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jamalh's avatar

Government = To control the Mind

For the sake of accuracy, please let me try to rectify the misleading etymology used by the author of the meme that you have used.

In Latin, the word "gubernare" does not mean exactly "control", but figuratively “to lead, conduct or govern”, literally "to steer a ship", "gubernum" being the rudder of the ship. "Mens" in Latin means indeed "mind", but in this case, “ment” is a suffix common to all Latin languages, in particular French that has influenced English, used to construct a noun based on the stem of a verb and expressing the result of the action of the verb. For instance manage-ment is the result of the action of managing, enlighten-ment is the result of the action of enlightening and govern-ment is therefore the result of the action of governing. This suffix is also used to construct adverbs from adjectives with the meaning of "way, manner" that explains the original use of the Latin word “mens”. For instance, the adjective "poli" in French, meaning "polite" gives the adverb "poli-ment", meaning "in a polite manner, politely" (with a polite “mind”). To say that etymologically the word ”government" means: "to control the mind" is therefore wrong, despite the fact that every government today does indeed control the mind of its people.

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Klaus Hubbertz's avatar

Thanks for your relentless time and effort to bring your thoughts to a wider audience/readership !!!

Only a wide spread, global, long-lasting famine will trigger any resistance; but then it will be too late.

I admire your resilience and often ask myself how do you endure the terrible cognitive dissonance once you finish editing your posts and then walk into current life-events ????

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