1

Ch
hildren of the T
Thorns
By Ra
andy Gonzallez

Ass social dev ntinues, by which the hhuman speccies will likkely discoveer
volution con
horriffying demisse, many ressist the noble temptatioon to transfoorm. A kindd of macabrre
carniv here permeaates the maiinstream, ass anti-intelleectualism moocks sciencee,
val atmosph
reaso
on, rationalitty, and mostt of all, the maturity off education and experieence. Perhapps
more like perpetu
ual Halloweeen, the resisstance to groowing up coonfounds thee necessity tto
ascen
nd as an enlig
ghtened civiilization. Speecies extincttion looms nnear.
Ch
hildren run wistfully
w eveerywhere, caamouflaged or otherwisee masked in the bodies oof
what appears to be
b adults. Yet, y, most do nnot grow up and transitiion from higgh
Y in reality
ol to maturee, wise and learned ad
schoo dulthood. Stuupidity in th
the mystiquee of arrogannt
decep
ptions manifests all maanner of sup
pernatural ffoolishness. Politicians, pundits annd
proseelytes, bluff and
a bluster the
t psychobaabble of a coollapsing em
mpire.
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Children of the Thorns

By Randy Gonzalez

Children everywhere, masquerading in the mystic deception of being grownups.

Failing demands of maturity and wisdom, they relish in the primordial selfishness of
entitlement. Selfies flash the airwaves, as networking delves no deeper than the
hedonistic self-righteousness of the moment. Faces abound with the smug arrogance of
intentional ignorance, while creativity suffers the dusty pages of history ignored.
Talent is flashy, showy, and cleverly contrived in the smug pride of hypocrisy. Many
are for this and that, but fail to comprehend what all that is. A snapshot of superficiality,
is so often masked by the vast legerdemain of gluttonous marketing. Everyone’s knows
everything, but on one knows anything. They boast in their glorified stupidity and laugh
at the reality of science and evidentiary validity, in the disdain of critical thinking.
Superstition flourishes, as natural sciences are inundated by primeval fixations on
myth, magic and silly metaphor. Anecdotal pretensions to unscientific “evidence”,
supported by unhealthy emotionalism, degrade the progression of the species.
Terminality in the satiations for immediate self-gratification hastens the coming
extinction. Death laughs at such immature and unevolved behavior.
Lazy idle fingers are crossed in hopefulness, that which springs in eternal finality of
devolution, as the many are pitifully “stressed” by the necessity of living one’s own life.
Of mad, sad and seldom glad, the cognitive bias of prejudice forsakes the hard devotion
to becoming a mature, wise and enlightened being. Ignorance is glorified over the
validation and consistent substantiation of liberated self-evolution.
The mad monk of self-evolution, a well-differentiated willfulness in selfless transition
to a higher state of spiritual warrior essence, is endlessly challenged by the collusion of
prehistoric stupidity. Why be different when you can be deified in your own self-pity for
every conceivable excuse promulgated in feel-good escapism? By complicity, for those
around, their reflection sees the similarity of their own motivations.
From the lazy wayside of specious speculations, to the rocky roads of unfertile
ideation, onto the thorns and thickets of mental rickets, the vast array of humanity would
rather indulge the safe mediocrity of devolving collectivity.
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Daily, anti-thinking in overly self-focused supernatural flirtations, the extraterrestrial

