Johnny Went Rotten Tom Sin writes: Ah, man. I suppose its something to do with getting older, seeing things begin and go bust, that makes people feel the world is insane, dangerous - the slow descent to that place where one accepts control and corruption to the degree that it holds a loony ship together, at least keeps even worse conditions at bay. The loss of hope and the embrace of pessimism is all about becoming too tired or disgusted with repeating dilemmas and the wars of all shapes and sizes created and engaged within - eventually cultivating a desire to be freed from the debates and conversations, and experience release, or escape. Being a older geezer myself, Ican tell you its tempting to chalk up every good revolutionary idea to naïveté and collapse, and through sheer fatigue, give up the ghost, accept it as all being unwinnable and absurd, a waste of our energy trying to talk people into our notions of change, or how we think things should be, even as they clearly are not. People eventually become worn down by the competing visions, endless debate or argument, as the forces of corruption and the dominant disastrous societal trajectory rolls on. People eventually, instinctively go to ground - cant handle the war zones of continuing discussion or the competing powers. Its part of the human condition, to fight for what wed like to see change, or to become freed, yet often no one person can do enough to make their intentions real enough, and either they turn to appreciation of what they do have, and the contemplation of the history of many who were far worse of than they themselves, of even worse conditions worldwide, or the cancerous schizoid conditions battling within themselves, and eventually it wears them out - they need a bit of that solace and peace they once desired or imagined for all, to whatever degree it can be held - even if its just scraps, bits and pieces available, taking advantage of their comparative affluence, and in the end becoming something theyre even grateful for, albeit so very far from the world they once imagined or hoped - focussing upon comparisons and reasons to be grateful, as the Dalai Lama and others are so fond of explaining. Once the idea or notion that this world or its human inhabitants are beyond repair, not worth the energy or battle to defend, then its all about compassion, kindness, attempts to understand the pain as well as the conditions of its continuance, absorb or become open to philosophical ideas dealing with long trajectories, historical phases, the curve of history which reveals a continual thirst, not simply for freedom but also for anything at all, life gasping for more life. Its sad, but true. This world beats us down, through the myriad potential most often thwarted, as well as through our disgust at the sight of continually refreshing situations, endlessly repeating questions of existential and material comcerns, going in vicious cycles of confusion, dim awareness, action, collapse, confusion, restart. Johnny Lydon has finally went rotten. Its a shame. Still, he neednt go so far as to attack others engaged in things not that far off from what he did in his youth to uproot and challenge the dominant culture. The ol git is knackered, clearly. Not only that, but he has always been feisty, testy, prone to in correctness in one form or the other - which was part of his brilliance and edge - now, hes sounding like am old man. See, it turns out that, despite the impressions of bold youth and catchy punk songs, THERE IS A FURURE, AND THE FUTURE IS BLEAK. Still, thats different from how a child sees the end of everything, absolute end, if he doesnt get his way... and sadly, thats not what happens, things go on, and were forced to deal with them, notch back our expectations, or change our mind as to what we expect or are planning for, in one crazy way or another. I mean it, maaaaan.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 16:19:05 +0000
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