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Page added on June 25, 2013
Ugo Bardi Reviews Dmitry Orlov
Sometimes, when you read a book, something rings in your head; something that requires a little work to identify but that, in the end, comes out loud and clear. This was the case for me with the latest book by Dmitry Orlov. It reminded me of something and, eventually, I found out what it was. It was one of the many stories by Jorge Luis Borges,”Dr. Brodie’s report” (El relato de Brodie); the description of the barbarous customs and the cruel culture of the African tribe of the Hrn; as observed by Dr. Brodie. “The Five Stages of Collapse” describes instead the barbarous customs and the cruel culture of the tribe of the “Middle Class Westerners” as observed by Dr. Orlov.
It must be said that Orlov and Borges write in very different styles: sometimes Orlov’s brilliance hides his depth while, at times, Borges’ depth hides his brilliance. And while Borges remains in the allegoric tradition that goes back to Johnathan Swift and his “Yahoos”, Orlov goes direct to his real subject: modern society. But there are points in common. Orlov, like Borges, doesn’t hide any of the grim details of what he describes and both Borges and Orlov show a certain sympathy and kindness toward their subject. There are many ways of being human and the great virtue of people such as Orlov and Borges is the capability of appreciating all of them.
Orlov’s book is so full of insight and revelations that it can’t be summarized; it must be read. But to give you just some idea of the style and content of the book, here is an excerpt from the section where Orlov describes another human subculture, that of the Roma (ake Gypsies), perhaps somewhat less cruel than others.
From “The Five Stages of Collapse” by Dmitry Orlov
Throughout their history the Roma have been a nomadic people, ranging all over Europe and, more recently, the Americas. Although economically dependent on the surrounding population, they have always taken great pains to remain completely separated from it, socially.
Roma identity is an internal identity that is not disclosed to the outside world. It is a birthright reinforced by upbringing and socialization into a community that caters to its members from cradle to grave. Roma are not known to adopt Gadjo children. It is possible to marry into a Roma family and participate in the life of a Roma community but it is not possible to become Roma. The children from such a mixed marriage may become Roma if so brought up.
Although the Romani language has been written down, this has had minimal sect on the Roma themselves, who continue to adhere to a strictly oral tradition, with a rich folklore that includes creation myths, a religious tradition loosely based on Christianity and a purely oral internal system of jurisprudence. Among the Roma, literacy correlates negatively with wealth and status, occurring least often with the wealthiest. The literate play subservient, low-status roles, such as corresponding with Gadje and forging paperwork and documents.
The effort of keeping everything in one’s head seems to result among Roma in excellent memory and a sharp and lucid mind, which are all very helpful in stealing, cheating, lying and swindling – major advantages which ignorant educationalists tend to miss. As the US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky likes to say: “this is important, don’t write it down!”
8 Comments on "Ugo Bardi Reviews Dmitry Orlov"
Arthur on Tue, 25th Jun 2013 10:18 am
From the names in the text snippet: Orlov, Brodie, Borges and Pinsky, it is not difficult to guess where Ugo Bardi’s sympathies and own roots are.
You have to understand that first to appreciate sentences like these:
“barbarous customs and the cruel culture of the tribe of the “Middle Class Westerners””
…or the sympathy for the Roma outsiders.
Gadje, Goyim, that’s us.
In the end all politics is ethnic.
Objectivity not possible and so what? on Tue, 25th Jun 2013 10:51 am
@Arthur: are you implying that objectivity is not possible in general or that here subjectivity has been choosen?
Also, does it make a difference to the ore of the message?
paulo1 on Tue, 25th Jun 2013 6:32 pm
“barbarous customs and the cruel culture of the tribe of the “Middle Class Westerners””
Let’s see….hmmm, how barbarous to want your kids to have a good education and wear decent clothes. How barbarous to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner or the 4th. How horrible to watch a football game on Sunday afternoon.
Gimmee a break. Most people are doing the best they can and work within the value structures of their society. When times get tough I am sure the focus of individuals will be grounded in reality like getting and keeping a job, feeding the kids, going to the Doctor…..hey wait a minute!! Those evil western middle class soccer moms are destroying the world. We need more Dimitri Orlovs flogging their crap to save us all. Maybe we can all live on a sailboat and be safe. You know, one of those used sailboats built for the middle class? Or, do they build them for survivalists? I forget.
Give me a break.
Paulo
ian on Tue, 25th Jun 2013 8:21 pm
Paulo,
It’s not literal. Orlov is aware that the term “barbarian” is a subjective, relative and therefore almost meaningless term and is having a bit of fun with it. it’s called “hyperbole” used in this case for humorous effect.
To most of us, this kind of linguistic nuance is about as subtle as a brick to the head. You may want to consider a course in remedial composition.
Bor on Tue, 25th Jun 2013 9:14 pm
It is amazing how persistent your antisemitism is. Sometimes you make sense in your general analysis about PO. But deeply ingrained antisemitism is getting out and than… It is like paranoid schizophrenia (PS). People with PS may function normally but once in a while they think that there is plot against them. The antisemitism is a serious illness and unfortunately can only be cured by lobotomy.
dsula on Tue, 25th Jun 2013 9:37 pm
Orlov + Kunstler. Haha
paulo1 on Wed, 26th Jun 2013 3:49 am
@ian
I think I know what hyperbole is and where Orlov is coming from. Orlov does not write with subtle nuances to entertain, rather, he tells us the world is going to end as we know it becaue our way of life is an abomination. There is nothing subtle about Orlov’s work or his message, imho.
No reason to attack simply because you disagree with my opinion.
regards….Paulo
Arthur on Wed, 26th Jun 2013 9:30 am
“It is amazing how persistent your antisemitism is. Sometimes you make sense in your general analysis about PO.”
Yes Bor, the grapes are sour for you, but the days of the rule of your tribe over the western world are rapidly coming to an end. It is time to take stock over the past century…
http://www.amazon.com/The-Jewish-Century-Yuri-Slezkine/dp/0691127603/ref=sr_1_1
…this century, the century of the FED, marxism, US WW1 entry, the ‘Russian’ revolution, bolshevism, the Roosevelt Government, WW2 setup, Churchill/Focus, the holocaust, JFK assasination, Frankfurt School, multiculturalism, cultural marxism, hollywood, media, Spielberg/Polanski, neocons, Leo Strauss, PNAC, Clean Break, 9/11, Patriot Act, invasion of Iraq, the war in Syria. Did I forgot something?
It is either the survival of European civilization in Europe or North-America or you (as a political supremacist force) that will bite the dust. Thanks to the internet, revisionism, Putin and rise of Europe (and if necessary aided by China), it is going to be you. Leo Strauss/neocons/NWO are dead, Huntington/multipolar world is next. Questions?
What are you going to do about it?