By L. Benson
“Every artist, every scientist, must decide now where he stands.
He has no alternative. There is no standing above Olympian
Heights, there are no impartial observers… the artist must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery. I have made my choice. I have no alternative” - Paul Roeson
THE FRUITS OF DEEP THOUGHT
Over the years that I have physically been held in prison. I’ve gone through many levels of growth within the gestation of a solitary cell. Moreover, through this process I’ve grown into a better thinker and observer - not without trial and error. However, if I can put a label on what type of person I’ve become, I would say a modern philosopher or deep thinker.
While alienated from society for so long, I’ve become detached enough from the social scheme, that I’ve been able to make sound analysis and definition of what I observe or read. The creation of many classification, specifically, in socio-political and psychological terms, have been the work of “deep thought” (Kemet/ Egyptian) or “philosophy” (Greek) from earlier civilizations.
Today the early western philosophers’ definitions of a lot of terminology and concepts still exist. The ancient Greeks are given the historical credit of having the first intellectual society, that produced some of the worlds best thinkers (Socrates, Plato, Sophocles, Homer ect..), whom created such profound words as philosophy . The word philosophy is derived from the Greek word “Philosophia” that means “love of wisdom” (i.e.…, Philo = love + Sophia = wisdom)
Today the definition of philosophy has more intricate meanings than simply the “love of wisdom”. The American Oxford Dictionary (2005) defines the word philosophy as :
N. The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, esp. when considered as an academic discipline.
A set of views and theories of a particular philosopher concerning such study or an aspect of : a clash of rival socialist philosophies.
The study of the theoretical basis of a particular branch of knowledge or experience : the philosophy of science.
A theory or attitude held by a person or organization that acts as a guiding principal for behavior: don’t expect anything and you won’t be disappointed, that’s my philosophy. [p. 1278]
As seen above, the definition of philosophy has evolved since its inception. All respect is due to the ancient Greeks labeling the “love of wisdom” philosophy. However, the act and concept of loving wisdom did not originate in ancient Greece, thus the act and concept of loving wisdom was not labeled philosophy by other pre-existing civilizations.
A particular civilization that, arguably, had a profound influence on the ancient Greek civilization was that of the ancient Kemet/Egyptian civilization.
According to Kemetologist Jacob Curruthers in 1995, the Kemet people identified with different types of language usages. Such as Tftf (idle chatter), Mdw dw (evil speech) Maa kheru (true of voice), and Medew Netcher (divine speech).
In the day of old, Kemet society at its best advocated speaking and writing only in “true of voice” and “divine speech”. they understood that their words, if wise and just were the threads that held together the fabric of their societies.
The principal of “divine speech” was center to the ancient Kemet’s philosophy or what they called “deep thought” in their language. In the book “The Philosophy of Memphite Priest” by James Breasted, Carl Spight translates the words of a Kemet/Egyptian priest from what is called “The Shabaka Text”:
“The seeing of the eyes, the hearing of the ears and the sniffing of the nose report to the mind, which makes every understanding come forward. As to the tongue, it repeats what the mind has planned, thus all divine powers were created, for every divine speech came about through what the mind planned and the tongue commanded, thus all labor and all crafts are made, the actions of the hand, they motion of the legs, the movement of the limbs, according to this command which is planned by the mind and comes forth on the tongue and creates the performance of everything. Thus, it is said of the creator, he made and created the principals and from this everything came forth - all good things; thus, the creator was satisfied after he had made all things that is all divine speech”… [pg.39 - 45]
In Kemet, great emphasis was placed on the educated person who was in balance with themselves and the universe (cf. Holism). The educated person is a “lover of wisdom” or of “deep thought”. The balanced and educated person possesses “good speech” and always exhibits exemplary conduct. They knew how to act toward their elders and superiors, peers and subordinates. They knew how to identify proper methods of behavior from situation to situation. They were stoic or reserved, but effective in indirect communication when needed. Therefore, rather than boldly confronting someone else in a touchy situation, the educated Africans in Kemet used metaphoric and parable examples or third parties, to bring their point across to educate and inform the ignorant.
