Civilization is not spread evenly. The Sistine Chapel is a masterpiece. Yet it was built in a world where much of humanity lived in mud huts. Don’t get cocky; some people still live in mud huts.
Nor is civilization evenly distributed across time. A lot of people assume everything inevitably “progresses” forward; upward and better. This is an incorrect assumption made by folks who have seen nothing else. Anyone who’s experienced mud huts in real-time is not so dismissive of modern comforts and will happily struggle to keep the lights on.
Civilization ebbs and flows. It mirrors the society which fosters or erodes it. Society reflects the character of its people. None of this implies things must get better or can’t get worse. Nor are you limited to the level of the society in which you’re stuck. A life lived well can and should be independent of the masses.
Chuck Mangione died this week. He produced this song in 1979. I remember hearing it on the radio. I lived in a world where this song was popular, commercially successful, and performed (or broadcast) to willing audiences.
Cardi B is still among us. She produced this in 2020. I remember hearing it on the radio. I live in a world where this song was popular, commercially successful, and performed (or broadcast) to willing audiences. S0 do you.
I apologize for exposing y’all to Cardi B. I wanted to make a point that 41 years forward in time doesn’t guarantee (or even imply) 41 years forward in civilization. The songs I picked are just an example. It’s not a perfect representation. If I wanted to play devil’s advocate I could’ve picked the best of 2025 and compare it to the worst of 1979… but I know damn well it would be a harder search.
When I first heard WAP on the radio I was shocked. Here’s the funny part, I wasn’t shocked by a woman in heat chanting about her vagina; good lord there’s no indecency left unexplored (not necessarily just in rap, pretty much anything on any media is awash in perversion). The thing that hit me was that people listened to that crap voluntarily.
To me, it’s almost painfully bad. It’s objectively… crap. I don’t like exposing myself to it. I wouldn’t rub dogshit on my face, why listen to Cardi B?
Anyway, when someone (often tied to politics) is telling you “progress” must go forward they’re fools. It’s a two way street and always has been.
The good news is that society can go in the tank or fly to the stars and that has nothing to do with you. You may improve or you may degrade… it’s a journey you take alone. The collective’s failings and strengths will reflect in the state of civilization at that particular time and place but if it all goes to shit you can (and should) choose to disengage.
The trick is knowing when you’re in the Sistine Chapel and when you’re rubbing dog shit on your face. Once you figure that out, you can shake it off and walk toward the light.
Good luck y’all.
Nailed it!
Thanks.
Glad you back friend. Missed ya.
As an avid amateur history buff I can point out end stage Empire decay thought of at the time as “Progressive”. As that meme puts it Weimar excesses create Weimar corrections (aka Night of the Long Knives).
Psalms 37 brings me comfort as does staying well away from Cardi B and her sorts.
Stay off the X buddy, do the right thing and carry on friend.
I liked Mangione. Still haven’t heard the other one (of course I didn’t click on it–why would I?).
Good move not clicking on Cardi B.
I clicked on it. Regrettably, I made it through a little way through. That’s 30 seconds of my life I will never get back, but at least I know of another thing to avoid.
Good post, too many people think new = good.
The Sistine Chapel was built by a murderous cult pretending to be Christian. The great majority of its victims were kept ignorant, superstitious and poor, in their mud huts. The same people that did it then are trying to get back their power and extend it further. It is Mystery Babylon, look it up. There is nothing new under the sun…
Stefan v.
Every church, temple or mosque was built by a murderous cult pretending to be whatever label they’ve chosen for themselves.The needless persistence of Bronze Age mythology is the root of far too much of human misery.
The depraved nature of fallen man is the root of the problem. Modern “atheists” have a more impressive bodycount, and they too have their religion wherein they are their own gods, just like the serpent stated in The Garden.
As for church buildings, there are none in the Bible.
Stefan v.
Yet the highest expression of humanity’s advance is the Gothic cathedral. I hope the people who built them knew how much their work would mean to us and to God. Yeah, He may not be impressed with our works, but loves our faith.
The first problem is equating Cardi B with music. In fact anything over .0001 percent of modern pop isn’t music. Music comes from musicians who can play actual instruments, and add lyrics that are more than grunts and hooting. Even someone like Taylor Swift holding a guitar to “prove” she is a serious musician, makes as much sense as a black bear carrying one.
To find decent music you have to dig deep these days. I found these guy 4-5 years ago and thy ain’t bad for white boys from Canukistan.
If you’ve ever only heard the short (radio) version of “Feels so Good”, you’re in for a treat when you find the long (album) version. Mangione puts more heart and emotion into the first minute and a half intro than you’ll find in the entire catalogue of many (most?) modern performers.
Growing up in Rochester, we heard this intro all the time on radio and TV. I was a kid, but still saw him at informal events. Even as a kid with no music talent other than ears, he was magic. I think talent like his really is talent on loan from God. The Greeks had insight with the idea of muses. The Dude and The Spirit abide.