One of the ideas I found most disturbing in Reeducation was that one necessarily had a problematic situation and was a problematic person. The best one could do was creep along in life, try to improve in small ways, and show forbearance.
It was hard to understand since I had an interesting job and a good flat in a good city, lots of health and lots to do. According to Reeducation, however, I had to atone for my father’s alcoholism. I had to atone for it.
The way to do this was to relinquish my ease in life, think poorly of myself and others, and question whether my ability to spend day after pleasant and useful day were a result of “denial.” Not to be an alcoholic myself, not to have lived in an alcoholic household since the early seventies (and it was the nineties now) and not being married to an alcoholic myself were not allowable excuses.
If you had any alcoholics in your family, then you were necessarily very judgmental. You were gripped with envy and a desire for control over others. If you did not identify with this description, that only showed how deep your degree of denial was.
This seemed really irrational to me then, although I gave it the benefit of the doubt. It still seems irrational to me now. Indeed, it is the kind of rigid gridlock one finds in the thinking of drunks.
I did notice, however, when I finally went to Al-Anon itself, that the people who were committed to staying in alcoholic relationships believed very strongly in this model of the self as a small person and of life as drudgery. They were also the people who kept saying that if you left one bad situation, you would only find another.
I really think such people should speak for themselves, as opposed to preach their dubious truths to others, or present them as universal. As far as the commenter on this blog goes — well, since you feel so free to comment upon me, let me say that I am not the one with the string of dubious marriages and so on.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
I do have one caveat on this. If you are actually dealing IN THE PRESENT with an addict, any support group where there are other people with the same problem is helpful.
I do think there are serious problems with the addiction model and more serious ones with its application to the rest of society … which is what Reeducation was about.
These ppl sound like the lower-middle class in nazi Germany. Life is basically a negative proposition, so work hard and do as your authorities say and do not question them. Perhaps you will get your reward when you die?
An interesting comparison although some of the principals are involved in serious non Nazi like political work, are opposing the government, and so on.
The other thing is, one is supposed to be convinced that the world is against one … and learn to “take responsibility” for some of the negative things that happen in Reeducation.
This part I never figured out because how could one, ever, as a middle class person from the U.S., think circumstances were stacked against one? They are stacked in our favor … but in Reeducation I was not supposed to be able to see anything like that. One had to admit to paranoia, resentment, and all these sorts of things.
More Nazi like emotions, really…
And t0, or re that commenter, whose site is now getting hits from here — don’t feel TOO bad, I’ll still talk to you about books and things, and it’s not just you I am pillorying. It *is* you, since we have already discussed these matters in detail, and since your comment was fighting words. But more than you it is the whole pop cultural movement you defend I am pillorying. Fighting the pernicious effects of this movement is, once again, a main *purpose* of this blog and you should know that!
Als0 — just the sheer amount of time and energy it takes to try to convince yourself you think like an Al-Anon person. The examination of all your thoughts and actions to try and find the supposed Al-Anon sins. Looking for the envy, the feelings of superiority, the paranoia, the judgmental streak, the blaming, the … all the things you HAVE TO HAVE. Learning to see yourself as one who has these things, and to admit that if you don’t see it, you’re “in denial.” Then, how time consuming it is to live carrying that burden of unfinished work — it literally *does* make you creep around.
really I think you need to read the genealogy of morals. This stuff can be explained.
I believe you. I’ll read it.
or try this:
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=J3z2ZJ2XuRkC&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=conscience+inquisition+twilight+of+the+idols+nietzsche&source=bl&ots=GWYCKPIP_K&sig=cy9Dah16q7c8y02cbltz8J7CXms&hl=en&ei=VLMtSouxN8KPkAX-sqCmBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1
21.
The things necessary to Buddhism are a very mild climate, customs of great gentleness and liberality, and no militarism; moreover, it must get its start among the higher and better educated classes. Cheerfulness, quiet and the absence of desire are the chief desiderata, and they are attained. Buddhism is not a religion in which perfection is merely an object of aspiration: perfection is actually normal.–Under Christianity the instincts of the subjugated and the oppressed come to the fore: it is only those who are at the bottom who seek their salvation in it. Here the prevailing pastime, the favourite remedy for boredom is the discussion of sin, self-criticism, the inquisition of conscience; here the emotion produced by power (called “God”) is pumped up (by prayer); here the highest good is regarded as unattainable, as a gift, as “grace.” Here, too, open dealing is lacking; concealment and the darkened room are Christian. Here body is despised and hygiene is denounced as sensual; the church even ranges itself against cleanliness (–the first Christian order after the banishment of the Moors closed the public baths, of which there were 270 in Cordova alone) . Christian, too; is a certain cruelty toward one’s self and toward others; hatred of unbelievers; the will to persecute. Sombre and disquieting ideas are in the foreground; the most esteemed states of mind, bearing the most respectable names are epileptoid; the diet is so regulated as to engender morbid symptoms and over-stimulate the nerves. Christian, again, is all deadly enmity to the rulers of the earth, to the “aristocratic”–along with a sort of secret rivalry with them (–one resigns one’s “body” to them–one wantsonly one’s “soul” . . . ). And Christian is all hatred of the intellect, of pride, of courage of freedom, of intellectual libertinage; Christian is all hatred of the senses, of joy in the senses, of joy in general . . .
http://www.fns.org.uk/ac.htm
That’s brilliant and it’s a brilliant page. If I Facebook it, it will really freak out my students (most of my FB friends are students, that’s why I keep posting news I think they should know about). I may do it anyway — maybe not.
Meanwhile I ordered Genealogy from Powell’s. I want to actually own it. But this is such a PERFECT page. PERFECT.
