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Meta-historical Manifestopostflaviana.org
/meta-historical-manifesto/
Jerry Russell
The hierarchical concentration of wealth and power has been a
persistent and fundamental aspect ofhuman social organization.
During ancient and medieval times, the powers and privileges of
royalty wereseen as being ordained by the god(s) du jour, and
acclaimed enthusiastically by nearly everyone except afew
malcontents. The arts, education, literacy and intellectual
pursuits such as history, science andliterature were largely
reserved to a small and predominantly hereditary sector of society
surrounding theroyal court and the landed nobility. The vast
majority of the people were assigned at birth to a life of
slaveryor serfdom, hard physical labor and material
impoverishment.
According to the pervasive view of much modern media, and
expressed in civics classrooms, the evidenceof the superiority of
the modern world is all around us from the vast reduction of
disease and betterliving standards, to the advances of technology,
symbolized by the ubiquitous presence of computers andthe Internet.
These advances are undoubtedly real, as is the standard of Freedom
that has become thehard-won norm in the last few centuries
(although that word descends somewhat cynically via the Romanelites
who used it to denote freedmen who had been conditionally granted
their revocable liberty by theirpatron in return for a debt of
faithful loyalty, from whence we get our word patriotism).
But in the opening years of the 21st century, among many
educated people, there is also a growing sensethat we are looking
forward into an abyss. The situation seems to be spinning out of
control asenvironmental, economic and military catastrophes
multiply and feed on one another. And there is aprofound sense of
cynicism and disappointment, as people everywhere abandon their
aspirations for thecommon good of humanity at least among those who
are not in a state of denial about the seriousness ofthe
problems.
This website is a grand meta-analysis that asks how the human
race has gotten into such a predicament.Basically our thesis is
that the wealthiest and most powerful elements of society have
always relied on aconsistent application of carefully honed
principles of psychological manipulation (that is,
psychologicalwarfare) to maintain their power, and that these
mechanisms are largely held over from the ancient feudalsystem,
operated largely by the heirs of the same families that were
running the show since ancient times.And it seems that this power
is incapable of applying itself to solving the problems facing the
human race it is only capable of perpetuating its own power.
We began this study in response to several pivotal events which
have occurred in the authors lifetimes:the three major political
assassinations of the 1960s (JFK, RFK, MLK), the Oklahoma City
FederalBuilding bombing, and events of 9/11/2001. In each case, our
view is that these events are actually bestexplained in terms of
elite criminality and sociopathic behavior, in contrast to the
false socially constructedreality promulgated by media and
government sources, in which the elite are depicted as victims
andproblem solvers. However, it is only within our comprehensive
framework, that these events can be trulyexplained and
understood.
Among those who agree with us that elite criminality is a root
cause of such events, many have a particularvillain or scapegoat in
mind as the cause of all the worlds problems. Some blame the Jews
(orInternational Bankers, who are alleged to be almost entirely
Jews.) Others blame the Communists (whoagain usually turn out to be
identified with the Jews.) The so-called official theory of 9/11
blames anIslamo-Fascist conspiracy, figureheaded by Osama bin Laden
and Sadaam Hussein. Other theories about
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9/11 have named many other possible culprits, including
corporate interests, the Bilderbergs, the Jesuits,the Illuminati,
the Freemasons and others.
All of these conspiracy theories are both too broad, and too
narrow. It may well be the case that all of thesevarious secret
societies and subgroups of the elite have played a role in
organizing the course of worldevents. But we are convinced that no
single group can take full responsibility. All too often, overly
focalconspiracy theories serve as instruments of sectarian
prejudice, social regression, and war.
While society is organized on a hierarchical basis, nevertheless
there seem to be many independentpower centers, giving powerful
individuals such as the heads of nation-states, large corporations,
andchurches the ability to operate independently with great freedom
of action. From time to time, suchindividuals might choose to
pursue criminal actions (including Big Lies) with reasonable
expectations ofimpunity, knowing that their followers will comply
(and generally with good will and eagerness, ifpropaganda
technology is employed correctly) and that other independent
organizations have everythingto lose and little or nothing to gain
by calling out the fraud. So in general there is really no need to
invokeconspiratorial explanations for elite criminal and
sociopathic behavior.
