Coming Soon: Dark Ages II

I try to avoid contemplating the end of the most unusual reality this world has seen, as the U.S. devolves away from a moral republic and joins the endless cycle of tyrants, serfdom, fascism, and chaos the rest of the world seems to wish upon us. Misery loves company, I suppose.  Tyrants don't like republics. They prefer to sap the energy of the drones, like the humans in The Matrix.

The subversives have won; There is no Coolidge around to save us. So rather than watch the sad demise of all that our forefathers lived and died to create, I took up some light reading, the Lost Empire of Atlantis, a new book revealing the recent, unfolding information about Crete. In many ways, the Minoan culture was like that of America as it was unique, rich, and without strife.

The Minoan civilization was the great world culture for thousands of years before Christ. Then, it wasn't. Plato talked about the civilization, offering a tale about what happened to it. History has come to call the Minoan civilization the lost civilization of "Atlantis." Plato's description seems, with current knowledge, dead on.

In 1450 B.C. (B.C.E. is more political silliness) the Minoans on Crete and Thera were at the height of their culture, which was vastly superior to that of Egypt and centuries before Greece and Rome assembled cultures. Crete was a center of commerce, being a source of husbanded olive oil, pottery, metal work (yes, metal work that Egyptians likely bought to shape rocks). It had five story buildings, protected ports, and a population of pretty good looking people, if you go by their superior art.  They liked jumping over bulls, as you recall.

The king swapped gifts with the Pharaoh. Minoan jewelry and art work were vastly superior to any other in the world, none of the crudeness common to early artisans. There were no feudal states, but there were fleets of ocean going vessels. Indeed, on the northern shores of Lake Superior one can find Minoan DNA among the indigenous folk. The king actually did have a labyrinth below his castle. 

Around 1450 B.C the culture was already over 1,500 years old. All cultures were friendly with the Minoans, who traded with and learned from many other cultures.  The sun was warm and life was idyllic.

Then, one day, the largest volcanic eruption known to scientists exploded. The islands were on an active fault line, the ash providing incredibly fertile land. The people were familiar with eruptions; houses were fairly high above the sea level and were on the safe side of the islands. They were not ready for this eruption.

Within minutes of the eruption a wall of water, estimated at 100 feet high, swept away Thera and Crete. The highest buildings were below the wave, thus, nothing remained. Today, scientists find sea shells meshed into the ground. some 100 feet above sea level. 

Nothing could remain. Evidence of the civilization was buried and its location was lost to fable.

There were Minoans all about the world and at sea, so one can assume much of the culture found new homes. Perhaps, it was the Minoans who were the white skinned men who visited South America in ancient times. Perhaps, they brought an understanding of time and astronomy.

In any event, thousands of years of learning and growth ceased in a few moments. The premier culture was lost. This is a sobering notion. No warning - just gone. So, this story makes me feel better.  We have some warning and our tsunami is one that was called The Nothing in the movie The Never Ending Story. 

It seems to me that we should organize centers of culture and learning about the world and on the Internet.  We can expurgate European notions of top-down government, fascism, and the like. We could create iMonasteries where wisdom can be guarded until the sociopaths die out.

The attempt to save what has become a nest of corruption and a home for sociopaths is pointless. At least, on an emotional level. Sure, go vote in primaries in favor of the quaint, old Constitution, but there is no point is waring against the rabble. Withdraw from the dance.

We will all become boring and uninterested in attempting innovation. The new serfdom. Those who see the danger of The Nothing can hop a hairy dog and flee. 

The tsunami only takes those who were not expecting it, so off you go to some high ground, now, in some place that you can afford to live and be surrounded by civilized people.  Once there, you can link up with others of the same mind, buy encryption software, use false URLs, and develop code words, get a rifle, and keep in touch.

In the meantime, join me in putting things in perspective. 

Seriously, you can find perspective by not dancing with evil and just stand with children and sing to joy.