The Age of Enlightenment was over by the early eighteen hundreds.
Vern Bender
Today’s culture proves that the Enlightenment didn’t stick around very long. The American culture has been going downhill since the mid-sixties. The world that once was is no more. Its replacements are on the Highway to Hell. Cultures worldwide are in decline, and you are along for the ride.
Authentic is no more; phony poses are in vogue. Getting back to where you once belonged is no longer possible. You need to return to where you once belonged; in today’s culture, the nasty people are in charge. Don’t play their game, and they’ll go away. They never run out of new victims to play their game.
Consumption-based growth at all costs is ramping up at warp speed. Our planet can’t keep this pace up. World populations are bursting at the seams.
Six signposts along the way are:
Marriage Was Practically Universal, and Divorce Extraordinarily Rare.
Out-Of-Wedlock Births Seldom Happened.
Illegal Drugs Were Rare and Considered Dangerous.
Religious Values Were Widely Held and Shared.
It Was Not Socially Acceptable for Men to Be Idle.
Television Was Much More Influential Than It Is Today.
Beware of universal opinions; they are often wrong. Stoicism doesn’t last all that long. The Age of Enlightenment was mostly over by the early eighteen hundreds. The object frequently begets the subject, while the absolute moves around a lot. The Universe is deterministic, but not all of the time. Cognition is sometimes fundamental, and at other times, not so much. Cause and effect can sometimes be manipulated into something else.
You are a spark inside life’s explosion. Always reflect on a circular basis because you are a part of something bigger. We seek truth to be defined, so get in line. The present always shows up on time. Concepts involve others to arrive at a coherent whole. Reform or revolt? You decide.
Shelter from the hurricane is nowhere to be found. Unfettered death is coming after you; there is no place to run to and no place to hide. Safe spaces are nowhere to be found. Getting beyond the pale isn’t an option this time. The trees are on fire, and the wind is blowing hot. They are stranded alone, with no options in sight. A lethal dose of nature has a bullseye on your back.
Socialism and Communism are both controlled by a deplorable vanguard of elites. They demand conformity, with no exceptions. Step out of line, and you’re dead. Freedom and justice are both defined by them. They operate from the dark side of the soul; you can run but can’t hide.
Reason looks inward, with or without regret. More often than not, civilizations are driven by conquests in foreign lands. Harmonious and balanced complex ideals are aspirational. They are achieved rarely.
They were walking down the avenue of shame and regret, trying to forget. Your past is always behind you, helping you remember not to forget.
A redneck was standing there in a black and red bowling shirt with Bubba’s Garage embroidered on the back. He has a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer in his hand and is smoking a Pall Mall cigarette. He is explaining to his old lady about what is what. Darling, I don’t care who is on that bandstand tonight; Bob Willis will always be king. Richard Petty ain’t got nothing on the king of Western swing. Ain’t that right, Billy Bob? Yeah, and It wasn’t Santa Clause who killed Jesus Christ. Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself. It ain’t me you’re looking for, babe. Billy Bob threw seven, and they swore he threw eight. Billy Bob drew his gun; nobody got three steps this time, mister.
