dear reader, I’m not finished. Because maybe you share some thought with your evil idol and them being in a position of power validates your view. You grow bold, ready to commit more to “the cause”. But how long until you have to go against the very thing you claim to protect? Will you act? Are you willing to go against your friends? Your family? Would you harm your own children to “please the authority”?
In a the book “Man’s Search for Meaning” from V. E. Frankl, the author describes his own experience of surviving a Nazi concentration camp. One of these includes description of fellow prisoners that decided to align themselves with the guards and warden in the prospect of “better treatment”. How did it go, you ask? Well, they did get what they asked for, a priority seat into the gas. But why? They served their masters so well. Exactly, but here’s a thing you may not be noticing. They’ve taken upon themselves the responsibility of the wardens. And when something went wrong, the warden at fail had an easy scapegoat. I could sum this up in a pipeline like this:
Useful idiot –> Used-up idiot –> Expired idiot
Getting into the first step is surprisingly easy. The other inevitably come on their own and there’s nothing one can do about it once in the line. So no, you’re not getting power you’re being promised. You merely become a tool, an extension of the power one above you already wields. And once you serve your purpose, you’re cast aside, left to fate worse than those you harmed for your greed.
R.R.A.