The concept of Original Sin has performed an important function in authoritarian societies. The Protestant Work Ethic, for example, was built around it. If pleasure for pleasure's sake was seen as something sinful, then the opposite: endless hard work, with little or no relief, was (and still is) seen as a moral obligation. Original Sin was yet another stick to beat slaves with to keep them working and stop them complaining.
Now let's turn to sadism. The "patriarchal" style of raising children with its emphasis on teaching discipline, respect, obedience and "moral fibre", and on suppressing natural, pleasurable bodily sensations although present in all social classes, has, historically, been most pronounced in the ruling classes (for reasons given above). Sadism and cruelty have also been observed to be characteristic of many ruling class practices and traditions (something which has often been portrayed in popular culture eg the rich landlord horsewhipping insolent peasants etc.) Sadism is, of course, generally acknowledged to stem from over-repressive especially sexually repressive child-rearing practices. (source)
The hallmarks of patriarchy are misogyny, authoritarianism, repression,
exploitation, warfare and, as Freud, Reich, Adler, Jung, etc. came to realize,
neurosis/psychosis. The programming that makes us cogs in the patriarchal wheel
begins at birth, is reinforced often with coldness, beatings, put-downs, severe
alienation and intimidation, as well as exacerbated control, even shame, over
natural body functions. Intimacy and developing sexuality are later hamstrung
by the Church or Temple,
and all this repression is anchored in the musculature of the body, one of
Reich's greatest discoveries. Emotions are actually repressed by tensioning the
muscles that normally allow their flow, and once this becomes chronic, this
painful conflict drops into the subconscious, concurrent with feelings of somatic deadness, often ready
to erupt at a later time in outbreaks and/or somatic illnesses.
So where does Russell Means fit into this? His video lectures, Matriarchy Part 3 and Part 4 below directly contrast with two lynch pins of patriarchy, misogyny and the neurotic upbringing of children. In the following lectures Russell first points out the oh-so obvious fact that woman is directly connected to the rhythms of the Cosmos through her monthly menstrual cycle that correlates with the lunar time cycle of 28 days. She is a magical part of the Cosmos, if you will, worthy of the highest respect.
Secondly, Russell explains the beautiful and natural way the Lakota Sioux traditionally birth their children, not merely through the mother's efforts, but through the actions of the father. This is the first step to raising children in tune with themselves and Nature.
Enjoy the videos:
Matriarchy Part 3:
Matriarchy Part 4:
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See you next time.
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