This is http://www.essayz.com/a9604161.htm         
Previous-Essay      <== This-Essay ==>     Following-Essay
Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words.
{Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.}
==========================================================
 %ILLUSION APPEARANCE STABILITY PERMANENCE FAMILIAR+960416
 %LAWS PATTERNS TRADITIONS PRINCIPLES COLLUSION SIN 960416

     We are more  comfortable  with the familiar than with
the  unfamiliar,   with stability than with  chaos,   with
permanence than with revolution---even when  the  familiar
and  stable permanence is harmful,   dishonest,   violent,
coercive and disintegrative.

     There  are  many  ways  in  which  we  seek  to  make
ourselves comfortable.

     1.  We  find ways to see the unfamiliar in  terms  of
the familiar;  through   analogies,   similes,  metaphors,
symbols, pointers, laws, principles, generalizations, etc.

     2.  We  find ways to avoid the unfamiliar by  staying
in circumstances which entail only the familiar.

     3.  We avoid challenges,  growth,  change,  dialogue,
creativity, hopes, aspirations, dreams, visions, etc.

     4.  We  close our eyes,  plug our ears,  and turn off
our minds.

     5.  We  pretend   that   the   unfamiliar  is nothing
different,  pretending  it is  something familiar which is
like the unfamiliar "thing".

     6.  We  join  together in collusive games  of  mutual
self deception  to help  each other  feel comfortable with
our dishonesty.

     7.  We focus upon the pattern of change as a familiar
pattern;   thinking  of  the process as  familiar  and  as
entailing  no  change.   When driving at high speed  on  a
modern highway we appear to be "at rest".   In the  middle
of a population explosion which threatens our survival all
growth seems to be good.

     8.  In the middle of a technological revolution which
enables  all  kinds  of  crazy  people  to  be destructive
terrorists---we appear to be secure.

     9.  When we are  alienated from the  majority  of the
people of  the  world---we appear to  be  better  than the
majority of the people in the world---and so secure.

     10.  When our   technological   defenses   are   more
sophisticated, expensive and destructive than those of our
enemies---we appear to be secure and free from fear.

     It  is  wonderful  how all the people  in  the  world
marvel at our achievements!

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
==========================================================