Tom Walker:
>
>Perhaps what we need is a science of crucifixion that goes something like
this:
>
>* a 'prophet' comes up with some observations and explanation that makes
>things clear
>* the prophet and the prophet's ideas begin to attract a large public
>following -- a movement
>* the powers that be devote massive resources to eliminating the prophet and
>obscuring the prophet's ideas
>* the prophet's followers try to preserve the ideas, but can't help
>including a new element -- martyrdom
>* the message ceases to be the prophet's ideas and becomes instead the
>martyrdom of those ideas
>
>Maybe "martyrdom" is the real reason repression works so well.;-)
>
Tom,
This is rather brilliant. If you cannot have change, you can at least have
martyrdom, thereby elevating your cause to a higher plane by permanently
fixing it in iconic form. Once you have accumulated a sufficient number of
martyrs, you can give them full time attention, continue to suffer, and stop
pushing for change. Gads, but the medieval authorities who burned heretics
at the stake were a canny lot!
Ed Weick
