A Joke

Marx, Engels, and Lenin are asked whether they would prefer to have a wife or a mistress. As expected, Marx, rather conservative in private matters, answers, “A wife!” while Engels, more of a bon vivant, opts for a mistress. To everyone’s surprise, Lenin says, “I’d like to have both!” Why? Is there a hidden stripe of decadent jouisseur behind his austere revolutionary image? No-he explains: “So that I can tell my wife that I am going to my mistress, and my mistress that I have to be with my wife…” “And then, what do you do?” “I go to a solitary place to learn, learn, and learn!”

Zizek, Slavoj, p.8, Violence, 2008

Violence

Violence is usually seen in terms of the domain in which concurring compromise and mutual assistance set the standard for Dasein, and accordingly all violence is necessarily deemed only a disturbance and an offence… The violent one, the creative one who sets forth into the unsaid, who breaks into the unthought, who compels what has never happened and makes appear what is unseen-this violent one stand at all times in daring… Therefore the violence-doer knows no kindness and conciliation (in the ordinary sense), no appeasement and mollification by success or prestige and by their confirmation… For such a one, disaster i the deepest and broadest Yes to the Overwhelming… Essential de-cision, when it is carried out and when it resists the constantly pressing ensnarement in the everyday and the customary, has to use violence. This act of violence, thi de-cided setting out upon the way to the Being of beings, moves humanity out of the hominess of what is most directly nearby and what is usual.

Introduction to Metaphysics, Heidegger

Do not focus on the ridiculous description of the hero

I took this passage from my favourite author’s, Slavoj Zizek, latest book, entitled Violence. It is a passage from one of the propaganda texts distributed by North Korea during the Korean War.

Hero Kang Ho-yung was seriously wounded in both arms and both legs in the Kamak Hill Battle, so he rolled into the midst of the enemy with a hand grenade in his mouth and wiped them out, shouting: “My arms and legs were broken. But on the contrary my retaliatory spirit against you scoundrels became a thousand times stronger. I will show you the unbending fighting will of a member of the Workers’ Party of Korea and unflinching will firmly pledge to the Party and the Leader!”

I urge you not to focus on the ridiculous description of the hero and the details such as how he is able to speak if he is holding  a grenade with his mouth. Instead try to interpret in a different manner. I won’t give you any hint. You must do your own interpretation and if you wish you can share it by commenting on this post.

Reference: Zizek, Slavoj, p. 84, Violence, 2008

The ten commandments of liberal communist by Olivier Malnuit

1. Give everything away for free (free access, no copyright…); just charge for the additional services, which will make you even richer.

2. Change the world, don’t just sell the things: global revolution, a change of society will make things better.

3. Be caring, sharing, and aware of social responsibility.

4. Be creative: focus on design, new technologies, and sciences.

5. Tell it all: there should be no secrets. Endorse and practice the cult of transparency, the free flow of information, all humanity should collaborate and interact.

The interrogation of the Good

Step forward: we hear

That you are a good man.

You cannot be bought, but the lightning

Which strikes the house, also

Cannot be bought.

You hold to what you said.

But what did you say?

You are honest, you say your opinion.

Which opinion?

You are brave.

Against whom?

You are wise.

For whom?

You do not consider your personal advantages.

Whose advantages do you consider then?

You are good friend.

Are you also a good friend of the good people?