America in the Head

[Guest guest]

It's the conclusion of an article in "Le Monde Diplomatique", an

important monthly edition for those curious of looking at the mechanism

of the major movements affecting the human population of this planet.

One of its major theme this month was about the US. So here is this

article I am here translating. When it is a fact that the Us buys less

than 1% of the film from other countries, yet invade other countries

with US content, to take an example. I find it only normal to translate

the expressed opinion of other countries, cultures, here.

 

Of course it is a translation,

 

"The Temple, the sacred place where occurs the cult of those new Icon is

the "mall", the commercial centre, Cathedral erected to the glory of all

consumption. In those place of buying things, comes out a same

sensitivity all over the planet, made of logos, of stars, of songs, of

idols, of labels, of objects, of posters, of holidays (like Halloween in

France).

 

All this associated with a charming rhetoric of liberty of choice and

autonomy of the consumer. Hit by an obsessive publicity and present

everywhere (The expense of the United States come, each year, to more

than 200 billion dollar) that is more turned toward the symbol than on

the goods. Marketing is so sophisticated that it seek to sell, not a

label anymore, but an identity, not a social sign, but a personality.

According to the principle: To have is to be.

 

It is thus urgent to remember the warning cry, already in 1932, of

Haldous Huxley : "In a time of advanced technology, the biggest danger

for the ideas, the culture and the spirit may come more from an enemy

with a smiling face than an adversary inspiring terror."

 

For, having become master of symbols, the American Empire comes to us

with the charming appearance of the magician of always. Offering us gogo

spare times (Loisir à gogo), distractions in form of a loop, sugar for

the eyes, this new hypnotizer breaks into out thoughts and transplants

ideas that are not ours. He those not look to have our soumission by

force, but by incantation, not under orders, but by our own consent. Not

by the fear of getting punished, but on playing on our thirst for

pleasure. "

 

Translation from "Le Monde Diplomatioque. MAI 2000. L'amerique dans les

têtes by Ignacio Ramonet."

 

Antoine Carre

[Guest guest]

Dear Antoine,

 

Thank you for translating this and sending it. This is a deep truth

that we in America and everyone in the world needs to wake up to. Our

culture is crazy. We have so much desire, and that desire has been

channeled into having things. Greed motivates the advertisers and they

have effectively learned the lessons of psychology and the language of

spirituality, but it only works because greed motivates the consumers.

We support and reward the advertisers and then congratulate ourselves

because we have such a successful economy. It is an interesting

phenomenon, but I hear more and more from people that they are tired of

the fast pace. We seem to run faster and faster like Alice and the red

queen in Through the Looking Glass. I personally would like a simpler

life with less time devoted to money and things and more devoted to

devotion itself. I watch less TV than I used to, but still watch a lot,

and I often am amused to notice myself sitting and watching the

commercials and then wandering off to cook dinner or do some task during

the "show". What does THAT say about me? It is clear that we are

defining ourselves in terms of material things.

 

Long Island, where I live is one big mall, and I can see how much the

people hate driving, but why are they driving? Because they are going to

the mall.

 

waking up is good.

 

Love, Mark

 

Antoine wrote

 

"The Temple, the sacred place where occurs the cult of those new Icon is

> the "mall", the commercial centre, Cathedral erected to the glory of

> all

> consumption.

 

(snip)

> Marketing is so sophisticated that it seek to sell, not a

> label anymore, but an identity, not a social sign, but a personality.

> According to the principle: To have is to be.

>

> It is thus urgent to remember the warning cry, already in 1932, of

> Haldous Huxley : "In a time of advanced technology, the biggest danger

>

> for the ideas, the culture and the spirit may come more from an enemy

> with a smiling face than an adversary inspiring terror."

>

> For, having become master of symbols, the American Empire comes to us

> with the charming appearance of the magician of always. Offering us

> gogo

> spare times (Loisir à gogo), distractions in form of a loop, sugar for

>

> the eyes, this new hypnotizer breaks into out thoughts and transplants

>

> ideas that are not ours. He those not look to have our soumission by

> force, but by incantation, not under orders, but by our own consent.

> Not

> by the fear of getting punished, but on playing on our thirst for

> pleasure. "

>

 

It's true!

 

Love, Mark