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Let me tell you about Benjamin.
Benjamin is an old donkey, he lived in a place called Animal farm.
Benjamin was never enthusiastic about anything that happened to the other animals on animal farm, neither was he upset when things went wrong in the farm.
Benjamin is an old donkey, he lived in a place called Animal farm.
Benjamin was never enthusiastic about anything that happened to the other animals on animal farm, neither was he upset when things went wrong in the farm.
Benjamin lived a simple life.
He did his fair share of the work and no more. He never slacked or intensified the level of his work.
His mood never changed.
He was always the same, pessimistic and vague.
When I think about Benjamin, I think about elderly people who have
He did his fair share of the work and no more. He never slacked or intensified the level of his work.
His mood never changed.
He was always the same, pessimistic and vague.
When I think about Benjamin, I think about elderly people who have
seen a lot of things come and go and have realised that things always went the way things will always go.
They never took the time to explain their position to others because they believe its an exercise in futility.
They never criticise anything or praise anything.
They never took the time to explain their position to others because they believe its an exercise in futility.
They never criticise anything or praise anything.
They understand criticism and praise are only in the spur of the moment and given enough time, things will turn out exactly the way things have set out to turn out.
They do not believe they can affect anything because they have seen people who wanted to try unsuccessfully.
They do not believe they can affect anything because they have seen people who wanted to try unsuccessfully.
They are not sadists, quite the contrary. In fact they allude to a time in their lives when they had been hopeless optimists.
Now, they just have no expectation, they are hopeless and when you're hopeless, nothing gets to you.
Not pain or pleasure, not joy or sadness.
Now, they just have no expectation, they are hopeless and when you're hopeless, nothing gets to you.
Not pain or pleasure, not joy or sadness.
Benjamin had wisdom, but he never applied it. He has the faculty but he never takes the initiative.
He's not for or against anything. He simply lets things play out the way they will.
Benjamin is an apolitical intellectual.
Why should he bother himself with politics when
He's not for or against anything. He simply lets things play out the way they will.
Benjamin is an apolitical intellectual.
Why should he bother himself with politics when
he believes you cannot really change anything.
The people will do whatever the people want to do.
Benjamin has lived a long life. He has seen revolutions come and go.
He has seen euphoria become depression and that depression become hope, only for it to become despair again.
The people will do whatever the people want to do.
Benjamin has lived a long life. He has seen revolutions come and go.
He has seen euphoria become depression and that depression become hope, only for it to become despair again.
Why is Benjamin important you may ask?
Why am I telling you about Benjamin?
Well, I believe the story of Benjamin is important to understanding how oppressive regimes who started with lofty heights and a overwhelming support become what they are.
Why am I telling you about Benjamin?
Well, I believe the story of Benjamin is important to understanding how oppressive regimes who started with lofty heights and a overwhelming support become what they are.
Benjamin became what he became after seeing so many instances of good people becoming bad people.
Benjamin had seen other people try to keep the good people in check and witnessed even more people attack these first set of people for trying to speak against people who they
Benjamin had seen other people try to keep the good people in check and witnessed even more people attack these first set of people for trying to speak against people who they
believed were faultless.
Benjamin the donkey had seen these good people exhibit what is only too familiar with humans but never paid attention to; which is absolute power become absolute corruption.
Benjamin in his infinite wisdom understand that, for good people to remain
Benjamin the donkey had seen these good people exhibit what is only too familiar with humans but never paid attention to; which is absolute power become absolute corruption.
Benjamin in his infinite wisdom understand that, for good people to remain
good, they had to be kept in check.
And I remember a time in his youth when he had tried to be the one. Only to get attacked by other people who called him "anti-good people."
People failed to hold these good people to account on the account that they were incorruptible
And I remember a time in his youth when he had tried to be the one. Only to get attacked by other people who called him "anti-good people."
People failed to hold these good people to account on the account that they were incorruptible
and blameless and as such any action which portends to hold them to account for anything must be anti good and must be put down.
Benjamin had seen these all too many times.
He had seen those good people do what people do when they become unquestionable.
Benjamin had seen these all too many times.
He had seen those good people do what people do when they become unquestionable.
They take more leeway, they believe in their own goodness and as such refuse to be held to account because it means they are allowing their goodness be challenged.
Then they become narcissists, and keep going until they become dictators.
And that's when euphoria turns into
Then they become narcissists, and keep going until they become dictators.
And that's when euphoria turns into
depression.
And this happens all over and over again and Benjamin had seen it all.
So Benjamin became what he became.
A vague pessimist.
And this happens all over and over again and Benjamin had seen it all.
So Benjamin became what he became.
A vague pessimist.
Goodness is not inherent, it must be maintained by checks and balances and the people willing to demand that good people continue to be good people instead of believing they are faultless.
This is why revolutionaries become dictators.
This is why revolutionaries become dictators.
Because they are never challenged until it is too late.
Their goodness is never questioned until it is no more.
Benjamin has seen it all and knows things will end the way things have set out to end, so he's never enthusiastic or upset.
He never corrects or faults.
Their goodness is never questioned until it is no more.
Benjamin has seen it all and knows things will end the way things have set out to end, so he's never enthusiastic or upset.
He never corrects or faults.
He believes that things will always stay the same more or less.
Times comes and times go, seasons turn into years and years into decades.
Things more or less stays the same.
Olóyè writing to you from the #CouncilofChiefs.
Times comes and times go, seasons turn into years and years into decades.
Things more or less stays the same.
Olóyè writing to you from the #CouncilofChiefs.
