By Madison S. Hughes (05.14.2011)
The oppressed have a long memory, and rarely forget; conversely, the oppressor seems historically amnesic of its oppressive past.
Aphorism: On Oppression
Reply
Category Archives: Aphorisms
Aphorism: On Typical Military Personalities
By Madison S. Hughes (09.24.2008)
After twenty-three years of military service in the U.S. Army, I realized that I just got tired of being around so many closed-minded, fascist, obnoxious, xenophobic, misogynistic, overconfident, arrogant, anti-intellectual, bigoted, Conservative, self-righteous, jingoistic, militaristic, redneck Republicans that thump the bible and drape themselves in the flag. I could go on, but life is too short.
Aphorism: On Written vs. Oral Communication
By Madison S. Hughes (08.I4.2011)
I much prefer written correspondence to verbal communication, for verbal communication does not allow for due diligence of thought. I would much rather be afforded the opportunity to inflect my thoughts through proper written word than to hear the inflection provided audibly.
Aphorism: On Christian Terrorism
By Madison S. Hughes (07.25.2011)
Since Norway’s tragedy, at the hand of a right-wing Christian terrorist, I have noticed two interesting, albeit predictable, responses from Christians.
1. “He is not really a Christian; he is a madman that is mentally ill.” Why is it that when a right-wing Christian terrorist commits an act of terrorism it is presupposed that the Christian has a mental condition, but if a Muslim terrorist commits an act of terrorism the Muslim is presumed to be an Islamic terrorist?
2. “Anything to an extreme is bad.” Well, this particular tragedy was committed by a right-wing religious extremist. Consider this, if you will, religious extremists would not exist if there were no religion.
Aphorism: On the Forfeit of Critical Thought
By Madison S. Hughes (01.01.2011)
The forfeit of critical thought to religious indoctrination as a moral compass is not only ludicrous, but also unwarranted! Vicarious and empathic acquaintance is sufficient without such surrender.
Aphorism: On Corporatist Thought
By Madison S. Hughes (05.21.2011)
Within the distorted noodle of vulgar corporatist thought government appears as a specter; antithetically, the constellations of the erudite progressive mind exposes the corporation as the monolith it is.
Aphorism: On America’s Cognitive Dissonance
By Madison S. Hughes (08.13.2011)
I have wrestled with America’s, especially the Corporatists, cognitive dissonance since the beginning of my intellectual maturity. I still have to remind myself that Americans refuse to allow facts to get in the way of their emotions, and their collective decisions reflect as much.
With much reflection, I have come to believe the major cause of America’s cognitive dissonance stems from the perpetual consumer triad of which they unreflectively find themselves, i.e., desire – acquire – consume. Thirty years of supply-side economics has put the nail in America’s cognitive coffin.
Since America is an embarrassingly anti-intellectual consumeristic society, any attempt to inform them that true happiness is found from within, not from without, I’m afraid would fall on deaf ears. You see, realizing this would require intellectual curiosity, and with a sound-bite attention span they will never get to the desire – acquire – reflect triad of knowledge.
Aphorism: On Atheism and Religion in the Military
By Madison S. Hughes (08.13.2011)
On innumerable occasions during my twenty-three year career as a U.S. Army Officer I found myself a captive audience member of Staff meetings that began with prayer. While deployed I vividly recall one instance where a Mississippi Redneck Chief of Staff, Colonel Massey, asked before a mandatory Staff meeting if anyone objected to the Chaplain opening the mandatory Staff meeting with a prayer. When I voiced my objection, I was told that I was welcomed to leave the room during the prayer. The U.S. Army, especially the Officer corps, is highly right-wing, and religious. It never ceases to amaze me that I, a lifelong Atheist, was able to serve twenty-three years in such an overtly religious organization.
Aphorism: On Mandatory Prayer in the Military
By Madison S. Hughes (08.13.2011)
On innumerable occasions during my twenty-three year career as a U.S. Army Officer I found myself a captive audience member of Staff meetings that began with prayer. While deployed I vividly recall one instance where a Mississippi Redneck Chief of Staff, Colonel Massey, asked before a mandatory Staff meeting if anyone objected to the Chaplain opening the mandatory Staff meeting with a prayer. When I voiced my objection, I was told that I was welcomed to leave the room during the prayer. The U.S. Army, especially the Officer corps, is highly right-wing, and religious. It never ceases to amaze me that I, a lifelong Atheist, was able to serve twenty-three years in such an overtly religious organization.
Aphorism: On Taxes, Regulations, and Government
By Madison S. Hughes (08.08.2011)
In the U.S. specifically (Republicans/Teabaggees), and around the world generally (Right-wing), some show an insatiable desire to rid the nations of taxes, regulations, and if utopia were to exist, the government as a whole. If that is their desire, I know of a place that fits that bill already. The place is called Somalia, and I support them in their relocation. Additionally, I fully support their taking religion with them.
Always Question Authority 