But based on the evidence we are marshaling in this website, we
cannot rule out the possibility of a muchgrander conspiracy,
operating in secrecy within a very small group of elite individuals
who are capable ofcarrying out plans and maintaining institutional
memory over multiple generations, and on an internationaland
intercontinentally grand scale.
Niccolo Machiavelli was a highly notable (or notorious)
commentator on the hierarchical state of affairs inthe Renaissance
era, at the dawn of the modern revolt against medieval feudalism.
In addition to being anauthor, Machiavelli was also a politician,
diplomat, and a commander of the state militia under theFlorentine
Republic from 1494 to 1513. When the Medici defeated the Republic
in 1513, Machiavelli wasforced into retirement. He began quietly
circulating a pamphlet among his friends: The Prince, adiscussion
of the practices that had evolved for the maintenance of power in a
hierarchically organizedworld. Machiavellis deadpan, respectful and
even fawning description of the deceitful and unscrupuloustreachery
of royalty was so shocking that his very name became an adjective
for the worst(Machiavellian) aspects of feudal intrigue.
Ironically, as pointed out by Garrett Mattingly (The
Prince:Political Science or Political Satire?1958): in all of his
other voluminous writings, Machiavelli was astaunch advocate of
Republican and progressive politics, consistent with his actual
role in the Florentinegovernment. Machiavelli most likely would be
rolling in his grave to find himself taken so often as a
sincereadvocate of royal immorality and lawlessness, when the true
situation is probably as the recent translatorTim Parks suggested
in his introductory remarks: that The Prince was a satire, a
cautionary tale abouthow power really worked, the underlying
intention being to deprive those who held it of dignity and
glamourand teach the people as a whole how to resist it.
At this website we are revisiting Machiavellis theme, and taking
a new look at the means by which elitepower has been perpetuated.
As important and accurate as Machiavellis observations were for his
time,we argue that he missed some of the key mechanisms used by the
elites to maintain their power inancient, medieval and modern
societies. Specifically, we argue:
There has always been an intimate link between the royal,
feudal, or democratic and technocraticelites, and the religious and
spiritual (priestly) authorities. The elite have systematically
anddeliberately manipulated the natural religious sentiments of
ordinary human beings, as well as thenatural order of economic
production and trade, for their own benefit. Whether in the role of
politicalleadership, or entrepreneurial and executive leadership
over business enterprises, or education, orspiritual leadership
over great churches, the elite claim to take on the mantle of
responsibility fortheir followers. Ironically, or rather
sardonically, the metaphor that is frequently invoked for
thegeneral social paradigm is that of a shepherd tending his flock.
As we shall see, the Biblical Hebrew
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foundational narrative of Abraham and the Conquest of the
Promised Land describes the insertionof foreign (Hittite)
shepherds, Abraham and the tsaba, into a native (Canaanite) flock.
Later we find(related?) foreign shepherds, the Sabines, similarly
inserting themselves into the foundationalnarrative of the Roman
state. One may be forgiven for wondering if it is a coincidence
that theSumerian word for shepherd is saba.
The view has been that each country was ruled over by a royal
family (or a class of electedpoliticians) whose principal loyalty
was to their own country. But an examination of paternal
relationsand intermarriage reveals that in fact a small set of
extended families, linked by intermarriage, wasruling over the
countries of Europe during the Middle Ages; and that during the
great colonialexpansions of the fifteenth through seventeenth
centuries, this power basically extended over theentire planet.
