The Genius of the Crowd
I found this Bukowski poem and it pretty much sums up my view of America as it is right now. It's strange how appropriate this poem is despite how long ago it was written, nearly 50 years ago. I think we all struggle with disassociation that is mostly self inflicted and constantly war against the swollen masses who seem to infuriate us just by their refusal to not exist. I'm still torn with the idea that is actually my fault and not theirs, it's never that black and white.
"There is enough treachery, hatred, Violence, Absurdity in the average human Being To supply any given army on any given day. AND The Best At Murder Are Those Who Preach Against It. AND The Best at Hate Are Those Who Preach LOVE AND THE BEST AT WAR - FINALLY - ARE THOSE WHO PREACH PEACE
Those Who Preach GOD NEED God Those Who Preach PEACE Do Not Have Peace. THOSE WHO PREACH LOVE DO NOT HAVE LOVE BEWARE THE PREACHERS Beware The Knowers.
Beware Those Who Are ALWAYS READING BOOKS
Beware Those Who Either Detest Poverty Or Are Proud Of It
BEWARE Those Quick To Praise For They Need PRAISE In Return
BEWARE Those Quick To Censure: They Are Afraid Of What They Do Not Know
Beware Those Who Seek Constant Crowds; They Are Nothing Alone
Beware The Average Man The Average Woman BEWARE Their Love
Their Love Is Average; Seeks Average But the Is Genius In Their Hatred There Is Enough Genius In Their Hatred To Kill You, To Kill Anybody.
Not wanting Solitude Not Understanding Solitude They Will Attempt To Destroy Anything That Differs From Their Own
Not Being Able To Create Art They Will Not Understand Art
They Will Consider Their Failure As Creators Only As A Failure Of The World
Not Being Able To Love Fully They Will BELIEVE Your Love Incomplere AND THEN THEY WILL HATE YOU
And Their Hatred Will Be Perfect Like A Shining Diamond Like A Knife Like A Mountain LIKE A TIGER LIKE Hemlock
Their Finest ART"
"There is enough treachery, hatred, Violence, Absurdity in the average human Being To supply any given army on any given day. AND The Best At Murder Are Those Who Preach Against It. AND The Best at Hate Are Those Who Preach LOVE AND THE BEST AT WAR - FINALLY - ARE THOSE WHO PREACH PEACE
Those Who Preach GOD NEED God Those Who Preach PEACE Do Not Have Peace. THOSE WHO PREACH LOVE DO NOT HAVE LOVE BEWARE THE PREACHERS Beware The Knowers.
Beware Those Who Are ALWAYS READING BOOKS
Beware Those Who Either Detest Poverty Or Are Proud Of It
BEWARE Those Quick To Praise For They Need PRAISE In Return
BEWARE Those Quick To Censure: They Are Afraid Of What They Do Not Know
Beware Those Who Seek Constant Crowds; They Are Nothing Alone
Beware The Average Man The Average Woman BEWARE Their Love
Their Love Is Average; Seeks Average But the Is Genius In Their Hatred There Is Enough Genius In Their Hatred To Kill You, To Kill Anybody.
Not wanting Solitude Not Understanding Solitude They Will Attempt To Destroy Anything That Differs From Their Own
Not Being Able To Create Art They Will Not Understand Art
They Will Consider Their Failure As Creators Only As A Failure Of The World
Not Being Able To Love Fully They Will BELIEVE Your Love Incomplere AND THEN THEY WILL HATE YOU
And Their Hatred Will Be Perfect Like A Shining Diamond Like A Knife Like A Mountain LIKE A TIGER LIKE Hemlock
Their Finest ART"