At the Republic of Monte Cristo, we get lots of cards, letters and emails asking us if "we're for real or if we're serious". "Is this web site just a joke ?" "Is there anything you guys really believe in, or is everything fodder for light and pointless entertainment ?" Where do you really stand "?
OK, here it is:
We believe in sarcasm, satire, sardonic wit....or at least the sardonic part. We believe in humour, with a very light sprinkle of education. We believe in not taking ourselves too seriously, or suggesting that we have the answers to the ills of the world. We do not believe in preaching. There are many things we believe in passionately, some we will touch upon on this page. But, above all else, we believe in fun. Those who believe in any cause so deeply that they shut their eyes to the big picture, and the joys of life, are the nuts we need to avoid. "It often takes more courage to change one's opinion than to keep it" -WILLY BRANDT
However serious or not we may be on the other pages of this website, we'll strive for sincerity on this page. Although we prefer humour, there are times, hopefully brief, to pause, be serious and if need be, be sanguine. "Sincerity may be humble, but she cannot be servile"-LORD BYRON, letter, May 29, 1823. This is Our Stand
The 20th Century was pretty much a disaster for the world. WWI, WWII, a very hot Cold War, Hitler, Stalin, Communism, Fascism, occupations, divisions; red hat vs. blue, black vs. white, East vs. West, right vs. left, upper class vs. lower classes, Christian vs. Jew, Catholic vs. non-Catholic, blah, blah, blah. The domination of an exploitative, artificial, archaic, anachronistic "system" run amok designed to internationally divide people and make them easier to control and manipulate. We say put the "system" itself on trial. We do not need another 20th Century, nor can we afford one. People need to relax and chill. There is nothing wrong with feeling strongly about a particular cause, as long as one does not lose perspective and cross over into the realm of fanatic zealotry. "I think that hate is a thing, a feeling, that can only exist where there is no understanding"- TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, Forward to Sweet Bird of Youth.
We say; "choose the hat of your choice; red or blue, black or white...or none at all. But, always remember that there is a higher duty to humanity and the planet". This is Our Stand.
Apart from the artificial divisions, intentionally inflamed by governments and politicians, we believe that there actually are some important issues we need to be focused on over the next generation...or several. These are issues that cut across the superficial divisions of race, creed, color, class, region and wealth. These are issues which affect everyone, and will probably require everyone to solve. The big three are; 1) environmental pollution and natural resource exploitation, 2) terrorism, and 3) heroin trafficking and abuse.
1) Environmental pollution and natural resource exploitation: We can debate forever the degree to which hydrocarbon emissions are causing global worldwide warming, and the degree of priority on the political platter of world leaders. But, we can all agree, and have for 30 years, that the world is far too dependent upon fossil fuels. It's like a patient dying of cancer and a room full of doctors are debating if the patient will die in a month or six, or a year. If alternative technologies exist, and they do, then let's just do it, move on and turn the page. We suggest starting with motor vehicles; cars and trucks, and later moving on to boats and planes. We are asking for all cars and trucks sold within 5 to 10 years to be zero emissions. And, for all products consumed, we need to be conscious of bio-degradability and resource sustainability. Our air, water and land are finite, so must be our consumption. "I wish that I could say I was optimistic about the human race. I love us all, but we are so stupid and shortsighted that I wonder if we can lift our eyes to the world about us long enough not to commit suicide"-ISAAC ASIMOV. This is Our Stand.
2) Terrorism: Do we really have to mention this ? Yep, we do. The cause of fighting global terrorism has been exploited by short sighted politicians to justify; the suspension and limiting of civil rights, invasion of nations, inflated defense budgets, unrelated personal agendas and extremist politics of all varieties. Still, it needs to be pointed out that the bombs exploding in Madrid and London are not coming from Moscow, and the bombs exploding in Moscow are not coming from the West.
While everyone has some home-grown nuts to chew on, religious based terrorism, much from the Mid East, is still the greatest threat to life, liberty and tall buildings. "Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by a difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated"- GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Sir Edward Newenham, Oct. 20, 1792.
The solution is not easy or full proof, but basically it involves stable democratic governments, sane clergy (an oxymoron) and the media promoting the values of tolerance and moderation, something it has never done. "You should never trust a person who prays in public"-STEPHEN KING. This is Our Stand.
3) Heroin trafficking and abuse: Equal, if not surpassing, all other global problems in terms of destroying lives, creating havoc and enslaving people is that of narcotics, particularly heroin. Wars from Central and South America to Central and South Asia are being waged for control of it, Mexican border towns are being laid waste, and the lives of millions are being lost or enslaved because of it. A majority of those passing through our criminal justice system are connected to narcotics, directly or indirectly. Street gang turf wars, robberies, prostitution and the full panoply of street crimes are inflamed by narcotics. We cannot pretend to have the full answer. But, we believe there are some partial solutions out there.
First, let's legalize the minor drugs, such as marijuana or hash, to take the pressure off the police and criminal justice system. Legalizing these drugs will enable governments to tax and regulate the sale of these products - taking it out of the hands of the criminal element, who BTW, are the ones fighting hardest to keep these drugs illegal. Legalization will also be a revenue boon to state and local governments, able to tax these products, at a time when fiscal constraints are a major problem for most governments. Legalization will also greatly reduce overcrowding and congestion in the criminal justice system, so that everyone from the police to courts to prisons can place greater attention on fighting the hard drugs, in particular heroin.
"The most absurd apology for authority and law is that they serve to diminish crime. Aside from the fact that the State is itself the greatest criminal, breaking every written and natural law, stealing in the form of taxes, killing in the form of war and capital punishment, it has come to an absolute standstill in coping with crime. It has failed utterly to destroy or even minimize the horrible scourge of its own creation"- EMMA GOLDMAN, Anarchism and Other Essays.
Second, let's attack the heroin trafficking problem at it's greatest source; the demand. At present, one of the potentially greatest tools in fighting heroin addiction is being suppressed. It is ibogaine. Opposed by the FDA, the media, drug companies and traffickers alike because it actually has proven effective in ending an individual's addiction to heroin. Let's make it available. This is Our Stand.
We believe in the politics of inclusion, not exclusion. We believe in ending the excesses of an anachronistic, adversarial political system run amok...as it did in the 20th Century. We believe bridges should be built rather than destroyed. We believe that blind trust is for the politically blind. We believe in truth, and the search for it, which is hard, but worth the work. We believe in an old Russian saying; "that there is no news in the truth, and there is no truth in the news", except maybe sports and weather. We believe in tolerance, relaxing, chilling and trying to see issues from all points of view. Others can have Mao or Mussolini. We'll take Father Sarducci and Jon Stewart.
To borrow again from George Washington; "Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light"- GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Charles M. Thruston, Aug. 10, 1794. This is Our Stand
If the Republic of Monte Cristo has one overriding philosophy, it is this; "When you come to a fork in the road, take it"- Yogi Berra.
Now, click on another page, and have some fun.........
