Neoartists weblog

“We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order”- David Rockerfellar

I grew up in a time when the Cold War was almost a thing of the past. However, I have talked to people who went about their business during that time. The basic argument that was put forward was this “The commies can’t be trusted, they want to nuke us all” most people thought this was rational. There was even public awareness films advising you to take the living room door off its hinges shove it against the wall and put the mattress on top of it. Like that’s going to protect you from a Thermo Nuclear explosion. However, it gives you hope when you know those nice people who run everything take the time to devise a make shift bomb shelter; considering they have the weighty problem of policing the entire planet. The population lives in fear, safe in the knowledge that someone has our best interests at heart.

The principle that fears maintain control isn’t new but it is effective. During the build up to world war two the Nazis were allowed to get a major foothold in Europe. Britain and America new Hitler was up to something as early as the 1936 Olympics but did nothing about it until 1939, anyone who knows a bit about history is aware of  the outcome.

The point is that a state of fear was prevalent throughout the 1940’s and for much of the following decade, until people felt an element of security and began to relax. On a political level the Cold War had already started, in America Senator Joseph McCarthy was making noises about Communism. Of course civilians were getting on with life and there followed an era of flower power and free love. But with everyone loving one another and expanding their consciousness, it gets a little difficult to maintain a state of fear. Vietnam – Commies! Cuba – Commies! Russia – Commies! Nuclear arsenal inevitably leads to World annihilation! “Shit Honey, I think we’ve got something to be worried about”. By the 1980’s many of those fears had disappeared like a fart on the breeze, the Russians had become our allies; following the collapse of Communism.

In Britain we had Yuppies, Happy families and a sub-culture of Raves, Acid House and Ecstasy. Everything was good in the world. Then we heard rumblings of a faceless malice and its name was Al-Qaeda, embassy’s and office blocks were bombed. The big one came when New York was attacked in 2001. “Shit Honey! Were at war with terror”

If war is the organising principle for any society, fear must be its bedfellow. I think the way fear is maintained has remained the same for years. However, as we the public have become savvier, the way it is perpetrated has had to evolve and become more sophisticated.

Who stands to gain the most? War makes money, more so than peacetime. Back in the dark ages if you made spears you could trade and amass wealth. Armies needed transport, horse breeders made some cash. It isn’t that different now, just more evolved. In short Oil, Pharmaceutical, the Arms industries and Construction, four of the biggest money spinners on the planet have the inclination and the means to perpetuate fear. Why would business moguls behave this way? Could it be fear, fear of loss. When you’re at the top of your game most people will do everything they can to stay there. Another way of looking at it. When you have unimaginable wealth coupled with power, what is the next big challenge? In a situation like that it could be tempting to play God.

Of course these could be just paranoid thoughts, governments and the multi nationals may have everyone’s best interests at heart. However, unlike the Borg on Star Trek, Humans are not linked like the collective; we don’t have a hive mind mentality. As individual free thinking beings, we have needs and goals, some desire more than others.

In my opinion it isn’t too much of a stretch for the imagination that the shadowy figures that run everything, could see the tax paying public as a commodity. Commodity’s like assets can be manipulated or even disposed of at will. Since 9/11 many people talk about a New World Order, I’m not sure this is a new phenomenon. In the novel 1984, George Orwell outlined a simple rule of thumb. With a constant state of war, coupled with fear; people have a legitimate enemy on which to focus their fear and hate. This becomes an opiate for the masses and control is maintained.

Let’s keep watching the T.V, drinking beer and getting obese safe in the knowledge that the world is on its knee’s because of one god awful psychopath, organising everything from a cave in Afghanistan. I mean, that’s easier to swallow. Isn’t it?

Stuart 2007

Listening intently, trying to remember how to breathe.
Never realising how much this would change me.
Change how I act, how I think
How I love.

Remembering this exact feeling six years ago when my mum
Came down from upstairs slowly.
So oblivious to what was she going to say.
In that split second that I remember as an eternity.
Trying to force the tears from my eyes.

