Brainwash

Brainwash

  By Robin Xavier Fontaine

  Copyright © 2013 by Robin Xavier Fontqaine

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  Table of Contents

  Start of Brainwash

  Connecting with Robin Xavier Fontaine

  This story is purely a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the character described herein or the character's name, and any actual person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  Brainwash

  Gus Bovington sat down at his desk on the fourteenth floor of the business highrise and began his workday. As always, he began by meditating on the sign that was hung precisely opposite his desk and one meter higher than eye level. “Think, think, think,” he told himself as he stared at the word in front of him. He began to think furiously.

  He punched a few buttons and opened his inbox. He scanned the mailings and selected ten to save; the others he put in his trash. He spent the better part of an hour intensely scrutinizing the words on his computer screen. He prioritized his work, and began with Item # 1:

  In a near rage, he typed into his computer at an alarming speed the following directive: Life is purely and absolutely about choices; we are all rewarded for right-thinking and behaviour, and suffer calamities when our actions are wrong-headed. It is erroneous to describe a misfortune in life as a “tragedy” when it can be demonstrated that misfortune is a consequence of bad choices. In this particular case, homelessness is purely and absolutely the consequence of poor choices on the part of the individual. Gus thought it through before he wrote his directive; it just seemed from the observer's point of view that he didn't think at all. It's necessary, he reflected, to empower ourselves through rigid and unforgiving choice doctrines in order to liberate the individual and prevent citizens from thinking that there might be anything unjust about their nation's way of life.

  Item # 2: Gus felt particularly passionate about this subject, and he banged his keyboard viciously as he inserted this statement: We are all equal; there can be no doubt on this subject. It is a level playing field. However, in order to enforce equality for all, we must treat some as less than equal, if their actions are unjustifiable, wrong, or contrary to the common good. In light of this, those with minority sexual orientations must be considered less than equal in regard to their sexuality. That is, they must be denied the same rights, freedoms and privileges accorded to the heterosexual majority. We do not say that they are less than equal; we simply deny them full equality. After all, he thought, these sexualities are obviously unnatural.

  Item # 3: There is a God; and that God creates people who will sin, and them punishes them for sinning; as well, God may punish the sinner's family, or neighbours, in accord with God's will. God rewards the good, and punishes the wicked, as they are judged in His eyes alone. It had always been Gus' experience in life that bad events are preceded by some sin against God; therefore, it was true to him.

  Item # 4: This directive was issued on a daily basis by Gus; it was central to the operating of his industry: A fact is a piece of knowledge held to be absolutely certain. A fact cannot be questioned, refuted, or challenged in any manner whatsoever. Those who deride facts are modern heretics; they are, through insinuations, to be described as delusional, appalling ignorant, flaky, or antisocial. We can`t have the citizens doubting the very solidity of the walls which enclose them, Gus ruminated. It would be chaos and anarchy – a collapse of civilization would ensue – if people doubted the facts as they are presented to them.

  Item # 5: Gus swelled his chest with patriotic pride as he entered his directive on this item: In the current war, and all past wars, our country was entirely in the right; our enemies have always been in the wrong. All of our war actions are justified and moral – there is to be no suggestion made that this is not true; as well, our enemy does not have the slightest shred of justness in his cause. We are the good guys, and they are the bad guys. Period. Imagine how many war efforts would be thwarted if the citizenry decided for themselves the rightness of our foreign affairs stances? Why, Gus thought, the international order would collapse – the bad guys would rule the world!

  Item # 6: Capitalism is the best economic system, and therefore it is entirely, without exception, held as a fact to be a good thing – regardless of how it is regulated (or not regulated.) Criticism of capitalism emanates from the loony left – and, the citizen knows, the loony left is socialist. It is crucial that no relationship be implied between business-friendly mainstream media and their advertising revenues – it is paranoia to suspect that advertisers can affect a media outlet's editorial stance. If we questioned how wealth is created and distributed, or how workplaces are structured, or how information is disseminated and censored, then we would all be living in ghettos and gulags! Ha! Gus was thoroughly his enjoying his day thus far, and the entrée was still to come.

