Part of the Machine

[kokopelle]

I was cleaning up my old house today, well, more like sorting things into boxes. I listened to some classic Rage Against the Machine music while productively sweating. It occurred to me that the raw pressing lyrics of the band did not keep them from becoming part of the machine when they hit the mainstream. I think this is one of the things I've realized in my old(er) age. You can rebel against the machine, and do it well, but to participate in the machine means that you are part of it.

Comments

[chimerae.livejournal.com]

or grease in the wheels . . . or you CAN be a spanner in the works, but that's not such a great option if you have need of the machine's output (electricity, road systems, internet . . .)

[greensh.livejournal.com]

There is a scene in "The Matrix Reloaded"...

Councillor Hamann: That you are, in fact, still human. Have you ever been to the enginering level? I love to walk there at night, it's quite amazing. Would you like to see it?
Neo: Sure.
Councillor Hamann: Almost no one comes down here, unless, of course, there's a problem. That's how it is with people - nobody cares how it works as long as it works. I like it down here. I like to be reminded this city survives because of these machines. These machines are keeping us alive, while other machines are coming to kill us. Interesting, isn't it? Power to give life, and the power to end it.
Neo: We have the same power.
Councillor Hamann: I suppose we do, but down here sometimes I think about all those people still plugged into the Matrix and when I look at these machines, I.. I can't help thinking that in a way, we are plugged into them.
Neo: But we control these machines, they don't control us.
Councillor Hamann: Of course not, how could they? The idea's pure nonsense, but... it does make one wonder just... what is control?
Neo: If we wanted, we could shut these machines down.
Councillor Hamann: Of course... that's it. You hit it! That's control, isn't it? If we wanted, we could smash them to bits. Although if we did, we'd have to consider what would happen to our lights, our heat, our air.
Neo: So we need machines and they need us. Is that your point, Councillor?
Councillor Hamann: No, no point. Old men like me don't bother with making points. There's no point.
Neo: Is that why there are no young men on the Council?
Councillor Hamann: Good point.
Neo: Why don't you tell me what's on your mind, Councillor?
Councillor Hamann: There is so much in this world that I do not understand. See that machine? It has something to do with recycling our water supply. I have absolutely no idea how it works. But I do understand the reason for it to work. I have absolutely no idea how you are able to do some of the things you do, but I believe there's a reason for that as well. I only hope we understand that reason before it's too late.