and unsubstantiated conspiratorial perversions, screams the arrogance of uninformed
immaturity. Political personages of one sort or another perpetuate social stupidity at
every opportunity. National candidates smirk, nod and wink, at their own foolish self-
indulgence, as election discourse seldom rise about sophomoric illusions. One faction
after another, each panders to a plurality of disingenuous emotionalism.
Infantile, needy and stagnant for emotional reactivity, and constant pampering,
humankind in an aggregate sense, displays its resistance to progressive transformation.
As used here, the transformative reference suggests the diligence in rigorous energies to
evolve highly advance life form, with an efficient and effective utilization of planetary
resources. Such is to advocate an enlightened human civilization.
Given some two hundred thousand years of alleged evolutionary processes, a wiser,
mature and sage global society might be expected. Other than the usual juvenile level
fictional movie utopic depictions, the reality ought to be at a higher end of planetary
development. In the current state of affairs, advanced social ascendancy does not seem a
viable prospect. Regardless of lofty notions, the communal state of existence resides
within a descending framework unreflective of an advanced species.
On a lower spectrum, learning comprehension ranges, as a basis for analytic
dimensions, modern American society mirrors a 7th to 9th grade level. According to one
study, in 1935, the average was a seventh grade level, but over half the population was
below that. Nearly a hundred years have passed, and the measures are similarly dismal.
Popular novels, the news, consumer marketing, so-called academic programs, and other
social interactivity, cater to a “middle school level” for adult populations. Likewise,
movies, sitcoms, soap operas and most of television programming do the same.
As an echo of amative fixation for the self, to mirror abject adoration, the narcissistic
trend continues unabated by every promotional scheme possible. Vanity, in immediate
gratification and divisive subjective validation, are more important than innovative self-
development toward higher intellectual achievement. Debasing emotional sensitivity
overrides the essentiality of scientific efficacy, based on proven well-documented
evidentiary artifacts. Feelings outweigh facts, as the vagaries of “political correctness”
stifle meaningful discourse for the sake of constructive problem solving.
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With all the pretended experts proselytizing the easy trouble free panaceas, nothing
changes very much for very long, throughout the history of the human species. Recently,
some school districts have concluded, the answer is uncomplicated, no one fails, and
everyone gets a diploma, so no one is offended. Attempting to function at a “middle
school” range of thinking, with little effort of cerebral exertion, does not advance a
civilization. It is laughable to assert this planet has something called a civilization.
Intentional premeditated collapse is engineered by immature selfishness.
A major national journal reported last year, once again the U.S. students have fallen
behind in math, science, technology and engineering. This is a familiar theme to which
pundits poke and joke, while politicians pontificate and placate. Salaciousness in egoistic
focus on one’s neediness, suggests the regressive “selfie” of an unevolved and
unenlightened life form. Prey for the predators, as there will always be the predatory
types who relish the dominance over the submissive ones.
Nonetheless, the reality does not appear to be improving. In a multi-country study,
within an age range of 16 to 65, the average American underperformed in matters of
literacy. That does not suggest a positive note on the current state of intellectual affairs
across the societal mainstream. Willful ignorance in social engagement is more likely to
give credence to matters of the supernatural than critical analysis for scientific validation
and intelligent skepticism. As such, beliefs can be dangerous.
Interwoven and greedily accepted, the trouble free notions of overly simplistic
rationalizations embrace gluttonous consumption of anything not requiring much effort.
Except of course the mindless ability to post a quick nonsensical slogan in social
networking, or buy and gobble the latest gadget, and buy more. The avarice actions of
hedonistic acquisition of people, places and things preclude the strenuous efforts of self-
evolution, scientific validation and enlightened transformation. The immaturity of the
moment for juvenile entitlements relishes the devolution of instant gratification.
As we sow what we think we know, the arrogance gambles upon the barren stony
ground of psychological dysfunction. Many are afflicted and none cured, except by their
own liberated hands, and extraordinary selfless personal revolution. However, for the vast
majority, and to answer their pleas, an entire industry feeds the erroneous speculation by
use of cleverly invented “diagnoses”. There is a pill for the “mentally ill”.
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Poignant conceit in cognitive bias by intentional stupidity stumbles among the thorns
and thickets of stifling regression. In preference for suffering the self-indulgence of
“victimization”, whining malcontented sniveling finds scapegoats for any excuse to
mitigate responsibility. By superstitions, extraterrestrial collusions and religious
perversions, the many hunt monsters, aliens and demons for their mythic illusions.
Magical thinking extends from misconceptions about reality, whereby people attempt
to apply wishful thinking to unsubstantiated beliefs. Not so creative and mostly
unimaginative multimedia storytelling has become a basis for erroneous interpretations
what is real and what is not real. From the falsely prophetic “visions” of psychics, to the
zealotry of ideological extremism, multitudes across the planet degrade their thinking
processes in avoidance of logical skepticism. Courageous efforts of intense logical
analysis are frequently forsaken for the simplistic answer absent the facts.
To linger along the wayside of the individual trek, the quest each must go on, or not,
offers an amazing array of personal discoveries. In the discharge of those innate energies,
the genesis and exodus, the discipline of experience for the ethical precepts of
believability, requires devotion to ascending toward perfection. While none of this is
