Critical mass is a concept that comes from nuclear physics. Radioactive materials give off radiation. A certain level of radiation is natural and harmless. Higher levels can be damaging to living tissue if the exposure is extended but there is no problem if the uranium is left in the ground and not processed. In attempting to produce what is called a nuclear reaction, it is necessary to purify the elements and jump through a lot of hoops. If done right you can reach a point where the radiation can produce nuclear energy to power electric generators. If done “right” another way it can produce nuclear explosions.
Critical mass is the point at which the radioactive material is dense enough to start the chain reaction. At certain levels you can harness the energy for constructive purposes. At another point it leads to an explosion. At that point it is obviously destructive. I am not sure if it is realistic to talk about “after” that point because the explosion takes almost no time.
I think we can apply this concept to social and cultural actions. I am going to be looking at things which at a certain level are irritating but not deadly. At the present time they damage the fiber of society but they have not reached the point of destruction. When they reach that point then there is a chain reaction that forces change whether it is wanted or not.
Mine is a developing list. It starts with irritation and moves on to realizing the results of an irritation out of control. Remember that a minor cut not treated can lead to gangrene and death.
The idea of Death by a Thousand Cuts may have started in China but it is living and well in America and the West.
homo unius libri
True, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with the idea that we get the government we deserve is that I don't think I deserve the same as the mindless majority. When things blow up it will catch me too.
DeleteGrace and peace.
it's all very frustrating to see the direction our country is going and feel like you're just being swept up in it. All we can do is try to make our little corner of the world better (or at least tolerable).
ReplyDeleteBut they keep making my little corner smaller and smaller. I would not care about graffiti if they only wrote on their living room wall but they want to come to mine because the walls are still clean.
DeleteGrace and peace.
That's where you commandeer some of THEIR corner and set it up like you like it. Plant some fruit trees and flowers in front of that graffiti. Paint stripes on their walls. If they're gonna impinge on your space, you should feel free to impinge on theirs. It's war, I tell you!
ReplyDeleteWe tried that in Boston years ago. We filled the planter in front of the brownstone with colorful flowers. One day we found that someone had dug them up and stolen them. Where we live now we personally hauled in river rock to decorate the front yard. We noticed that a certain size rock was disappearing from our yard. Welcome to America.
DeleteGrace and peace.