The Sacred Nonaggression Principle
Second Edition: "Mantra for a Nourishing Planet"
by Brian Wright
Copyright 2010, Freeman Press, 175 pages
Yes, the second edition—or as I prefer to call it, the "second-first" or "kindergarten" edition (SNaP II)—of the book, the Sacred Nonaggression Principle, is finished. Hopefully, March 7, 2010, will go down in history as the point when the fully viral SNaP meme was introduced to the world.
SNaP I is past. It was no slouch, but like a hitter in baseball swinging at a first bad pitch, I felt I did not really "connect" with it. Actually, for a lot of reasons, not the least of which was that I seemed to approach the age-old malady of human aggression as a mathematician might come at a deep problem. The effect, I feel, was to leave too many readers mystified "at hello."
So that's behind us now, and in this incarnation of the Sacred Nonaggression Principle (SNaP) I start with things we all learned from kindergarten: don't hit, don't steal, don't lie. These "Kindergarten Rules" are the nonaggression principle (NaP) libertarians have been talking about, like, forever. But the important thing from a book-reception perspective is, "EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IT."
For this review what I want to initially do is provide a simple summary from the front matter and chapters of the book, and end with the epilogue in its entirety. The progression of the ideas is as follows:
Foreword and Prologue—The audience of the book breaks down into two natural groupings, those who are freedom-receptive and those already committed to the libertarian cause. A society without coercion is possible, and will be achieved as we solve the Big Universal Problem (BUP)—of political-economic tyranny.
Chapter 1: Kindergarten Rules—Leading off with notions that hail from the simplest tenets humans learn from childhood. Robert Fulghum’s book Everything I Know I Learned in Kindergarten spells out: 1) Don’t hit. 2) Don’t steal. 3) Be honest. These “Kindergarten Rules” are the nonaggression principle. It makes sense to hold them in the highest regard in all of society.
Chapter 2: Nonaggression 101—This chapter describes what aggression is and what it is not, the “Four Horsemen of the NaP,” the foundational nature of the NaP, and the importance of making it highest valued. SNaP syllogism and arguments. The psychological context of the NaP, how psychology and intellect and spirituality drive it. The SNaPstrip and the Nonaggression Vector.
Chapter 3: Nonaggression Roots—In Chapter 3, I present a three-dimensional scheme for measuring the progress of humanity toward the nonaggression ideal. A discussion of the “metaphysics” of nonaggression: how progress toward the nonaggression ideal is manifested in a person’s heart, mind, and soul.
Chapter 4: The Barrier Cloud—We see that the progress along the Nonaggression Vector is natural, that people are generally against aggression. Then why does humankind suffer so much aggression? This chapter describes the external and internal causes—both are diseased or defective psychology—that impede progress toward the NaP ideal. Outline of the solution.
Chapter 5: Breakthru Strategies—Chapter 5 discusses the so-called Grand Strategy for dispelling the Barrier Cloud, by moving along all three liberation axes, particularly overcoming mind control. Then some Home Run solutions and street-level tips. Also “Petite” Strategy categories with tactics. Showing the BIG solutions, practical stuff. Priorities and Vision Quest.
Chapter 6: Breakthru Actions—A practical ‘how to’ conclusion to the SNaP analysis. The objective for knowing the truth is that we may act truly so good things come our way. Liberation of the planet starts with each of us liberating ourselves, now. Using the Law of Attraction and creative-motivated action to achieve our goals. Being positive and productive. Think. Act. Persist. TAP the SNaP. The Wide Wide World of the Alternative Economy. Agorism.
You can see the progression of SNaP II is beginning with Kindergarten Rules as a premise, following with "proof of NaP" and importance of making the NaP the highest value in society, i.e. SNaP. Then a full description of the NaP concept and benefits, an observation that humans are naturally inclined toward nonaggression, followed by an explanation of why there is so much aggression in the world. Chapters 5 and 6 show reasonable strategies, tactics, and practical actions for overcoming the Barrier Cloud and realizing the nonaggression ideal. Now the epilogue:
Epilogue to SNaP II
The completion of this second-first edition of the SNaP book is a total thrill. It feels like being the engineer and/or stoking the firebox on a majestic old train locomotive on its maiden run. Or, in modern terms, writing some computer code to enable SpaceShipOne[1] to accomplish its mission. I’m so proud and fortunate to be a part of the freedom movement, and I hope my book provides substantial fuel and ideas for everyone pro-free or thinking of being so.
The Big If
The human race is on the edge of a grand new stage of consciousness, which will bring peace, freedom, and abundance to all.
If…
… if humankind slays the dragon of “systematic aggression”—the kind of “legitimized coercion” that governments claim is good for us. Those of us who have read this book know better. If SNaP II has accomplished anything, it is to show that government aggression, in particular, is THE Barnacle on the Ass of Human Progress, THE Intervening Dragon at the Portal to a world of unimaginable flourishing.
