Do you see law and order? There is nothing but disorder, and instead of law there is the illusion of security. It is an illusion because it is built on a long history of injustices: racism, criminality, and the genocide of millions. Many people say it is insane to resist the system, but actually, it is insane not to.
Interpretation
The quote critiques the concept of law and order, suggesting it masks deeper injustices and necessitates resistance.
Mumia Abu-Jamal's quote challenges the notion of law and order as a benign framework for society. Instead, he argues that this perception is a mere illusion, underpinned by a history of systemic injustices such as racism and genocide. The quote emphasizes that accepting the status quo without questioning its fairness is truly the irrational stance, advocating instead for resistance to an unjust system.
In practice
In a speech about social justice at a rally.
At the risk of quoting Mephistopheles I repeat: Welcome to hell. A hell erected and maintained by human-governments, and blessed by black robed judges. A hell that allows you to see your loved ones, but not to touch them. A hell situated in America's boondocks, hundreds of miles away from most families. A white, rural hell, where most of the captives are black and urban. It is an American way of death.
Many claim that it is insane to resist the system; but actually, it is insane not to.
Prison is a second-by-second assault on the soul, a day-to-day degradation of the self, an oppressive steel and brick umbrella that transforms seconds into hours and hours into days.
I've never really lived a conventional life, so I think it's quite foolish for me or anyone else to start thinking that I am going to start making conventional choices.
Endless praise and adoration, limitless abnegation and abjection of self; a celestial North Korea.
During the first formative centuries of its existence, Christianity was separated from and indeed antagonistic to the state, with which it only later became involved. From the lifetime of its founder, Islam was the state, and the identity of religion and government is indelibly stamped on the memories and awareness of the faithful from their own sacred writings, history, and experience.
It seems to me that every phenomenon, every fact, itself is the really interesting object. Whoever explains it, or connects it with other events, usually only amuses himself or makes sport of us, as, for instance, the naturalist or historian. But a single action or event is interesting, not because it is explainable, but because it is true.
To believe that will has power over potentiality, that the passage to actuality is the result of a decision that puts an end to the ambiguity of potentiality (which is always potentiality to do and not to do) — this is the perpetual illusion of morality.
Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.