In “Intellectual Warfare” (1999) Curruthers conveyed that the African people of the Nile Valley civilization of Kemet reared their children, rich and poor alike, to appreciate the god of science, medicine, mathematics, writing, and “divine speech” - Djhuiti. (Profound Jehewty)
Jehewty symbol was two staffs with a single serpent entwined around each. Each staff and serpent represents the upper and lower geographical regions of Kemet. They also represented the upper and lower parts pf the Body. Jehewty, more than likely, was a real person who lived during or shortly after the reign of King Narmer who established Kemet through War around 3150 B.C.E; and united the two lands of upper and lower Kemet.
As a god, Jehewty was regarded as a divine speaker, very articulate, and possessed the ability to bring objects into existence via the spoken word. Scientifically speaking, all great accomplishments of human kind had to first be articulate by spoken or written words, and facilitated from there of, before coming into material existence. Therefore, in Kemet, the citizens were taught that among all people, writers were able to achieve immortality that was more guaranteed than those who build immaculate structures. Because the ideas of the writers lived in the world long after monuments crumb and other material wither away.
To drive the point to the house concerning the “deep thought” of writers. In “The Books of Khete” that contains writings from a Kemet priest over 6000 years old, his thoughts were translated as follows:
“Be skilled in speech so that you will succeed. The tongue of a man is his sword and effective speech is stronger than all fighting. None can over come the skillful. A wise person is a school for nobles and those who are aware of his knowledge do not attack him. No evil takes place when he is near. Truth comes to him in it’s essential form shaped in the sayings of the ancestors… Follow in the foot steps of your ancestors, for the mind is traveled through knowledge. Behold, their words endure in books. Open and read them and follow their wise counsel.”
The concept and action of “deep thought” or philosophy long existed in ancient Kemet. The first schools of theological and philosophical discipline were established in Kemet. They were called the “school of mystery”. many Greek thinkers studied there with Africans of Kemet. As early as 2000 B.C.E, Greeks had visited Kemet and was fascinated by the advancement of Kemetic civilization, especially of the Kemetic God Jehewty. He was referred to as “Thoth” by them (I.e., the word “thought” is derived from the Greek word “Thoth”, which referred to the cognitive abilities of Jehewty.)
Kemet was captured by Greece in 332 B.C.E and it was renamed Egypt. After imperialistic conquest, many aspects of Kemetic science, philosophy, and culture were infused into Greek cultures and over time has been solely attributed to the Greeks. For example, Kemet/ Egypt circumscribed most of their philosophy around “divine speech”; the Greeks had exhibited the motif of “divine speech” in their word theology which derived from theos = god/divine +logos = reason/word with connotation of intelligent speech.
Jehewty was Hellenized (323 B.C.E - 146 B.C.E) and became known to the Greeks as “Hermes” who was the messenger god and god of merchants, medicine, and oratory. He is depicted carrying a staff with two serpents entwined around it. This instrument was called the “staff of Hermes” and eventually became known as the Caduceus (I.e., the modern symbolic representation of healing and medicine that can be seen in most hospitals world wide)
When the Romans conquered the Greeks in 146 B.C.E, but gained control of Kemet/Egypt in 31 B.C.E. so too, did the Romans integrate many elements of Greek culture in to their society, specifically philosophical or deep thought aspects.
Cicero, Virgil, Horace, Ovid, and Livy brought the Latin language, under the influence of early Greek philosophers, to a more evolved stage. Within this culture integration of methology, philosophy, and science, the Greek god Hermes became known to the Romans as Mercury, the god of medicine, and swift thought and motion. Its apparent mercury was a Roman version of the Greeks Hermes; and both were European versions of Kemet’s Jehewty. I merely made a concise historical observation to make my point of where the origins of ancient philosophy or deep thought actually began, among other things. However, I’m not a cultural - nationalist of Afrikan/Kemet civilization per se, thou I do gain great esteem from the accomplishments of the ancient Afrikan./Kemets - I’m an Afrikan - American. But I keep historical facts in context of modern practicality. Hence I believe in Kemets holistic approach to life and science; thus practice “divine speech” or “true voice” in my contributions.