Moving the Center of Consciousness
We need ‘the Shift’ to happen very quickly. Above all, we must break down the propaganda system that sustains the <central controlling entity’s> dominance over what is deemed valid knowledge and information.
This will not be hard to do, because the machinery of the corporate state is stuck worse than ever. From a recent column of mine: “It seems every day the government does something else fundamentally insane. Neocon knuckleheads and their Zionist allies are pushing war with Iran. John McCain has sponsored a bill to outlaw nutritional supplements. The Patriot Act has repassed with even fewer libertarian safeguards. Then there’s the Obamatron Scary Health Care…”
The American state—which as any state is the seat of the Heaving Collective Unconscious—is in complete denial. Open rebellion or massive civil disobedience is imminent. The central popular message from cyberspace and the street: “We are not going to be slaves any more.”
We’ll need to have something good to replace this government. {From my perspective, a simple return to Constitutional liberty would be fine. But since the Entity resists, why don’t we move directly forward to a pure SNaP system with no coercive state at all. Yes!}
Worldwide. That’s a man-up paradigm shift.
A Case of Value
Let me reiterate the positive points of what I have tried to convey in this book: new ideas, support for good old ideas, realistic actions people can take to further their precious lives in liberty:
The Kindergarten Rules—facilitating understanding by remembering the lessons of life when we were five.
Elevating the nonaggression principle—creating a moral trump card to counter moral sentiments that require aggression.
Showing the SNaP foundation of core values—liberty, democracy, rule of law, impartial justice, sanctity of home, etc.
Describing thoroughly the nature of aggression—what it is and what it is not, dispelling key misconceptions.
The natural human tendency not to aggress—incl. several counters to standard arguments (e.g. PANG) vs. the NaP.
Connection between local SNaP and global peace—safe streets and peace rely on the same basic premise.
The Four Horsemen of Nonaggression—no prohibitions, no compulsions, no privileges, no exceptions.
The Four Benefits of Nonaggression—world peace, safe streets, abundance, spiritual enlightenment.
Connection between the SNaP and spiritual growth—esp. the “Jesus Salient” for ridding us of addictions… to force, to drugs, etc.
Connection between the SNaP and rationality—if anything is to make sense in the world, it’s to live and let live.
Connection between the SNaP and psychological independence—overcoming the Stuck Limbic System syndrome.
The SNaP pledge for public officials—along with citations, turning those esp. in law enforcement toward nonaggression.
Root understanding of nonaggression spectrum—building from the Nolan Chart, showing the psych. basis of freedom.
The World’s Smallest Meta-Political Quiz—a potential tool for accelerating toward the nonaggression ideal.
The Barrier Cloud—first conceptualization of the reason nonaggression has not spread through the world already.
Hypothesis of the root external cause of aggression—exposing the <central controlling entity> as a disease model.
Hypothesis of the root internal cause of aggression—understanding the role of a stunted limbic system in tyranny.
Vision Quest—continuing the great conversation of what a world without aggression means to us personally.
Grand Strategy—setting the higher parameters in the strategy for success: truth and balanced (personal) growth.
Petite Strategy—five good candidates for principles of action to pursue, especially presumption of freedom.
Tactics—five action areas to emphasize, with a set of imminent public-policy options that will save the country.
Breakthru attitudes—drawing from motivational classics and positive lessons to the freedom community.
The importance of action—contrasted to “verbal libertarianism” success comes from directly acting for your freedom goal.
Solutions 24—at last doing work you can be proud of, that stokes the freedom train and gets you well; Alternative Econ 101.
Most of these are 100% new and improved ideas you can use to live your own life productively and help create a world of peace, freedom, and abundance. One or two, admittedly, I stretched so I could have the same number of key ideas in SNaP II (24) as I had alternative-economy business ideas described in Chapter 6. :)
A Joy Worth Having
In the SNaP book, I’ve been speaking mainly about e-volution—mostly from a spiritual and personal perspective. We who value freedom as life vibrate at a high frequency and learn how to disconnect from the dark side of ego. But as the walls of ignorance fall, deeper-diseased aggressors may maim and even kill fellow good humans. Joie de vivre is why we risk it all:
V: “Would you… dance with me?” Evey Hammond: “Now, on the eve of your revolution!?” V: “A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having.”
So that's my new book. I think you'll like it, and I believe that it can become a key part of the restoration of the Republic and spreading nonaggression around the world... help us to the next stage of evolution: an amazing world of peace, freedom, and abundance. Thank you.
[1] A rocket-powered aircraft that completed the first privately funded human spaceflight on June 21, 2004.
