January 13th, 2023 - Anchorage, AK - Issue 19
Certainty largely doesn’t exist.
Why do “bad” things happen to “good” people? Will humanity die off altogether during this era of imperialist capitalist power hoarding? Will it be due to environmental degradation? To what can the Big Bang and ensuing expansion of the universe be attributed? What is the nature of human consciousness? Will uncritical participants in the patriarchy ever realize the irrationality of the patriarchy’s normative ethics?
The answers to these questions may never be known and humanity would do well to realize this. Getting comfortable with uncertainty involves a resignation to some overarching limitations.
This is an uncomfortable truth, and while many people rely on human constructs to glean a semblance of certainty, those with masculinist perspectives particularly perpetuate the certainty delusion in some profound ways. (That is, patriarchy-derived perspectives such as those held by capitalists, white supremacists, neoliberal feminists, denigrators of intersectional feminism, the majority of citizens in western countries, etc.)
Two forms of this false sense of certainty plague modern society: the assumption of exemption from a cursory analysis of harmful uncertainty, and an assumption of license to decide what should and should not be acknowledged as important to collectively identify as uncertain.
The delusion of certainty involves a reliance on existing modes of thinking and an aversion to alternate modes out of an undue sense of certainty as to the superiority of the prevailing modes. This delusion is present in corrupt systems of governance, in impotent efforts to organize for environmental policy reform, and in widespread cultural left brain reliance just to name a few areas of grave concern. This delusion has historically also applied to the idea of Manifest Destiny, to genocide waged against and land stolen from Indigenous peoples, and to imperialist interventions worldwide such as the Dutch West India Company, the Monroe Doctrine, and NATO’s deadly intervention Libya. The commonplace conception of the science of evolution involves an element of this delusion too, as in patriarchal societies the focus on Darwinian survival of the fittest downplays the significance of beneficial mutations and mutual aid to evolution. The paternalistic delusion of certainty pats humans on the head and says, “daddy knows best.”
Getting comfortable with uncertainty can involve a pursuit of certainty nonetheless. Small moments of certainty are possible but these types of certainty are limited in scope and are often temporary. Readers may correctly identify WWADWWAD (?) as one such attempt. Meaning can be found in trying to solidly pin down the why, but viable answers to small questions should never be mistaken with entire certainty.
WWADWWAD (?) Featured Curiosities:
-This sweet site & the refreshing writing that it graciously hosts: https://killerandasweetthang.com/about
-This fascinating profile of an Dutch artist, Richenel: https://banbantonton.com/2020/03/14/interview-richenel-music-from-memory/
-Dr. Huberman’s highlighting of an important idea in Rick Rubin’s book, The Creative Act, A Way of Being at 2:26:59:
-This discussion between artists M.I.A. & Grimes, TLDL: we need to flip regulation around and reverse it (regulate corporations, deregulate means to environmentally mindful survival) & maybe it’s time to enact a matriarchy:
-This compelling description of how many different values a person can have and how they can be contradictory:
-And for those who celebrate:
Upcoming Events
Online/Worldwide, AKST Time:
Angela Davis’s 79th Birthday - January 26th
75th Anniversary of the day Mahatma Ghandi was assassinated- January 30th
Local, AKST Time:
Edutainment Nite $100 Cash Prize Poetry Slam- January 14th at 7PM, hosted by local artist Mohagani Magnetek, signup to begin at 6:45PM, Writer's Block Bookstore & Cafe, Theme: NEVER DROP A MIC
UAA Pride Center Grand Opening - January 17th 4-6PM, University Hub Student Union Lower Level, more info here
Parlor In The Round - January 19th at 8PM at the Wendy Williamson, featuring Ed Washington, Ashley Young, and Nate Sabat, free entry
The Forest That Never Sleeps (Kat Moore Solo Show) - January 25th 6-9PM, Palmer Alehouse’s Upstairs Lounge
Identity Alaska’s 3rd Annual Winter Gay-La - January 28th 6-10PM
Next Anchorage Community Action Meetup- February 10th at 6PM, ideal meetup to attend for the first time, message @baileywwadwwad on Twitter or email for location (see About page for contact info)
Positive and Adverse Childhood Experience Training - February 16th at 6PM, hosted by Choosing Our Roots sign up here
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