A further point of my deep thought here, is the speculation that psychopathology occurs because humans are classifying animals and that positive change occurs when a person must resolve paradoxes posed in terms of his or her classification/definition system. Like, when we classify/define the world as real or not, we pose problems of the nature of reality and so deep thought scientist is made necessary.
When humans divide the phenomena of the world, including themselves (me included), into classes, we face the formidable problem of keeping different terms of classes straight. (eg.. “the love of wisdom”: philosophy or seep thought) The act of defining can immediately pose problems. To create a class of things means automatically creating an opposite class which is not that thing or person, and men spend their lives pursuing a “I’m not this or that”, as many obsessed and mis-focused philosophers or deep thinkers demonstrate. Which is a dilemma I try to avoid as much as possible in my classification work of social phenomena - but it is inevitable. Broadly speaking, there can not exist one class without the other, because one classification depends on its existence upon its opposite. For example, assume justice, is to create injustice. Although, this sounds like Marx “thesis and anti-thesis” proposition of his dialectical materialism; doesn’t it sounds more like a human dilemma of the subject thought process to classify/define people and things, within an infinite universe made up of matter and energy to begin with?
Basically humans classify and define people, things, and behavior ect… as to make more sense of the infinite universe around them. And to convey a universal language that all can participate and communicate in and with. Ultimately classifying and defining people and things, gave the human mind a structure to navigate thought, internally with self and externally with other, thus creating the conception of what we call the world (i.e., the holistic interaction of humans around the earth)
Certain labels, terms, names, classifications, and definitions are lost, stolen, or replaced for new ones in the flux of history. Usually, whoever culture or group wins war over other, it is that victorious group’s classification/definition or history (his-story) that will replace those of the imperialized group (e.g the Kemetic empires annexed all of its Afrikan peoples of N/W Afrika; then the Greeks annexed Kemet; then Romans annexed the Greeks; then in the 5 century A.D the Germans annexed Romans Etc…)
However, I personally have grown to see the significant of the historical origins of classification, definition, and labels. In my opinion, it helps one communicate that classification more effectively in context of my reality and those of others. Without this understanding one is susceptible to be living vicariously through anothers act of historical deceit piousness. This may seem harmless, until we consider, the fact that classification, definitions, and labels we use, frame our particular conception of reality. And can unconsciously relegate our fullest potential in this world.
The great Afrikan-American, historian, John Jackson, in The Story of the Moors in Spain (1990), he made a brilliant point about the word Negro as follows:
“The progress peoples are called: Hamites, Kushites, Moors etc…, whereas the backward ones are called Negroes. The word negro comes from the Latin word Niger, meaning black. Hamites, Kushites, and Moors were also black, but they have been inducted into the white race
The word Negro was manufactured during the Atlantic Slave Trade; or to put another way, there are many species of small fish in the ocean; when put into cans they are called sardines; they only get that name when canned. No free Africans are called Negros; they got that name only after being enslaved. A fish becomes a sardine when imprisoned in a can, and Afrikans became Negroes when they were put in chains” [pg. 3]
Therefore, what I gather from Jackson’s analysis of the word Negro, is that any African foolish enough to refer to themselves as a negro - are subconsciously deeming themselves a slave. Placing themselves in the secondary. How stupid is that? When the person of African descent, can refer to themselves as a member to one of the many thousands African culture groups.
Moreover, most of my peers from the Hip-Hop generation in the U.S, use the “Nigga” as a word of endearment. Nigga comes from the word Nigger; that comes from the word Negro, tha comes from the word Niger, except for the Latin word Niger, all the rest of the words derived from thereof, are racially degrading to African peoples. And if one say’s, “I’m a Nigga not a Nigger, becomes Niggers were hung by ropes. And Niggas wear gold ropes in the clubs.” they cant rationalize the negative origins of that word - and are basically stating that they are still psychologically enslaved - the worst form of slavery.
