John said: Something about the very name of "Navajo White" that reminded me of who I was. A poor-white-trash covering of low-rent life? Maybe. Maybe not. Like I said, degenerates and messiahs look an awful lot alike in the moment.
dmb says: You're suggesting that you might be a messiah? Really? Don't you think that's just a bit grandiose? Don't you think it's a bit over the top in the self-flattery department? I call it "renter's beige", by the way. It's the worst color in the world and almost always badly applied, full of paint-boogers, roller marks and unclean lines. John said: You can't transcend static social patterns as long as you're striving to uphold social standards. You have to be willing to pursue your dreams independent of worrying about how others may judge you by outward appearance. dmb says: I think it's more like Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The most basic biological needs have to be met even if you're Einstein. Every human creature needs stuff like air, food, water, shelter, sleep and an iPod. Related to that, but more socially oriented, you next need physical safety, security from theft, health and a steady means of getting your basic resources. If all that is pretty well in place, the need for family bonds, friendship and sexual intimacy can be attended to and when those needs are met you can start to think about the need for self-esteem, achievement, respect among your peers and the like. This is the social level stuff. Only when all of that have been secured, a person can work on the need for self-actualization. As the label implies, this is thee goal in a person's development because that's when you really do become your own person. The social and biological level needs can't be skipped over or left behind, but a self-actualized person, Maslow, says, is sp ontaneous, moral, creative, lacks prejudice and accepts the facts. In short, they can think critically, independently and outside the lines. This maps onto Pirsig's hierarchy so well that I don't even have to spell it out, right? John said: Protestants who .. got along well with the pragmatic Cherokee and intermarried and had a lot to do with the American Character formation. Those ties run deep and strong. Those are my people. We don't kiss ass and we don't forget insults to our honor. We can keep a feud going a long time. dmb says: "Celebrity is to social patterns as sex is to biological patterns." "The Pyramids were celebrity devices. All the statues, the palaces, the robes, and jewels of social authority: those are just celebrity devices. The feathers of the Indian headdress. ..all the compliments and flattery of tea parties and cocktail parties are celebrity enhancements. All the feuding and battling for prestige among academics and scientists. All the offense at 'insults'. All the 'face' of the Orient. Celebrity. Celebrity. High school. School was REALLY the place for celebrity." (Jocks and Cheerleaders Magazine, page 257) > http://moq.org/md/archives.html Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org/md/archives.html
