KOZY KOZÁ…
Ruminations by John Kozy
By John Kozy | Feb 09, 2011 [print_link] Suggested with intro by Diane G John Kozy is a retired professor of philosophy and logic who writes on social, political, and economic issues. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he spent 20 years as a university professor and another 20 years working as a writer. He has published a textbook in formal logic commercially, in academic journals and a small number of commercial magazines, and has written a number of guest editorials for newspapers. His on-line pieces can be found on http://www.jkozy.com/ and he can be emailed from that site’s homepage. IMAGE: Russian propaganda poster (1905) urging the people to sustain the revolutionary momentum. History shows this is far easier said than done. YES, the double entendre is intentional. Any humane, sensitive, and intellectually honest person cannot help but be revolted after taking note of the inhumane condition of the people in most countries and the declining condition of most people in the so-called developed world. It is a world in which a very few prosper spectacularly while most suffer and perish without ever being noticed. And we call ourselves “human”! But is an inhumane person human at all? How does one attempt to answer such a question? Of course, there are people everywhere who are genuinely revolted by what a few persons have done to the many. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill would surely wonder what ever happened to the principle they both advocated-the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Their Utilitarianism has been pulled inside out. Now it seems that the principle is the greatest happiness for the fewest people. They would indeed wonder what have human beings become. This revulsion is now leading many in many lands into demonstrating against their governments. Some claim that people everywhere are revolting and that a worldwide revolution is imminent. Revolution is everywhere in the air. Even the orthodox and heterodox presses are all atwitter. Is a new world awakening? Is the eternal spring of hope to be actualized? Would that it were so. If history is any guide, not likely! |
There are, of course, a few voices urging caution. No, not the president who claims to be advocating peaceful governmental transitions. I mean people such as Mohamed, an Egyptian, living in the United States, who says, “Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak must go,” but he fears that regardless of the promises, Mubarak will figure out a way to keep his henchmen in power and the brutal legacy of cruelty and torture will continue. There is also Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, who has just posted an interesting piece, Revolution: Is 1848 Repeating Itself in the Arab World?, which warns that the forces of reaction might negate current revolutions just as they negated the revolutions of 1848. In fact, given the revolting condition that most people endure, it should be evident that revolutions, no matter how sincere at there inception, never produce the reforms desired by the revolutionaries. Although everything Mazemroaya says about the aftermath of 1848 is true, he doesn’t go back nearly far enough. Ever heard of the French revolution? What ever happened to it? It took place between 1789 and 1799 during which radical social and political changes took place. The absolute monarchy collapsed, and French society underwent an epic transformation. Feudal, aristocratic, and religious privileges were abandoned because of pressure from liberal political groups and the masses on the streets. Old ideas succumbed to Enlightenment principles of citizenship and inalienable rights. Republican principles were the liberal songs of the day. Then came the reaction. When the French National Convention sought to export revolution, a military coalition made up of Spain, Naples, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria, and Prussia was formed. The republican forces were led by Napoleon Bonaparte and when they prevailed, Napoleon became Emperor. The revolution died in the hands of the general who was entrusted to protect it. When Napoleon’s army was finally defeated at Waterloo, The conservative Congress of Vienna reversed the political changes that had occurred. The monarchy was restored and Louis XVIII became king. France did not abandon monarchy until the late 1800s, a century after the revolution began. Were republican principles restored? Ask any Frenchman. Liberté, égalité, fraternité? Not by a long shot. But one need not look elsewhere to expose the actions of reaction. Look at the United States of America instead. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was promulgated. It says,
Doesn’t this paragraph describe the conditions that cause revolutions even today? Doesn’t it justify overthrowing governments by force? After this declaration was promulgated, didn’t the American colonists fight a long and brutal war with England? The colonists did, of course, have a regular army of sorts. But they also had what would be now considered terrorists. The Sons of Liberty formed units in many towns and threatened violence. In Boston, they burned the records of the vice-admiralty court, looted the home of the chief justice, and threatened anyone who aided the British. The United States of America was born in violence. So why is the government telling those oppressed in other lands to engage only in “peaceful” transitions? Because the American Revolution was undone as early as the Constitution was adopted. Article III, Section 3 reads, “Treason against the United States, shall consist only [emphasis mine] levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.” Violent revolution was fine in 1776, but not after 1789. Revolutionaries themselves become reactionaries! Is Baron Acton right? Does power corrupt? Does absolute power corrupt absolutely? Today in America, even political parties that merely advocate violent revolution are illegal. The only political opposition permitted is non-violent opposition, which, of course, has a fat change of ever succeeding. Americans haven’t even been able to organize a third party.
Who in America today would say that all Americans are created equal? Who in America today would say that the Union has been perfected, that Justice has been established, that domestic Tranquility has been established, that the general Welfare is being promoted, and that the Blessings of Liberty have been secured for ourselves and our Posterity? The American Revolution, like all revolutions in history, has been undone. More than peaceful street demonstrations, it appears, is needed to resuscitate it. It is far easier to bring about a successful revolution than it is to build and preserve a humane, functioning government. The forces of reaction never rest, and they have managed to undo most of history’s people’s revolutions. Revolutionaries must recognize that their first task is to defend their newly formed governments from reactionaries, for once reactionaries get their feet in the door, they will not stop until the revolution is undone. |
A Revolting World | 1 comments
COMMENT SELECT:
John Kozy ROCKS! (6.00 / 1)
I love this guy, he seriously GETS it and is never afraid to say it aloud.
Of course, those who hold the power will NEVER relinquish it by choice, and they have so many ways to regain it. If they lose a revolution, they have the assets to wait it out until they can buy out a person or persons allegiance and slowly influence a counter revolution by stealth, by writ or by amassing the opposition of their counter-part Elites in other Nations to push economic stress. Embargoes anyone?
Revolutions just take critical mass.
Change takes VIGILANCE.
Once minor concessions are gained, people lose that vigilance and go back about trying to survive, if not thrive.
As the Elites have gone global, with loyalty to no country only their status as above the World Citizenry, a “breed apart” so has the revolutions. Its going whack-a-mole, and surely scares the bejesus out of the Elite class.
It can never be successful unless the People unite, and put set-in-stone safeguards against anyone owning any assets above the average, and enforcing them with utter due diligence.
Is that likely? No. Is it within the realm of remote possibility? Gahd, I hope so.
by: Diane G @ Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 06:46:11 AM CST