  Item # 7: The proper relationship between the citizen and agents of authority is one of submissive fear to the authority on the part of the citizen. However, although we describe the proper relationship as authoritarian in character, we use the term “respect for authority” to signify that all this proper relationship if for is the maintenance of an orderly, functioning society. Gus was fuming now – he was thinking of those punks who stick their fingers at him when he shouts at them, or so many of his classmates who were addle-headed and kept challenging the professors' unassailable doctrines. How anarchists enraged him, all in the name of unsupportable rights and false freedoms. His blood was boiling, so he took a big swig of coffee with amaretto and continued.

  Item # 8: This one was penultimate in importance to Gus, and so he composed himself for a full second before entering this directive: The government is not opaque; that is, it is not secretive. We live in an open society, where all government activities are duly and meticulously recorded and reported. When secrecy is discovered and revealed, it is held to be an aberration in the workings of government, or an action of socialist conspirators. The government is transparent. “What would happen to public order,” Gus spoke to himself quietly, “if the citizens suspected that the real power in politics lay beyond their reach?” Gus saw himself as performing a public service, and if only the citizens knew how lovingly he massaged their brains, he would, well, win a great national citation.

  Item # 9: Always second last on his daily menu, Gus tapped out the next directive – an important digression before the final matter, which was the issue of overriding importance to Gus. It is plain to see that electoral democracy works very, very well. No improvements can be made in the design of democratic government; it is the end of political evolution, the political system perfected. No equivocation is allowed on this subject. Gus stopped for a moment to clench his fists, palms sweating furiously. He continued:

  Item # 10: Direct democracy does not exist, and cannot exist. If the concept of direct democracy is to be mentioned at all, it must be derided as the worst possible anarchy. Imagine a mere citizen making important decisions for himself and his children, instead of leaving that power in the hands of a few capable, competent, knowledgeable authorities. After all, polls show that the average citizen is ignorant, shallow and entirely irrational. Direct democracy would be rule by the surly mob! Gus slid down in his leather chair, exhausted by the injections of venom he put into his inferiors' minds that day - but every day was the same in that way. Gus bit deeply into the consciousness of society, on the behalf of society, in order to protect society from itself. Despite loathing himself at a very basic level, Gus knew that his dirty work was the toiling of a saint. Citizens owed the integrity and safety of their lives to him – Gus Bovington. Straightening up in his chair, Gus hit the “submit to senior editor” button, c
losed his computer, and went home to his quiet house in its quiet neighbourhood.

  The next morning saw Gus rise and follow the same routine he had since adolescence: Make his bed, brush his teeth, shave, take a shower, dress himself, then have a quick, nutritious breakfast. He then left his front door and ambled down to the corner store where he got his morning coffee. “Start your day with Utopia's finest coffee,” the imprint on the paper cup said. He then picked up a copy of “The Dream,” paid for the coffee and newspaper, and returned home.

  In his living room, Gus swung his feet up onto the ottoman, coffee at his side, newspaper on his lap, and began to read the stories in “The Dream” that he had discreetly editorialized within. It gave him a feeling of great gratification to know that his views were being absorbed by the minds of so many of his fellow citizens, and that those opinions were presented to the readers as unchallengeable positions. It was a war for minds and hearts, and he was one of the generals; “Owning a newspaper,” Gus thought to himself, “has got to be one of the most powerful positions a person could have in this world.”

  Gus then glanced over at the bookshelf in his living room which held row upon row of his most cherished books going back to his childhood days, and which he frequently consulted. With a broadening smile and a song in his heart, his gaze moved over to the portrait of his parents, who had always promised him that the world would be his, if he only listened to them and followed their instructions. He was where he always had wanted to be, and no life could be better for Gus Bovington, owner of “The Dream.”

  The End

  Connecting with Robin Xavier Fontaine

  You can find her on Twitter, @robinrobin55, by using this link:

  https://twitter.com/robinrobin55

  Don't forget to balance your view of totalitarians! Read Book #2 in the Battleground:Mind series, Brainwash 2:

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