Some people will say my observation about word definitions, are merely semantics, and has little significance in reality. To some degree that’s true. However, if we are ignorant of the origins of certain words or terms we use - especially when defining ourselves as individuals or groups - then we are subjected to living a false sense of reality and waste of time harnessing our full potential.
The ultimate power, is in a person who can define themselves, others, places, and things. Its self-flattery, to be able to classify, define, and/or label someone or something, with observation of your deep thoughts, that others accept for reality because it makes a sense to them in a particular era.
In closing of this open ended discussion I believe it’s essential that we learn to recognize who and what we’re not, in order to truly understand who and what we really are. There fore, I am not a nigger- philosopher - “I AM A SCIENTIST OF DEEP THOUGHT!”
Truth never dies, its only rediscovered.
CALL IT LIKE IT IS
This abortion of justice I’ve experienced the past 11 yrs. Has been a common trend throughout the history the U.S judicial system, particularly, against individuals without access to adequate support systems and/or financial resources.
Due to the lack of such support and resources back then (and now to a large degree), I was unable to acquire adequate legal representation. Therefore, I became another unwarranted statistic in the trend of aborted justice - much like the many innocent babies killed in the womb in the abortion clinics across the U.S.
I use the term “abortion of justice” opposed to the over used cliché, “miscarriage of justice” for specific reasons.
According to The American Oxford Dictionary (2005) the term “miscarriage of justice” is defined as follows:
N. a failure of a court or judicial system to attain the ends of justice, esp. one that results in the conviction of an innocent person. [pg. 1082]
Throughout the legal community since the insurrection of the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (1776) and U.S CONSTITUTION (1787), by American colonist against their British tax-oppressed (1776-83), the term “miscarriage of justice” has not only meaning to the above definition, but also an unintentional or inadvertent action or sentiment in such a judicial system that was (allegedly) created to uphold justice afforded by the 6th and 14th Amendments. Hence, the concept of miscarriage of justice ensnares the same ideal of having “all intentions of protecting and preserving the integrity of justice” before mistakes can take place, as does a pregnant mother normally has for her unborn child.
According to The American Oxford Dictionary (2005) abortion is defined as follows:
N.1 the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.
The expulsion of a fetus from the uterus by nature causes before it is able to survive independently.
2. An object or undertaking regarded by the speaker as unpleasant or badly made or carried out. [pg.4]
Opposed to a miscarriage, abortion is a deliberate action to kill. Therefore, “Abortion of justice: should be defined as follows:
N. the malicious intentional sentiment or action by official representing a judicial system, to attain conviction at the expense of justice and the innocence of the accused. [-Leon Benson 2009]
There should be no doubt that I am pro-lifer as well as pro-justice. In 1995, I prevented a woman I was romantically involved with, not to abort the innocent fetus she carried as a result of her prior relationship. The child’s father disowned her in the womb, and this is what caused the mother to speculate an abortion. But I stopped her an told her that baby had a right to life. March 12, 1997 this child was born, a beautiful baby girl named Koby - my daughter’ whom I love dearly.
It was no coincidence that I concluded here the same morals should apply to courtrooms. Which have become the new abortion clinics of justice. Like actual abortion clinics that are sanctioned by the government to murder babies, the U.S judicial system is too, to murder innocent citizens.
PRO - JUSTICE
Those of you out there who feel my passion against the continued “abortion of justice” then take action by supporting the innocent in prison.
We are not spineless cowards, who wear the guise of the law, to perpetuate a moral and inhuman action towards the innocent. Therefore, we know who we are: Pro-justice. We know the opposite of pro-justice is pro-evil. And I’m damn sure not an evil person - and YOU’RE NOT EITHER.
If you are pro-justice, you are my ally and an ally to humanity. If you are not, then you are my life long enemy and an enemy to all true defenders of justice everywhere. Just a deep thought for you in society to consider.
For a better tomorrow
Leon
Practioner of Maa Kheru
3/29/09 @5:27pm
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