new, as others might analyze and criticize, the fascinating notion remains, that most have
not a clue. To that extent, many have little or no desire outside their immediate self-focus,
to expand much farther than an elementary level of perception.
From the posture of regression and eventual demise, finding oneself at an advanced
intellectual vantage point, for an enlightened appreciation, eludes many people. A
thorough genuineness of mature introspection, for the sake of ascended wisdom, in
absence of self-proclaimed pretense, falls upon an ever-decreasing number of individuals.
A balanced tenor of thoughtful transformation does not interest very many members of
society. Regardless of place or station, status or rank, a careful observer can witness the
collective deterioration of individuality, and the bondage of stifled mentality.
The vulgarity of selfishness can be seen in a number of daily examples. Mean, hostile
and distrustful, the human species and particularly successive generations, default to a
special kind of parasitic interaction. The tip of the “iceberg” hides the enormous depths
of malevolent probabilities. Meanwhile, in contrast, some will emotionally post on social
networks some easy to remember quote about how “hope springs eternal”.
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Others will pick that up and suggest “feel good” notions about how civilized we
should be. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, the next dawn offers little or no change.
From the flash of the constant selfie, to the rush of the corporate climber to claim credit,
the pretenses attempt to conceal the arrogance of intentional devolving excesses.
Materialistic consumptions are only a part of the ominous terminality.
The specter of willfully contrived maladaptive behaviors is a multi-tentacle diversity
with enormous planetary applications. As to an ancient parable, purely as a metaphorical
reference point, the stony ground of gluttonous self-indulgence has no measurement of
enlightened depth beyond personal satiation. Awakened from the unique vantage point of
dreams states, to slothfully plod undeterred by imagination and creativity, daily
interactivity shows shortsighted trends of excessively emotional behaviors.
And, as the sower went out to sow, as the earlier reference portends, time comes and
goes, and where did human civilization go? In the expanse of human travels from the
primordial edenic inception, whatever its origin, has much traversed the quest beyond the
mindless devolving incest? Does humanity, other than technical toys invented by a few,
to satiate the many, evolve into a higher life form?
Of brilliant mindful thinkers, who tarry not to labor the foolish query as to “why”, the
answer is no, humankind does not want to change. Nevertheless for the many, who would
assert their “heartfelt emotionalisms”, the whining, sniveling and victimizing
condescension does not wane. As the old story tale wearily unfolded, some fell by the
wayside in immediate salacious gratification, for the sake of ease and comfort in lazy
thinking. As such, pathology contrives regression whereby not much changes.
Upon the well-beaten pathways of cerebral devolution, cowardly anti-thinkers, those
soon to be long deceased, relish in the juvenile arrogance. Simplistic templates steeped in
faulty emotion laden inferences, with incessant appeals to false prophets, cling to a
mediocre trek to collect their quick satisfaction in hasty generalizations.
Hearken, behold, someone anciently admonished, the foolish, the less productive, the
gluttonous consumers of everything consumable, were and are to be consumed
themselves. Unable to claim the precipice of ascended enlightenment, by the failures of
selfish regression as the arrogance of self-righteous conceit swallows, the many plummet
to the maladaptive choices they have made.
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In their smug piety for egoistic intentions, void the torturous ravage of higher
thoughts, the vast number are un-heroically devoured by time. On stony unfertile ground
of unevolving consciousness, in thorny thickets of tired conforming ideations, or in the
quicksand of rootless self-serving purposes, the species has failed to ascend to higher
realms for survivability. Unless extraordinary remedial interventions severely extricate
the devolving processes, eventual demise is ensured.
When considering a number of scholarly research efforts at the present, human species
longevity gets gloomier. Several latest conjectures from the academic realm of “bio-
diversity” research offer a discouraging assessment. As some would put it, human
civilization is in a “sixth wave” of extinction, which is currently in flux across the diverse
expanse of the planet. According to several who address the issue of an “extinction
crisis”, so called “die-offs” are worse than ever for both plants and animals.
Such estimations project dozens of species going extinct every day and the numbers
increase at an alarming rate. As postulated by several sources, in consideration of past
epic events, such as asteroids or volcanoes, contemporary global problems are related to
human beings. A number of researchers insist that nearly 100 percent of species
extinction is due to exploitation by human habitation of the planet.
As the ancient allegory might offer, the sower would sow and reap what may come
from choices made. At any given moment, selfishness has an opportunity for arrogantly
diverting in the proclivity of rational choices. Inferred here also is the concept of
“rational choice” theory, which equates with the freedom to think and act in willful ways.
Every aspect of free will is suggested. There are no excuses or mitigations from some
deterministic externality, which allow the avoidance of personal responsibility.
And so, as the story goes, on stony ground scorched by the sun, dried up by a rootless
tenacity to remain unevolved, the human species with such great potential withers away.
Among the thorny distractions of materialistic self-interests, choked by the conceit of
selfishness, salacious greediness fails to perfect enlightened transformation.
In a devolving society, as well as global community, it is important that the self-
evolving individual ensure his or her personal liberation. With the spewing daily
psychobabble, and pompous notions of facetious conjecture, the transforming person
labors to stay the course of extraordinary personal development.
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He or she is up against many challenges. Being different, and by inference well