In that second, a long time ago, far, far away.
Feeling guilty because I couldn’t exert any emotion
Not an exact sadness, but a loss of part of you
A part you never knew, a connection invisible to
Everyone until now.

Now I can only produce tears and sadness. When
Six years ago I missed someone I had met
And longed for someone I have loved.
All I could manage was Guilt.

Still hearing what he was saying, but listening to my mum
Six years ago.
Only now do I remember how she put it.
How she moved her mouth when the words came out.
How breathing almost became difficult.

I awoke at 9.15 to see the first snowflake fall.
The first snow of the already over winter.
The featherlight diamonds danced in the foggy breeze.
Hiding in the cracks of the bricks.
The holly bush glistened with glee,
while snow covered the stiff, spiked leaves.

While everything became beautifully white, I looked out and cried.
It was the first time I realised I had lost him.
Why does it hurt more,
when the person that hurts you is still deep in your heart?
My tears were as cold as the snow outside.
(I guessed his heart was too)

Watching the snow falling from the rich grey sky,
helped the love drain away less painfully.
I thought of the time he hugged me all the way home,
the first time my heart got broken.
I never thought he would be the one breaking it.
Now the love was suffocating from the thick blanket of unwanted hate.

No love always amounted to a broken heart.
No heat always amounted to snow falling.
I wish I could melt that fast.

Alone in a crowd, I see you but you turn and walk away.  Off, off out of sight, down the road.  I try to follow you but you disappear into a darkened alleyway.  I can no longer see you.  You are gone.  I walk slowly back towards the market where the crowds are gathering; traders are persuading the weak-minded to buy goods they neither need nor desire; an old man stands outside the pub on the corner busking for his dinner, desperately hoping the landlord doesn’t come out and move him on.  You are everywhere.  In every face.

Why did you have to go, my dear?  The world I live in now’s so cold.  I hate the way people laugh and sneer because of my looks or the funny sound of my accent in their world of monotony.  That never seemed to matter when you were here.  You were my strength.  I cry out at night but I know it’s useless.  You can’t hear me.

Do you remember when I taught you to whistle?  You were better at it than I was.  You used to dream of being a bird, I used to dream of being a policeman or a soldier.  You said that if you were a bird, you’d never let anyone clip your wings.  You wanted so badly to fly.  And me?  I just wanted to save you.  But nobody could save you, could they?

I’ve thought about it a lot since then.  Tried to figure out where this life ends and death takes over.  Because some people are alive and yet they’re dead at the same time.  It’s in their eyes.  That glazed, blank expression.  They don’t see any wonder in this world anymore.  They see in black and white instead of colour.  They feel hatred instead of love.  They have forgotten what it’s like to touch.  I don’t want to be like that.  That’s why I started painting.  That way I can make sure that I keep colour in my life.  I like to paint you in all different colours.  You were green last week.  It all depends on what colour I’m feeling that day.  If anyone asks, I just tell them I’m doing an abstract.

I remember when they held you on high.  Tears were shed.  But not just because I loved you but because I was proud of you.  You made me into the person I am today and taught me that it’s good to dream. Anyone can fly, can’t they?  They just need to aim for the sky.  So fly away now my darling but always remember I love you.

Zoe Stephens

In places far away like Baghdad and Beirut,
people scavenge like rats just to see the day through.
Starvation creeps quietly into people’s homes,
a soldier passing by finds another man’s bones.
He was just a number.

A man’s gone crazy at a school with a gun,
a child hides crying wishing for his mum.
A teacher puts her life in danger,
he shoots her dead where a Jesus-doll lies in a manger.
She was just a number.

A young girl sits in class feeling so alone
wishing time would stand still so she didn’t have to go home.
Having to make up excuses about falling downstairs,
silently wishing that somebody cared.
She’s just a number.

This life’s just like a stupid maths game –
nothing ever adds up, it’s always the same.
People get together and then they divide.
I’m sure I heard somebody cry,
don’t want to be just a number.

Zoe Stephens