A compelling cause for _____

What is compelling; what forces you to (or what forces force you to) act, react or do nothing either as love or fear, either in the strength to help and hope—or not….

Some years ago, I wrote a novel entitled In the Lessening; dystopian, the plot centers around a tribe or village forging its future after much has been lost in the lessening….

In some postings to follow, I will refer to the backstory of this novel; a section in the book’s end that offers some detail of the events and conditions prior to and in the lessening.  Sure, another dystopian story, but in this this, a positive profile of courage among what seems a powerless people compared with the oppressive, subterranean system of Metropolis or “Metro”. 

Presently in reality, many are experiencing a compelling cause to fear from COVID and all variety of information and data disseminated to the international public.   

What is to be made of COVID? Should I fear it or more so those who are using this virus to condition nations to obey, conform and comply—or else _____!  

As to the effect and impact on the public, I have never witnessed a more compelling cause than COVID; one that substantially supersedes all previous “crisis” in terms of response, perceived and publicized risks, and the exploitation of an event in the seizure of yet more political or state power. Aids or HIV is an only example of a contagion (blood borne) that has (and does) impact society much more than COVID, past and present given the statistics, yet the response was no where near as dramatic or extensive.

Compulsion can be a subdued, a subtle force that paradoxically produces what is thought “choice” rather than demands or orders, working first to implant or instill fear(s)—not on reality but perception— and then second, elicit or evoke that desired, a so-called “decision”, deceptively underwritten with unction.  This compulsion is like “a cutter” that believes the pain and bleeding is more a relief and respite than an act of self-mutilation or destruction. Others may see this act of cutting and bleeding for the danger it poses while the cutter, a victim first of delusions let alone deeds.     

The nature of psychological compulsion is such that those who act under constraint remains under the impression that they are acting on their own initiative. The victim of mind-manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him, the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free. That he is not free is apparent only to other people. His servitude is strictly objective. 

- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

But then, who are the “other people” for as it seems, much of the public is duped; socially-spaced, masked and cowered rather than courageous—or at least comfortable enough not to give a care. 

It is when the comfortable, or pleasure, passes that the cutter or the conditioned may realize their delusions, deceived and dying under compulsion.