According to legendary sources (which we have no particular reason
to disbelieve),these families have been running the show since
biblical times. To return to the metaphor of theshepherds, one can
realize that there are many shepherds and each has a distinct
flock. Howeverthe shepherds are related and exchange data on the
herding techniques they use. Of course theshepherds or their flocks
may also be competitive, leading to very real episodes of strife
and war.This aspect readily lends itself to the confusion that the
shepherds are indeed in allegiance withtheir specific herds. But
ultimately it is a mistake for the sheep to assume that the
shepherds wouldput the interests of the sheep over the interests of
their brothers, the other shepherds. Themetaphor is rarely
developed to its obvious conclusion: that a shepherd periodically
fleeces hisflock, and fattens them for the market.
While sheep can be confined and directed by physical means such
as fences or barkingsheepdogs, humans tend to rebel against such
overt mechanisms, although of course prison campshave always had
their role in the arsenal of the state. In general, the methods of
psychologicalmanipulation are much more commonly used. Machiavelli
discussed one basic tool, the creation ofa manipulated image of the
greatness and good nature of the ruler, in juxtaposition to the
hiddenamorality of his opportunistic policies. He also touched on
the role of warfare and preparation forwarfare as a crucial means
for cementing the loyalty of the people to the prince and
hisgovernment. Our analysis expands upon this framework, as we
consider the creation andelaboration of pseudo-Hegelian dialectics
of artificially inverted philosophy and theology, along withthe
exploitation of racial and cultural distinctions, as the root
sources of the conflicts of which warrepresents the continuation by
other means. Even when war is not immediately in the offing,
thetensions of dialectical conflict serve as a psychological
priming mechanism, maintaining the peoplein a state of unease and
agitation. This dialectic tension can also serve as a driving
mechanism forcolonialist expansions.
For efficient administration, the ruling class must always
maintain a buffer class of financiers,academics and intellectuals.
In normal times this buffer class serves a functionary role, but
inextremis the central elite can submerge and disappear, leaving
behind the buffer class as the soleapparent heir to power; or
alternately, the buffer class can take a scapegoat role and itself
becomesacrificed to propitiate the people. As we shall see, the
Judaic culture has been primed to take thislatter role at least
since the days of the Roman Empire.
Many of the specific historical topics discussed in this website
are related to religion. And we imagine thatmany of our readers
will be religious, or involved in organized religions or other
spiritual practices tovarying extents. Some of our readers may find
our approach to the history of religion to be heretical
ordisrespectful, and wed like to say a few introductory words about
our beliefs.
All religions of the ancient world, as well as most modern
religions, trade in tall tales involving miracles.Some of these
miracles are physical, such as Jesus resurrection in the flesh, or
King Midas ability to turn
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dross into gold at his touch. Other miracles are more spiritual
or intangible, such as the fulfillment ofprophecies, or healing of
the sick. Some miracles are presented as literal historical facts
(or are taken assuch by the believers), and others are more
obviously intended metaphorically.
Our position is that these miracles and prophecies are never the
result of supernatural causes. Miraclesand supernatural events
cannot occur, because the philosophical and scientific principlesof
uniformitarianism, decree that the laws of physics and biology are
the same at all times and places. Thisis backed by enormous
experience. All modern engineering, technology and medicine rely on
it.
The belief in miracles is a socially constructed reality, driven
at crucial moments by Big Lies as well as bymisunderstandings and
wishful thinking. Furthermore: out of all the different
monotheistic views of God,only one can be logically correct. Thus,
fundamentalist monotheistic religions must be intolerant
andprovincial with respect to other faiths than their own.
This is not a harmless matter: religious fundamentalism is an
enabler for the warlike behavior of the elitesas well as the
sheepish compliance of the masses. Liberal religious movements,
although rejectingintolerance on their own behalf, are often unable
to effectively challenge fundamentalist belief systemsbecause of
having bought into much of the erroneous reasoning that drives
fundamentalism. Our hope isthat as the true origins of organized
religion become better understood, more people will feel a sense
ofoutraged revulsion that will lead them to abandon and reject
these organizations and beliefs altogether.
Discuss in forum!
Meta-historical Manifesto
