Hans Christian Andersen, the great 19th century Danish fairy tale author, wrote famously of a vain emperor.
In glorious allegory, Andersen frames the story of The Emperor as having a fetish for fine garments. The Emperor’s new garments are, of course, non-existent, though his tailors explain otherwise.
Surrounded by sycophants and toadies, The Emperor’s credulity isn’t challenged. Only the stupid do not see these new, magnificent duds. The officials, those within the royal machine, SEE the colors, the cut, and the lines.
And why wouldn’t THEY? They’re not stupid!
Surrounded by sycophants and toadies, The Emperor’s credulity isn’t challenged. Only the stupid do not see these new, magnificent duds. The officials, those within the royal machine, SEE the colors, the cut, and the lines.
And why wouldn’t THEY? They’re not stupid!
Emboldened, The Emperor and his court take to the streets.
The Emperor’s homies even give over completely to holding The Emperor’s train in the eventual ritual procession.
It’s a wonderful visual, don’t you think?
It’s a wonderful visual, don’t you think?
The nude Emperor processes Full Monty, walking the state catwalk among his many, many admirers. The People, a rare foil in such stories, are awash in praise for The Emperor’s beautiful fabrics.
The People, like those of officialdom, SEE what … is … not … there. It’s a classic case of extraordinary delusions and the madness of crowds.
The People, like those of officialdom, SEE what … is … not … there. It’s a classic case of extraordinary delusions and the madness of crowds.
Out of the crowd comes an obvious comment from someone UNschooled, UNaffiliated.
This little person points out what is real: The Emperor is buck fucking naked.
This little person points out what is real: The Emperor is buck fucking naked.
Literary analysts are too quick, in my opinion, to afford The People credit for snapping out of the delusion, as Andersen has The People taking another hard look at The Bum’s bum, realizing The Emperor is INDEED in the buff – AFTER the innocent observation is made. Roars of laughter, chastisement.
This is where, to me, the tale becomes interesting.
Again, for most analysts, the morality play’s play IS a comment on consumerism or religion or vague forms of monarchy. Few take it as an indictment of governmentalism, statism itself.
This is where, to me, the tale becomes interesting.
Again, for most analysts, the morality play’s play IS a comment on consumerism or religion or vague forms of monarchy. Few take it as an indictment of governmentalism, statism itself.
I do.
It has for a long time spoken to me as an important snapshot into the very nature of revolutions, of power.
As a state employee, I was told to deliver the history of revolutions as violent and bloody affairs. Sure. Makes sense.
The state wants to convince its students how rebelling against it ALWAYS is a violence-filled, blood-soaked orgy.
And stupid-asses the world over throw trashcans at McDonald’s, don bandannas over their faces while holding home-made weapons of one kind or another. Idiots wear Che shirts (the guy was a murderer, not a cool motorcyclist) and draw an A on their bodies for some silly kind of anarchic solidarity.
Ridiculous.
And these boobs serve as PERFECT caricatures, straw men and women to knock down easily on the nightly news casts. Argue against government, against the state’s monopoly on force and violence, and you are immediately lumped-in with the dick-grabbing hooligans!
The state wants to convince its students how rebelling against it ALWAYS is a violence-filled, blood-soaked orgy.
And stupid-asses the world over throw trashcans at McDonald’s, don bandannas over their faces while holding home-made weapons of one kind or another. Idiots wear Che shirts (the guy was a murderer, not a cool motorcyclist) and draw an A on their bodies for some silly kind of anarchic solidarity.
Ridiculous.
And these boobs serve as PERFECT caricatures, straw men and women to knock down easily on the nightly news casts. Argue against government, against the state’s monopoly on force and violence, and you are immediately lumped-in with the dick-grabbing hooligans!
No.
Revolutions have largely given way to more and more statism, to the growth and tyranny of modern states. They have a sorry record, overall.
Andersen shows in his fairy tale how REAL revolutions are those of ideas.
To paraphrase Hugo, a nation of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. REAL revolutions derive their genesis from the work of an INDIVIDUAL. And real revolutions come from the individual outside The System, and from a person with clear-eyed focus on objective reality.
To paraphrase Hugo, a nation of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. REAL revolutions derive their genesis from the work of an INDIVIDUAL. And real revolutions come from the individual outside The System, and from a person with clear-eyed focus on objective reality.
The Emperor and his court continue the lie, though at some point The Emperor wants to run and hide. But they stiffen up, and the officials go on to finish out the procession. Keeping up appearances.
So it goes.
You do not need a gun. You do not need to threaten. You don’t need to cajole. You needn’t be shrill.
All it takes is to question what it is you’re told, to stop accepting what you’re fed, and to apply rational standards to spectacles we evaluate, popular spectacles directly in front of us.
And I mean it.
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checalaloskelsos@gmail.com
Craig Edward Kelso is the author of Anarcho-Capitalism (2014), a primer on the philosophy of peaceful, stateless cooperation. His curriculum vitae include a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State University, and a Post-Baccalaureate secondary education credential in both Social Science and English Language Arts. Kelso taught for nearly a decade in the American public school system, and was voted by colleagues Teacher of the Year, twice in his short tenure, earning numerous accolades from chambers of commerce, mayors, state assembly persons, governors, congresspersons, senators, and even Wal-Mart. Currently he struggles to earn an opportunity to be employed, working as a laborer, dishwasher. He is deliriously happily married to Myra Kelso, living in Southern California with their adorable children.
*
checalaloskelsos@gmail.com
Craig Edward Kelso is the author of Anarcho-Capitalism (2014), a primer on the philosophy of peaceful, stateless cooperation. His curriculum vitae include a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State University, and a Post-Baccalaureate secondary education credential in both Social Science and English Language Arts. Kelso taught for nearly a decade in the American public school system, and was voted by colleagues Teacher of the Year, twice in his short tenure, earning numerous accolades from chambers of commerce, mayors, state assembly persons, governors, congresspersons, senators, and even Wal-Mart. Currently he struggles to earn an opportunity to be employed, working as a laborer, dishwasher. He is deliriously happily married to Myra Kelso, living in Southern California with their adorable children.
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