23-04-2011, 06:39 PM
Albert - the terminology matters.
With respect, in my judgement the phrase "MK-ULTRA programmed himself" mixes oranges and apples in a deeply unhelpful way.
If your argument is that a young person with a pre-existing borderline psychiatric condition could develop a full blown psychosis through exposure to LSD whilst surrounded by extreme religious types who considered rock and roll stars such as John Lennon more Antichrist than Guru, then I'm part of the way with you.
However, describing this as "MK-ULTRA self programming" does not aid our understanding of this process. The common cultural phrase for such a person is Acid Casualty.
With hallucinogens, set and setting is fundamentally important.
A Siberian adolescent entering the spirit world with a knowedgeable shaman from their own tribe, and a cauldron bubbling with Siberia's native hallucinogens, undertakes their journey in a constructive set and setting.
A fragile American teenager bussed to a military laboratory to be prodded by a spooky shrink who has no intuitive understanding of Acidland, but is trained to use electrodes and demand a response to Pain Trauma Death movies whilst the subject is trapped in a box, undertakes a journey in a destructive set and setting.
Most scientific discoveries can be used for Good or Evil.
The Good Rocket to travel to the Stars, the Bad Rocket for the World's Destruction.
Tragically, very early on, hallucinogens were co-opted and manufactured by the Man whose intention - not always successful - was to exploit their Evil potential.
LSD may have been one of the tools used to open up and programme Mark David Chapman.
With respect, in my judgement the phrase "MK-ULTRA programmed himself" mixes oranges and apples in a deeply unhelpful way.
If your argument is that a young person with a pre-existing borderline psychiatric condition could develop a full blown psychosis through exposure to LSD whilst surrounded by extreme religious types who considered rock and roll stars such as John Lennon more Antichrist than Guru, then I'm part of the way with you.
However, describing this as "MK-ULTRA self programming" does not aid our understanding of this process. The common cultural phrase for such a person is Acid Casualty.
With hallucinogens, set and setting is fundamentally important.
A Siberian adolescent entering the spirit world with a knowedgeable shaman from their own tribe, and a cauldron bubbling with Siberia's native hallucinogens, undertakes their journey in a constructive set and setting.
A fragile American teenager bussed to a military laboratory to be prodded by a spooky shrink who has no intuitive understanding of Acidland, but is trained to use electrodes and demand a response to Pain Trauma Death movies whilst the subject is trapped in a box, undertakes a journey in a destructive set and setting.
Most scientific discoveries can be used for Good or Evil.
The Good Rocket to travel to the Stars, the Bad Rocket for the World's Destruction.
Tragically, very early on, hallucinogens were co-opted and manufactured by the Man whose intention - not always successful - was to exploit their Evil potential.
LSD may have been one of the tools used to open up and programme Mark David Chapman.
"It means this War was never political at all, the politics was all theatre, all just to keep the people distracted...."
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war