differentiated, transitions from conformity to transformation invite a diverse gambit of
dangers. Many will not appreciate divergence from perceived normalcy. Instead, the
collectivity of conforming consensus, regardless of what propaganda might purport, will
prefer intolerance. Progressive selflessness is the skillful perpetration of persistent
creativity outside the simplistic rubric of mundane complicity.
For his or her goal, the trek is individual differentiation. The starting point is a
transition from juvenile behaviors to mature grownup transitions. Beyond what might be
imagined into a higher realm of perfection, the self-evolving individual changes in
exceptional ways. Described by some as “trans-differentiation”, this sphere of creative
processes travels the high ground of thought, contemplation, self-examination and
eventually extraordinary action to change personality.
By reflection upon a recent work, from within the European community, an author
notes that “human nature” has not change significantly in many centuries. In that
particular discussion on anarchy and international politics, it is suggested that the vast
majority of people will always act in their own self-interests. This is usually applied from
a selfish perspective, regardless of any pretext to civility or altruism. Such notions
represent a very pessimistic worldview of the human species.
From a classical posture relative to criminality, criminological notions founded upon
the principle aspects of free will and rational choice, assert an historic culpability for
every action on the part of everyone. Some will try to self-evolve and rise above their
selfishness. A few attempt to be liberated and break free of their arrogance and self-
importance. However, the overwhelming majority will purposely not make constructive
and self-defining choices for a mature advanced personal ascendency.
Among the totality of the human species, with some notable exceptions, most will use
any means, go to any lengths and commit all manner of illicit activities. They will do this
for the sake of satiating personal proclivities that devolve into gluttonous regression.
Inflictions of abuse and intolerance, neglect and negligence, and pain and suffering,
continue the narcissistic reflections of human nature. From corruption to genocide,
acceptance of pseudoscience over real science, diminished capacity for critical analysis
and personal transformation, hastens the demise of the “children of the thorns”.
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