Emigration and Immigration | Clarissa's Blog

Emigration and Immigration | Clarissa's Blog





This is good writing and we have many parallels, even down to us both having a revolting experience of an anti-creativity, Marxist FSU.  



I think what has taken far too long to dawn on me is the nature of cultural classes.   I used to think everyone was equal, but now I understand that cultural classes very much exist.  Sure, in some instances their strange culture is a result of some kind of shared cultural trauma, for instance in inheriting a degree of poverty or lack of spark that would enable them to participate more fully in higher cultural experiences, for example philosophy.  



But the deliberate knocking down of inspired effort -- the collective tendency to make it much more difficult than it really is -- that seems to be an entrenched attitude for whole groups of people.   Even the idea that you cannot simply perform effectively without being passed and assessed and endlessly monitored by your authorities in the hierarchy stems from a certain hatred and suspicion of humanity.  (I found that very much in the culture of the FSU.)



In all, I have discovered that most groups have to some degree created a culture of obstruction.   They may complain that they are very sad they cannot get ahead and that these obstructions are objective and external to them, but very often they have acquiesced to them so as to belong to a community.



As an outsider, one has to learn to look beyond the complaints and really just not pay them out.  After all, this is pointless unless one is seeking group membership, which I am not.



But certainly, the potential of most people is kept at a very low level on the basis of all sorts of superficial justifications about safety and being realistic, when the real issues are about power and belonging.



Even problems with communication are rooted in other people's needs to associate with power and to feel they belong.   For instance, whilst in the FSU I raised an objection to my degradation by asserting that it would be appropriate to treat me with respect.



"Respect?" exclaimed the supervisor.  "You have to earn it!"



In other words, there is a system of emotional blackmail in place.   Once you start to please us by your abject obedience to any and all requests, no matter how arbitrary, we will give you your human dignity back piece by piece.  But don't expect it, just because you happen to work here.  You're got to earn it back now.