Hot off the wires from the Missing Points Dept.:
In one of history’s more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is “an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation.”
Because Buddha knows that the process of reincarnation has been a chaotic nightmare so far, what with all that lost luggage and security screwups. The next time you speak to some religious nut who thinks that the US should be theocratic, share this little news story with them. When you are both laughing at the stupid Chinese and/or Tibetans, squeeze out this thought, as if it’s the most hilarious part: “You know, if they kept church and state apart like us then the government couldn’t piss on their religion so easily. HAHAHAHAHA!”
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I wonder what it would take to export Discordianism into China? It’s half imported material as it is… Anyone want to take a crack at a Putonghua translation of the Principia?
Of course, given that they banned Alice in Wonderland on the grounds that animals ought not to be depicted as speaking and acting like humans…
It’s almost as if humor is subversive or sumfin.
They know something like Discordianism, but their version isn’t as funny and they call it “Taoism”.
You’re right, though, humor is subversive. I would even argue that it’s the most subversive thing ever. “Nobody understands anything that isn’t funny.”
Well, some would say Ch’an Buddhism is a reg’lar laff-riot.
Falung Gong (which appears to be Chinese for “Scientology” has its share of ha-ha as well….
To control others thoroughly is one long
struggle not to be laughed at.
What a brilliant story. Particularly this bit:
I love Orwell.
Previously
I was reading this thing on “micro-aggressions” the other day. Every little thing, too small to take offense at discretely, but cumulatively very damaging and all a means of keeping those people in their place. Whoever, whenever, etc . . . Humor, naturally, is a micro-subversion and a micro-palliative — and hated on account of that, even without the epistemological subversion of the most subversive thing ever. “Nobody understands anything that isn’t funny.” I might even add that without humor, no one can escape the mask his face grows to fit.
There is a danger, though. Humor can be a mask as well, and your face will still grow to fit it. It’ll just be a funnier one, and people will tolerate more opression from someone who laughs than from someone who scowls.
Hmmm. I think I will become a Buddhist. I had no idea that they were allowed to reincarnate. Are Americans still allowed to reincarnate without government permission?
Actually, it makes legal sense. When the Dali Lama dies, his successor will be officially illegal according to the new Chinese Law.