Propaganda & The Warrior-Philosopher
by Donavon L Riley
Amidst the relentless noise produced by technology, where the ceaseless cycle of political and cultural news events dictate the rhythm of our days, the luxury of contemplation has become a rarity. Immersed in this unending stream of information, the individual is perpetually adrift, denied the sanctuary of reflection necessary to discern the deeper currents beneath the surface. This incessant engagement with the ephemeral present robs him of the ability to scrutinize any single event with the intensity it demands, or to weave together disparate occurrences into a coherent narrative of understanding.
In the epochs that shaped civilizations, the warrior and the philosopher alike understood that true comprehension requires a retreat from the tumult of the immediate. Yet, the man of the moment, ensnared by the trivialities of the moment, finds himself incapable of such withdrawal. He skims the surface of events, his mind driven by a sequence of fleeting impressions, each new headline obliterating the memory of its predecessor. In this maelstrom, genuine thought is a casualty; the capacity for deep reflection is sacrificed at the altar of continuous distraction.
This superficial existence engenders a profound disengagement from concrete reality. Modern man does not grapple with the complexities of current issues through the lens of reason and imagination; he is instead buffeted by waves of emotion, reacting instinctively rather than comprehending deliberately. This reactionary mode of existence absolves him of responsibility, rendering him a mere spectator to his own life. The propagandist, ever the opportunist, exploits this vulnerability, knowing well that the public’s memory is notoriously short. A theme or event, no matter how momentous, is swiftly forgotten as the tide of new information rolls in.
The onslaught of information triggers a defensive mechanism within the individual, a subconscious retreat into a semblance of personal continuity. To preserve this fragile sense of self, he must forget the past, erasing yesterday’s events to make room for today’s. This deliberate amnesia fractures his perception of reality, condemning him to live in a series of disjointed moments, each devoid of connection to the others.
This fragmented existence renders the “current-events man” an ideal prey for propaganda. Devoid of stable anchors, he is swept along by the currents of the day, his mind a malleable clay in the hands of those who shape public discourse. His instability, born of a relentless pursuit of the present, leaves him susceptible to every influence exerted by the latest headline. Immersed in the superficiality of contemporary affairs, he becomes psychologically weakened, a puppet to the propagandist’s strings.
In this state of perpetual distraction, the relationship between events and truth is severed. The individual, engrossed by the spectacle, remains blind to the underlying realities. Authentic information, with its capacity to illuminate the deeper truths of life, is overshadowed by the sensational and the trivial. If scientists were to split the atom today, a profound event with far-reaching implications, it would be relegated to the background, eclipsed by the transient excitement of politics or sport. This pivotal moment in human history would be overshadowed by the ephemera that captivate the public’s fleeting attention.
The propagandist, attuned to the superficial desires of the masses, exploits this tendency. By focusing on the most sensational aspects of events, they mold public perception and steer societal attitudes. The man of the moment, living in a perpetual present, becomes an instrument of this manipulation, unable to perceive the deeper truths obscured by the noise of the everyday.
To resist this onslaught, one must cultivate a discipline of thought reminiscent of the ascetic rigor of the warrior-philosopher. It demands a conscious withdrawal from the immediacy of the news cycle, a deliberate engagement with the deeper currents of reality. Only by stepping back from the incessant flow of events can one begin to discern the broader patterns and underlying truths that define our reality. This retreat is not a surrender, but a strategic withdrawal to higher ground, from which the landscape of current events can be surveyed with clarity and purpose.
In this disciplined reflection lies the potential for true agency, the reclamation of critical thought, and the forging of a coherent narrative amidst the fluidity and seeming chaotic patterns of modern life. To navigate the complexities of our world with the acuity of the warrior and the insight of the philosopher, one must embrace the stillness from which profound understanding arises. This path, though arduous, is the gateway to a life not of disjointed moments, but of unified, purposeful engagement with reality.