Acts of Oblivion

We have all the great libraries at our fingertips, and the dissemination of Knowledge is at a peak in modern history and yet half the country believes some complete nonsense. It’s confusing.

Those beliefs have strands of reality, of experience. Somewhere in there is a personal truth, perhaps rudely expressed, which is then statistically stacked and repackaged and resold. To me.

It’s exploitation, I suppose. Think tanks and the main chance. The medium is the message.

But that deeply undermining influence, the disinformation, is a gigantic deflection from true goals and the possibility of authenticity in America political life.

Of course, life isn’t really about thinking or knowing. Is it?

If nothing is real, are we then on a road to oblivion?

That leads to this. Thank you, internet:

“Under Charles II, the Restoration Parliament enacted the famous 1660 Act of Oblivion, which required not only forgiveness, but also the forgetting of the revolutionary events that had deposed Charles I.”

Author Kenji Yoshino , in a felicitous phrase, refers to “the brief wondrous life of oblivion.”

The review below, which I stumbled upon in seeking “oblivion”, is full of useful insights into our chapter Insurrection.

Acts of Oblivion

Oblivion:

“Perhaps originally “even out, smooth over, efface,” from ob “over” (see ob-) + root of levis “smooth,” also “rubbed smooth, ground down,” compare obliterate.

But others find that “a semantic shift from ‘to be smooth’ to ‘to forget’ is not very convincing.” However no better explanation has emerged.

Meaning “state or condition of being forgotten or lost to memory” is from early 15c. In English history.

The Acts of Oblivion use the word in the sense of “intentional overlooking” (1610s), especially of political offenses. Related: Obliviously; obliviousness. “ (Dictionary of etymology.)

Disinformation. Insurrection, modes of complete engagement, the existential authenticity, the unconscious expressed, steamrolling meaning and institutions and value.

The insult to intelligence is a siren call to give in, to come over, beguiling temptation.

Left hemisphere of the brain, and the right, at it again. This has nothing to do with “belief.” No.

The Jan 6 Capitol insurrection is such a representation, toward an act of oblivion.
Madness has its allure, its personal short term payoff.

Turns out being crazy is good for business.

But citizens bear a responsibility- to know. To be aware. An obligation get it right.

The Act of Oblivion forgives, and empowers- “it unrings bells, and unpoisons wells.” (Yoshino).

Can a state forgive – and forget?