My Guy Fawkes mask

When I woke up earlier, I noticed my Guy Fawkes mask hanging on the bedroom wall. I've had it for probably two years now, but I've only actually used it once. Truthfully I've tended to think of it as being more symbolic; in the sense that although I've only really been peripherally involved with Anonymous, I generally agreed with what I thought they were trying to do, even if I didn't agree with how they normally went about it.

Today, however, for the first time I've actually considered throwing the mask away. I'm finding it difficult to believe that that mask still stands for what it used to.

I'm an anarchist, on an instinctive basis. Although I get more calm as I get older, that has always been the case. However, for me, being an anarchist doesn't mean what most people think it does.

It doesn't mean Survivalism. It doesn't mean martial arts. It doesn't mean revolution. It doesn't mean any association with Karl Marx, whatsoever. It doesn't mean black leather, BDSM, or homosexuality. To me, it also does not mean violence.

For me, anarchy only really means one thing:-

I have to govern myself, because if I allow anyone else to do it, they are not going to care about my own interests, or meet my own needs, as effectively as I can. Other people can be altruistic towards me, yes, and I can be towards them; but if we are to survive, our own needs also have to come first.

In order to govern myself, my morality also has to be internal, and I have to hold myself personally responsible for my actions. I am sovereign. I make choices. I may not always have control over external circumstances, but I do always have control over how I respond to them.

I am NEVER a victim.

Anonymous took the mask, and its' image, primarily from the film, V for Vendetta; and a lot of people still talk about the film, and use its' imagery and music, etc. Yet as far as I am concerned, there is only really a single element within that film that resonates with my own definition of anarchy. That is the scene in which Natalie Portman's character goes to a concentration camp for processing, and experiences what I have more than once in my own life; the realisation that an individual can only be truly free, if and when they become literally willing to die, rather than accept the alternative, and that both are a willing choice.

I don't define most of the people I've seen on this forum, or truthfully the Internet in general, as real anarchists; and the reason why is because they don't think for themselves. If I see someone here on ATS who has the mask in their avatar, and who primarily speaks in terms of quoting cliches or lines from a film, to me, that person has allowed themselves to be caught up in groupthink. That is not mental autonomy; it's mind control, which is the opposite.

I also found this last night:-



I'm interested to know what the author of this film thinks, about the people who are currently really behind Occupy and Anonymous; but as far as the behaviour which is depicted in that trailer is concerned, that is not something which I condone. "Black bloc," anarchy is inconsistent with my own definition, given above.

Reactive violence towards the system implies very strongly to me, that the individuals engaged in said violence, view themselves as victims of said system; and a belief in victimhood can never lead to self-empowerment, or truly positive self-management.

The true jihad or revolution is always internal. Fight it there, and win, and an external one will prove entirely unnecessary.

I am going to make a scarecrow out mine
but figure it won't even scare the birds anymore.
I agree it does not mean anymore,
what it meant to me when I got it.

Originally posted by Gmoneycricket
I am going to make a scarecrow out mine
but figure it won't even scare the birds anymore.
I agree it does not mean anymore,
what it meant to me when I got it.

I also just found this.