And good luck to us all with such giants departing.
John Perry Barlow — a lyricist for The Grateful Dead, founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and writer of one of the most soaring statements of Internet freedom left the earth yesterday.
His long-ago “Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace” proved to be a failed prophesy. But if it can’t make your heart sing even now, it’s possible you’ve misplaced your heart:
Governments of the Industrial World, you weary giants of flesh and steel, I come from Cyberspace, the new home of Mind. On behalf of the future, I ask you of the past to leave us alone. You are not welcome among us. You have no sovereignty where we gather.
We have no elected government, nor are we likely to have one, so I address you with no greater authority than that with which liberty itself always speaks. I declare the global social space we are building to be naturally independent of the tyrannies you seek to impose on us. You have no moral right to rule us nor do you possess any methods of enforcement we have true reason to fear.
Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. You have neither solicited nor received ours. We did not invite you. You do not know us, nor do you know our world. Cyberspace does not lie within your borders. Do not think that you can build it, as though it were a public construction project. You cannot. It is an act of nature and it grows itself through our collective actions. …
That not your style? Then how about Barlow’s “25 Principles of Adult Behavior,” written in 1977 and released by him on his 60th birthday? WRSA has a lovely graphic presentation of those principles.
In addition to all that, Barlow was a down-to-earth Wyoming rancher. Great thinkers and great spirits like that don’t come along often enough. There’ve been some sad RIPs in the last few years, but few as mournful as this one.
I read the Principles of Adult Behavior on the cabal yesterday, and have been thinking about No. 15 ever since: “Avoid the pursuit of happiness. Seek to define your mission and pursue that.”
While “Happiness” itself was never America’s purpose, living one’s life in contentment as we wish – and being left alone to pursue our goals – was. That’s why our ancestors came here.
I think Barlow’s Principle 15 defines it better and brings it down to the individual level. We cannot pursue a mission without first defining it, therefore his admonition is more apt to keep our minds on our goals than to simply “pursue happiness.” This applies to Life and Liberty as well; we will not achieve liberty in our lifetime – as individuals – without first defining it on our own terms.
One of the Principles of Adult Behavior says:
“Remember that your life belongs to others as well. Don’t risk it frivolously.”
This should be pondered by every father and mother who thinks of climbing Mt. Everest. I shake my head when reading about someone with young children who’s heading off to climb a mountain, or some other dangerous adventure. There are people who need you alive. Put them before your vain need to prove yourself in that way. The most important way to prove yourself is to be the best parent you can. Everything else is just distraction.
“Be patient. No matter what”.
“Justice too long delayed is justice denied” – MLK letter from Birmingham Jail. STRIKE ONE!
“Never lie to anyone for any reason”.
So, I’m just supposed to hand over my CC# or PIN# to anyone who asks for it? Strike TWO!
“Avoid the pursuit of happiness”.
So, I’m just supposed to be unhappy while everyone else gets to be happy? Strike THREE!
Yer OUT!
Nothing says you have to follow Barlow’s rules, Expat. Nothing says he expected anyone else to do so, given that he kept them private most of his life.
But I think you’ve badly misunderstood his rule about the pursuit of happiness. He didn’t say “be unhappy.” He said (to himself) to pursue purpose and meaning instead. Since he wrote that, quite a few studies have shown that seeking happiness for the sake of happiness results in disappointment, while pursuing meaningful activity leads in the direction of greater contentment.
We lost one of the people that make a difference for WE THE PEOPLE.
Rest in peace.
“Be patient. No matter what”.
“Justice too long delayed is justice denied” – MLK letter from Birmingham Jail. STRIKE ONE!
Patience is a relative thing. Some situations require more patience than others. In matters of justice, less patience is justified. In matters of interpersonal relationships (for instance, dealing with a scared 3yo at 10pm, who’s missing his teddy bear), more impatience is justified. I speak from experience here – both ways.
—–
“Never lie to anyone for any reason”.
So, I’m just supposed to hand over my CC# or PIN# to anyone who asks for it? Strike TWO!
It’s not a lie to say “F* you, you don’t get to know that.”
—–
“Avoid the pursuit of happiness”.
So, I’m just supposed to be unhappy while everyone else gets to be happy? Strike THREE!
Happiness does not come from pursuit of it for its own sake – it comes from fulfilling a purpose that you’ve chosen – or sometimes one that has been thrust upon you.
Kurt
You can scare the crows away from three fields with those strawmen, Expat
FYI TJ originally wrote “pursuit of property”.
IMHO JPB may have been referring to people who live for their next high or an even better high?