“Conformity quickly became the new cardinal sin in our society.”
Nation of Rebels, p. 30
Because Copping a Pose Takes Less Work
”The idea that artists must take an oppositional stance toward mainstream society is hardly new. It has its origins in 18th-century Romanticism, a movement that went on to dominate the artistic imagination throughout the 19th century.”
Nation of Rebels, p. 16
Unlike those Sold-Out Hippiecrits
“So where did the idea of ‘alternative’ come from? The idea that you had to be unpopular to order to be authentic?”
Nation of Rebels, p. 14.
A Culture Wars False Flag
“If anything, consumer capitalism has emerged from decades of countercultural rebellion much stronger than it was before”
Nation of Rebels, p. 8
Rich Hippies
“During the ‘80s, the same generation that had ‘tuned in, turned on and dropped out’ presided over the most significant resurgence of conspicuous consumption in American history. The hippies became yuppies.”
Heath and Potter, Nation of Rebels, p. 3
As Any May See
“September 2003 marked a turning point in the development of Western civilization. It was the month that Adbusters magazine started accepting orders for the Block Spot Sneaker, its own signature brand of ‘subversive’ running shoes. After that day, no rational person could possibly believe that there is any tension between ‘mainstream’ and ‘alternative’ culture. After that day, it became obvious to everyone that cultural rebellion, of the type epitomized by Adbusters magazine, is not a threat to the system—it is the system”
Heath and Potter, Nation of Rebels, p. 1.
Straight Out of the Carton
“But despite the untruths involved, they nevertheless made good copy, and the editors ate it all up with a spoon, straight out of the carton. One of those editors had read some Derrida in college, and so he was good with the idea of perspectives from every which direction, especially if it made good copy” …
Forgiveness as Transaction
“We cannot forgive those who are defiant, however much we might like to. Because forgiveness is a transaction, if someone steals your car, you can’t run down the street after them, yelling out your forgiveness” (For a Glory and a Covering, p. 95).
Legally Speaking
“Not that they knew about it at the time, but Shattuck had pulled all their shirts up over their heads and rolled all their socks down, creating a little black wool bead around the tops of their expensive Italian shoes” (Evangellyfish, p. 164).
A Basic Character Trait
“Forgiveness comes from someone whose heart is disposed to kindness and tenderheartedness; we are therefore talking not merely about isolated acts of forgiveness, but also about a deep-rooted disposition to forgive. A forgiving heart is a character trait” (For a Glory and a Covering, p. 94).