anatomy_of_a_rebel unhinged 'the rebel, dismissed as impractical and zealous, is chronically misunderstood. those cursed with timidity, fear, or blindness and those who are slaves to opportunism call for moderation and patience. they distort the language of religion, spirituality, compromise, generosity, and compassion to justify cooperation with systems of power that are bent on our destruction. the rebel is deaf to these critiques. the rebel hears only his or her inner voice, which demands steadfast defiance. self-promotion, positions of influence, the adulation of the public, and the awards and prominent positions that come with bowing before authority mean nothing to the rebel, who understands that virtue is not rewarded. the rebel expects nothing and gets nothing. but for the rebel, to refuse to struggle, to refuse to rebel, is to commit spiritual and moral suicide. ...the rebel, possessed of ' sublime_madness ,' speaks words that resonate only with those who can see through the facade. the rebel functions as a prophet. he or she has what leo tolstoy described as the three characteristics of prophecy: 'first, it is entirely opposed to the general ides of the people in the midst of whom it is uttered; second, all who hear it feel its truth; and thirdly, above all, it urges men to realize what it foretells.' the message of the rebel is disturbing because of the consequences of the truth he or she speaks. to accept that barack obama is, as cornel west says, 'a black mascot for wall street' means having to challenge some frightening monolith of power and give up the comfortable illusion that the democratic party or liberal institutions or a single elected official can be instruments for genuine reform. to accept that nearly all forms of electronic communication are captured and stored by the government is to give up the illusion of freedom. the rebel, by disseminating this truth, forces us to embrace a new radicalism. the rebel shows us that there is no hope for correction or reversal by appealing to power. the rebel makes it clear that it is only by overthrowing traditional systems of power that we can be liberated. the denunciation of the rebel is a matter of self-preservation for the liberal class. for once the callous heart of the corporate state is exposed, so is the callous heart of its liberal apologists. and the rebel, who has few friends, is the constant target of the liberal establishment.' - chris hedges 171217 what's it to you? who go blather from