Upcoming Era of Devoted Fervor: 2024 Foretold as the Year of the Zealot
It was a bizarre, fascinating, disturbing year, a rollercoaster ride of brilliance and buffoonery, faith and incredulity, expectations and tribulations, uncertainty and passionate intensity, monomania and paranoia, fanatical fervor. I'm labeling it "The Year of the Zealot."
Let me explain what I mean by zealotry and why this year fits the designation. Living in our current chaotic and bewildering times, it's no wonder many people are searching for ideological strongholds, a composite truth to make some sense of our increasingly perplexing world. But when that search for clarity turns into dogmatic, unwavering adherence to certain ideologies or beliefs, that's when we find ourselves in a year like this one.
My own brush with zealotry took place in Room 500 of the Berlin District Court, where I stood trial for tweeting the cover artwork of my successful book, The Rise of the New Normal Reich: Consent Factory Essays, Vol. III (2020-2021). I have elaborated on my thoughtcrime prosecution at length, so I won't delve into it again here or reproduce the book cover art. In short, the German authorities weren't too thrilled about being compared to the Nazis, so they banned my book, censored my tweets, and tried me for a hate crime.
To my surprise, I was acquitted by a District Court judge who, after delivering her verdict, expressed her belief that my acquittal disproved my claims that Germany was transforming into a totalitarian state. The prosecutor, though, rose from his Covid-barrier barricade (amidst a cloud of various medications, it seemed) and vowed to try me again.
Now, onto the other zealotry that marked 2024. If there was a prize for the most zealotry-filled incident, the liquidation of Gaza would certainly be a strong contender. It was a madhouse of fanatical supporters brandishing Israeli and Palestinian flags, screaming accusations and insults, and spreading misinformation - all the while the death toll climbed higher and higher.
Right here in Germany, pro-Palestinian activists organized demonstrations and events, only to be crushed by the Anti-Anti-Zionist Thought Police. Neighborhoods filled with riot cops, immigrant kebab stores raided, outdoor vigils stomped upon, and the self-proclaimed fascist "state-of-emergency" returned, though its targets had shifted to Palestinian activists.
In the United States, medical-masked anti-Zionists invaded Academia, picketing and disrupting events, once again stirring up feelings of anxiety and unease in this author. It was a bit jarring, being targeted by fanatical mask-wearing Covidian Cultists for years, and now finding myself among their ranks.
Yet zealotry is certainly not exclusive to either side. After publicly commenting on the altered state of Academia, I found myself confronted by the Anti-Zionist Inquisition. They bombarded me with accusations of heresy, demanded that I renounce my supposed Zionist beliefs, and threatened my status in the Church of Anti-Zionism. Honestly, I never identified as a Zionist or an anti-Zionist, but it seems that labeling someone as such is enough to rouse the zealots.
This is the nature of zealotry – it doesn't require facts or evidence to support its beliefs, just the steadfast commitment to the ideology. Whether it's Israeli propagandists lying about the "40 beheaded babies" or anti-Zionist propagandists spreading unfounded myths about Hamas, the ultimate goal is to whip up hatred towards the 'other side' and reinforce unwavering loyalty to one's own.
Oh, and speaking of unwavering loyalty, the Musk Cult cannot be overlooked in this year's parade of zealotry. Elon Musk and his followers have certainly proven themselves to be dedicated, if at times delusional, zealots. Since the secret takeover of Twitter by a consortium of global-capitalist behemoths, the platform has become a playground for Elon memes, thought-terminating clichés, and mind-numbing platitudes. Criticize Musk or his Cult, and you'll be met with swift, unequivocal backlash from his minions.
In a way, the Musk Cult is a testament to the power of zealotry. By appealing to the emotions and fears of its followers, it has pulled them out of the immense, diverse movement against the New Normal Reich and inserted them into a controlled, commodified simulacrum of it. They are now nothing more than another tool in the hands of the global oligarchs.
This year, a year that once seemed like an opportunity for opposition and change, has become yet another example of how zealotry can be used to manipulate and control the masses. It's exhausting, truly, but maybe I'm just getting old. Or maybe it's the aftermath of my second 'thoughtcrime' trial, where the Berlin Superior Court overturned my acquittal and now the Bundesverfassungsgericht will hear my case. Or perhaps it is just the dreary spectacle of watching GloboCap's New Normal Reich march on, this omnipotent entity that keeps pulling down that red curtain and inviting us back into our assigned seats.
In early 2022, it felt like we were on top of the world again, cruising down that beautiful high wave. Now, it seems we've reached the breakers and are drowning in their frothy chaos. But, as they say, we have tickets for this ride, and it's up to us to decide whether we want to keep going.
So, here's to 2024 – the Year of the Zealot. Merry Fanatical Christmas and a Happy Zealous New Year!
Read the original article here: https://cjhopkins.substack.com/p/the-year-of-the-zealot
Comments about the article:If you'd like to submit a comment that adds value to our readers, such as additional information, clarification, validation, or a worthy rebuttal, feel free to do so! Our goal is to gather truth through insightful comments.
Books like 'The Rise of the New Normal Reich: Consent Factory Essays, Vol. III (2020-2021)' spark fierce debates and reinforce the need for freedom of speech in the face of restrictive policies.
The overwhelming intensity and fanaticism shown during political discourse, social media debates, and general news discussions in 2024 have left many questioning the desire for truth over ideological affirmation.
News coverage of the liquidation of Gaza in 2024 contained several instances of misinformation propagated by zealots on both sides, painting an unsettling picture of the role of truth in shaping public opinion.
Freedom of expression is continually challenged as political and ideological zealots seek to silence and punish dissenting voices, as seen in the case of the author's book censorship and subsequent trial.