That page is from The Antichrist, which is normally sold with Twilight of the Idols.
But genealogy will give you the actual psychology of all of this christian stuff. It goes quite deeply into why certain people seem to need it — whereas it is not for you and I.
It’s going to be fun to read! I think I will read it in Europe … on the plane to Deutschland, and then on Deutsche Bahn. It’s too bad my German isn’t any better.
Also — the comments on Buddhism are quite marvelous. My parents and a lot of their friends were (vaguely) Buddhist; that was the closest “exposure” I got to anything like a spiritual doctrine…
And of course — Christianity being a religion of the enslaved explains why all of these trapped women so believe in codependency theory and all.
Have fun in Germany
—
Women have traditionally been treated as slaves. In Genealogy of morals they are seen as having been mired in a tradition of being both suffering and captives. It stretches my imagination to think that many women have simply adapted to this practical reality to the point that they see it as the norm. Many women I have encountered, whom I originally mistook as my peers, have so little to ask from life, except to be hurt a little less, to gain a momentary reprieve, that they would willingly betray my friendship for what they expect to be a temporary gain: the boss’s look of approval.
They’re patriarchalized, I know. It’s very surprising. Deutschland isn’t yet, so I may finish the book before leaving. We’ll see.
And another thing, males who believe that they have a METAPHYSICAL CALLING to attack that which they perceive as “femininity” within themselves and others actually cut off their own roots that would facilitate nourishment and regeneration during a time of crisis. That’s it for them baby — boats all burned.
It is not surprising that many of them do become mentally ill.
Life is just a bowl of cherries
Don’t take it serious,
Life’s too mysterious
You work,
You save,
You worry so
But you can’t take your dough
When you go, go, go
So keep repeating “It’s the berries.”
The strongest oak must fall
The sweet things in life
To you were just loaned
So how can you lose
What you’ve never owned
Life is just a bowl of cherries
So live and laugh, aha!
Laugh and love
Live and laugh,
Laugh and love,
Live and laugh at it all!
J – yes.
H – yes but that was what I would have said before meeting all of these people, who are dangerous. I’d like to be able to laugh them off and could in places like Berkeley where they were in the minority. Now I need a tougher strategy and a more eagle like eye.
Yes, you do live in the belly of the beast. Nonetheless…
Yes … but we’re finished figuring it out, so we can relax now!!!! 🙂
My own temperament doesn’t like too much relaxation. It is more than happy to go to war over this or that, or indeed, over the other. However, what dismays it is the poor standard of thinking and feeling and behaving that passes for “masculinity” these days.
My own temperament craves an encounter with the real thing, rather than with its ersatz version – the patriarchy.
Once my own temperament has set the world to rights, I want to have real adventures in the wildnerness — and to write about it.
I think that when I finish my PhD I will teach ESL in Thailand whilst I apply for jobs.
I’m glad that the features of my face have become rather more defined and expressive as compared to in my 20s. I do think my intelligence — and warlike capabilities — have become written all over my face. I do think it would be hard to read me as a pushover. (This is a response to the feminist post referred to in the post above.)
I think Hattie means not to give that commenter so much energy — and in that, re my use of time and so on, she’s right, except that/although I JUST HAD to get those ideas out of me as opposed to try and ignore them.
This sentence from that post by 49% really applies to Reeducation: “I have to wonder exactly why it is that so many people in my life have been so vested in controlling my feelings”?
I’m the ultimate relaxer, my idea is one should be standing on the beach at all times, late afternoon, letting the waves come up and run over one’s feet more and more, looking out as the sun sinks and gulls fly across it.
But: masculinity vs. its ersatz version, the patriarchy, yes. Adventures in wilderness and writing about it, yes, I keep having the first and don’t write about it formally because I don’t just GO for it, always say I should be writing something else. We had swimming lessons as children with Pico Iyer and he has a job rather like the one I want. http://www.rolfpotts.com/writers/iyer.html
Face — mine has looked overburdened of late — starting when I got involved with we know who, I believe, but perhaps sooner. Getting rid of the Reeducated imperatives helps move things back.
You know, I think I can pick up a sense of a place really quickly, like Pico Iyer. But I am more interesting in doing a survivalist trip around parts of southern africa. I would go on horseback, with minimal supplies.
an interesting (perhaps overblown?) controversy in Australia
It’s good to see some feminist solidarity, though, even if its on a nationalist basis.
I do not mean this as a criticism of Pico, but he travels too fast for my taste and as a result of this is a little more touristy / a little less off the beaten track than non traveling people fully realize. But mostly he goes too fast / isn’t engaged enough in the real life of a place.
I want to do that horseback type trip in Haiti.
That is very funny about Chef Gordon!!! I do not know enough about tv, but fortunately I have seen him so I can understand the story…
Prof. Z: you have to work it out, I know. This blog is a wonderful resource for you and a reminder to me of the things I do not wish to forget about my own struggles.
Don’t wish to forget — but maybe forgetting would be nice?! Just imagine — if I could clean out these Augean stables like Hercules, and blast myself into another universe!
I’m sort of tired of working it out and would rather be working out my research project more hours per day … except that if I don’t clean out these stables, the muck holds me back, so I’m condemned either way, might as well clean them.
Blog, amazing resource, yes. Had I had it back in the day, before blogs existed, I would be so much further ahead … !!!
[And: people think I waste time on the blog, but they don’t know that some of my best bibliographical references come from blogs and Facebook and I am not kidding — software recommendations too! And/but: I’m now tagged as an atheist on FB by a student … it’s the second time … not a good thing in Louisiana … I’m going to have to cool it because it’s summer now, which means fall is just around the corner.]