K is for Keeping, Kissing, and Knowledge.

 K. One of our oddest letters, often used where it's no longer pronounced: K-nife, K-nowledge, K-now, and so on. Or so off. The sound used to be pronounced, but that was only the King's English which was as plastic as jelly. Always changing. Not like the Queen's English, which is immutable. 

Also, much of K's use has been overtaken by C - Cut, Curt, Courage, and Cunning. Then there's Q: Quarter, Quiff, and Quarrelsome. Does K have a future?

I think K is a Keeper. There's a lot to be said for Keep. A castle's Keep was the refuge of last resort should the castle's defenses be slighted.  To Keep your word is to be trustworthy. And to Keep striving for betterment is not a bad ambition for any human being.

I was thinking about that last night, when we were watching the doco about Centrepoint, in Auckland's Albany. We've seen a few documentaries about Cults - the USA seems to be prone to them, but they certainly don't have a monopoly on them. They are notable, though: The KKK could, justifiably, be branded as a cult. Trumpism is cultism. Hitlerism was certainly a cult, as was Stalinism - although they were based on fear, rather than a voluntary abdication of responsibility.

Any movement, or gathering of humans, where all responsibility for making decisions for oneself has been abrogated to a Leader could, I think, start to qualify for being culty. The Roman and Anglican churches (Anglicans perhaps not so much. They're too fond of currant buns and sweet tea.). Southern Baptist mega-churches are there. The Moonies (remember them?), the Hare Krishna movement.. Hmm. Don't know about the Krishnas. I seem to recall good, inexpensive vegetarian tucker, and not much else. Oh - and finger-cymbals. 

A few of the so-called "satanic" movements qualify, although quite a few of them are basically practical jokes. And the bunch of not-very-Christian "christians" in the community in West Coast are definitely starters.

One thing we've noticed is that the majority of messianic-style  leaders are male. Jim Jones, David Koresh, Dwight York, Bert Potter, "Bishop" Tamaki, Bagwan Rajneesh, and so on. The Rajneesh colony in Oregon was actually run by a woman, Sheela, who was as charismatic at the Guru was, and was as much to blame for the gunning-up and eventual downfall of the cult. Fortunately, there was little violence, despite the AR 15s, M-16s, and AK-47s being bandied about. 

At least Bert Potter didn't do guns. Just lots of sex, lots of drugs - and here's the horror: the sexual abuse of children. Bastard. He died with Alzheimer's. His victims, however, can't forget. 

Many cults start with the charismatic leaders "rescuing" people who are existing in a spiritual void. Good people, made for victim-hood, who are given permission to suddenly start exploring their sexuality (generally with the Leader), leading a hard-working yet hedonistic life on the commune, until paranoia sets in and guns start being flashed about. Along with the Kool-Aid. But guns. Far too often, guns.

Men. Inspiring and leading people who want to better themselves into a state of emotional slavery, intellectual starvation, and dog-like devotion.

Far better, it seems to me, to keep striving as an individual. The accept all others as they are, and not as you want them to be. To see the dignity of the individual. 

I was waiting for Jenny yesterday. I was outside a gas-station. I watched as a man of about my age struggled to exit his vehicle. He body bore witness to the fact that he had been a large and fit man once, but a life of hard physical work had broken him down. He walked with his trunk bent forward at 30 degrees, His hips were obviously buggered. His large hands were twisted, with swollen and scarred knuckles. His knees were bent. And he held his head, and gave me a nod and a grin as the walked slowly into the cashier to pay for his fuel. I could have kissed him for his courage.

Which brings me to Kissing. Kissing is fun. Kiss your partner with genuine sincerity - even just a peck on the cheek - and you can't go wrong. Think as you kiss: I really, really care for this human being, and I appreciate the way s/he enriches my life.

Took me a long time - too long - to learn that. What you learn becomes what you know, as long as it stands up to scrutiny. If you learn something, test it. Then, if it's a true learning, it's Knowledge. And there only one thing to do with Knowledge... and that is to share it. 

Reading:

Sam Eastland The Beast In The Red Forest. If you haven't discovered Eastland yet, go to your local Library, and look for Eye of the Red Tsar. 

And

Sylvian Neuvel's A History Of What Comes Next. SciFi, and astonishing. I've not read Neuvel before, do try it. Better than a cup of tea.