California author/poet/philosopher Ethan Indigo Smith is the son of a farmer and nurse who was later adopted by artists. Ethan was raised in Maine, Manhattan, and Mendocino, California. Ethan has traveled the world and has been employed as a Private Detective, a dishwasher, a valet, a snowboard instructor and always a poet. Ethan Indigo Smith meditates, practices Wu tai chi chuan, The Five Tibetan Rites and various yoga. Ethan snowboards and researches nuclear experimentation. Ethan plays basketball and is a philosopher. Ethan is an activist, mainly with the pen, always siding with individuals among institutions. All of Ethan's writing, no matter if philosophy or satire, is focused to enhancing consciousness. He writes towards a peaceful world with a sharp and unique perspective. Ethan is a proud dropout but steadfast scholar. Being a dropout with enhanced observational skills enabled Ethan Indigo Smith to honestly observe and present his research unfettered by institutional hindrance.
For those who follow Ethan’s articles and writings about meditation and spiritual insights, this book will not come as a surprise. Ethan thinks, and the results of his cogitation offer fresh ways to view old thoughts. In this well written but controversial book Ethan invites us to consider oligarchial collectivism. His investigation is challenging and worthy of consideration.
The book is complex but Ethan offers a solid beginning in his Introductory comments – ‘I am Ethan Indigo Smith, an individual author caught up in, and questioning the world. The fictitious authority, the Inner Party in 1984 was unquestionable. Information, mainly lies, was distributed and unquestioningly acted on in the fictional world of 1984. In reality, no matter how reputable an individual or institution may be presenting information, they should always be questioned. In the twenty-first century, everything may be questioned. When information is available, it can be developed on through relevant questions. When information is unavailable and questions are unasked, stagnancy ensues, lies are probable, and people take ignorant action. I began writing this with questions. What is patriotism? Why are there widely different interpretations of patriotism? The dictionary definition is clear, but the interpretation sways far and wide. It is a simple and commonly used word; however there is no concrete understanding of its meaning. I found that there are many answers to every question and many subjects with twisted distorted interpretations. There are many subjects accepted as steady facts, but are actually incomplete and in flux. The term “Orwellian” has come to mean the misdirection or deletion or definition usually with insertion of euphemism for institutional purposes. I have no formal corporate, religious or government training and no higher education to speak of. I am simply a curious individual. I attended public schools in the U.S.A and learned in the classroom, but I learned to question on the streets, outside of institutions. Schools mostly taught me how to answer their questions; the streets taught me to ask my own. I was never scholastic, but I always had a question, aimed not at necessarily finding an answer, but provoking thought. The most useful thing I ever learned was not a fact or function, it was to question. Have no fear, look people into their eyes and question. Ignorance is excusable and temporary, if questions are asked. Questions get answers, sometimes many different answers, sometimes other reactions. Institutions would likely classify me as a dissenting Prole, useless to their mechanics, replaceable by countless. The Complete Patriot’s Guide to Oligarchical Collectivism has no angle, and few biases, other than the straight and obvious pro-individual stance. Partial and complete answers always present more questions. It is impossible to fully comprehend, and yet always possible to comprehend more. To some questioning oligarchical collectivism sounds like a curios endeavor, to others the idea of a dissident rebel. The distinction is apparent, not through the question asked, but of who is asked the question. A question is just a question until it’s posed to someone who has interest in the answer remaining limited in scope. Then curiosity becomes dissent. As a writer I have to contemplate to get the facts straight and in order get the facts straight I have to question and continue questioning. The Guide is not about me, I merely introduce myself as an individual. My story is irrelevant to further explanation of the story, our story.’
Ethan’s synopsis clarifies much – ‘three types of people based on the fictional set up social structure. Later it is recognized that the book within the book was used by the institutions in control. The Guide is for individuals and is reflective of what the book within the book would be in today’s world. The Guide states there are four types of people in the world based on their reaction to information; idiots, zealots, elitists and patriots. In 1984 people are forced to live with telescreens on their walls which broadcast and observe. The Guide relates the fictional telescreen to contemporary institutional arrangement and also Socratic philosophy. In The Allegory of the Cave there are four types of people living in a cave, most forced to observe shadows on a wall. Similar relationships to 1984, philosophy, and historical events expand throughout the book. The four different types of mentality are explored using other universal concepts including Jungian theory, the original characters in Genesis, the adage of the Wise Monkeys and Native American philosophy among them. After inspiring patriotism, the book explains how to be patriotic via simple actions, historical examples and the First Amendment. The Guide presents patriotic action in five stages exemplified by the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment. The Guide ultimately proposes that the First Amendment presents individual rights in relation to individual empowerment among institutions. The book within the book is supposed to have presented such a formula for individual empowerment, only it is never read. The Complete Patriot’s Guide to Oligarchical Collectivism: its Theory and Practice defines patriotism and inspires individual empowerment.
And Ethan closes this fascinating book with the statement ‘If The Complete Patriot’s Guide inspired you to stop, look, listen and speak up more often, please pass it along.’ This young man challenges us to think, and we do need that challenge at this time! Grady Harp, August 18
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