"Ideology is a paramount in practical wisdom and profundity of a society."



Ideological awareness - knowledge of Good and Evil
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Servants and Consumers of Ideology
by Boris Tiraspolsky

Ideology is a corner stone of any recognizable Civilization. The original meaning of the word “ideology” is “the Science of ideas and ideals“. Ideology specifically identifies practical usage of ideas that originate from the Progress of human Ethics - principles of moral conduct, and Esthetics - perception of beauty and ugliness. Needless to stress that both, Ethics and Esthetics are literally shaping a civilized society. Continued...

Men are ideological creatures. They either serve Ideology, or consume it. “Servants” of Ideology are usually philosophers, thinkers, economists, writers, poets, political and spiritual leaders of the Nation, and etc. “Servants” of Ideology also include art and literally scholars, creative artists in visual and Performing Arts, turning their works into ideologically charged “useful Arts“.

There is nothing wrong or inferior to be a “consumer” of Ideology, and make practical use of ethically righteous ideas and ideals produced by great minds of the Mankind. There is a great privilege to be a connoisseur of ideologically charged “useful Arts” created by talented contemporary artists, as well as great artists of the past, conveying noble ideas and ideals of humanity in their works.

It is true that one does not have to be a scientist in physics to use electricity, or an engineer to drive a car. The same is with Ideology. No one is required to be a philosopher, thinker, writer, or an artist to greatly enjoy and benefit from Ethics and Esthetics historically established and excepted by people as ideas and ideals of a society. However, there is no such thing as “natural instinct”, effortlessly bringing ideological awareness to everyone on a golden plate.

Ideology is a paramount in practical wisdom and profundity of a society. It goes without saying, that no one can read books before learning the alphabet, first. Who said that Ideology being the top cultural achievement, comes naturally for everyone without learning the “ABC” of Ethics - principles of moral conduct (or lack of it!), and Esthetics - perception (or lack of it!) of beauty and ugliness, governing and forming a complex modern society, then? 

Everybody knows that no cultural knowledge can be ever obtained without a hard, persistent work from men‘s part. There is no secret that it takes years and years to study and perfect foreign languages, or learn how to play musical instruments, for instance. Why don’t people realize that in many instances to obtain ideological awareness by an individual is even more difficult and slower process?

The “Science of ideas and ideals” is a totally cultural phenomena, and therefore, requires an enormous effort to be accepted, understood, and implemented in people’s every day life. There is no productive and healthy development of a society without a serious ideological exertion by many. Needles to mention that true and vivid ideological awareness of many becomes ideological awareness of entire Nation vital at a time of Peace and a must at a time of War.

Historically, the American people are predominately “consumers” of the Ideology of the Supreme Law of the Land - the Constitution of the United States. However, even the greatest most powerful ideas and ideals of the Constitution taken for granted may grow to be flat, loose their touch with Reality, and sense of Destiny in minds of people, leading to the failure of the civilization to survive.

The ideas and ideals of the Constitution taken for granted by many people is one of the fundamental ideological problems that ought be addressed and dealt with. It is an extremely difficult, but imperative endeavor. For the People of the United States ideological awareness begins at a very moment of a striking recognition of a true meaning of own life, as much greater then just personal “persuade of happiness“, and therefore, a necessity of defining and reshaping own character according to this noble revelation. (Read more...)

Ideological awareness of the Nation is critical at the current “crisis of human affairs“ when Islamic jihadists waged a total war against the United States. Ideological struggle with Islamic jihadists intending to replace ideas and ideals of the Constitution of the United States with the Ideology of the Islamic Law, requires unprecedented ideological strength of and contribution from every American Citizen. Ideological awareness of the American people is a must condition in order to maintain the Will of the Nation to resist our irreconcilable Enemy.

The Global War on Terror is the time when the American people need to become ideologically aware of the Nation’s Historic Mission: practically “to form a more perfect Union“. This is the time of ideological transfiguration passive “consumers” into active National Characters pledging own lives and own fortune in responsibility to “preserve, protect and defend“ the most precious ideas and ideals of the Constitution of the United States. (Read more...)

Both, “servants” and “consumers” of Ideology are equally invaluable for the ideologically mature Nation at a time of battle with Terror. It is absolutely wrong and potentially dangerous to disregard neither of them on the Historic Stage. Total ideological awareness of the Nation is the only way to prevent the practical “Science of ideas and ideals” from turning into a dry compilation of rigid dogmas and generalizations lacking necessary creativity for the so much needed Progress of human Ethics and Esthetics.