THE RECOVERING ADDICT AS A SUPERIOR FORM OF HUMAN BEING

ON THE BRAND, BRAND


The list of things I don’t want to write about keeps on multiplying, Russell Brand, Scottish Labour Party, UKIP, EU, The Tory party, Ebola, Scottish Nationalism, Islamism,…the list grows. Of course all of these things are important, some a lot more important than others. Against the backdrop of the defence of Kobane, and let’s not forget Aleppo, most seem trivial.

Not wanting to write about something is usually a pretty big indicator that I eventually will. Of all the above  Mr Brand is undoubtedly the most trivial, and also the most irritating, like a wasp at a picnic he seems intent on spoiling your day. Brand seems to believe that being someone who has recovered from drug and alcohol addiction gives him some sort of superior insights than other mere mortals. I have written about this before. 
This kind of arrogance, usually masquerading as humility, is far more common amongst those so recovering than is maybe realised. This is a consequence of certain aspects of the 12-Step philosophy, of which Brand is a strong adherent. It can be found in statements referring to non-addicts as 'civilians,' or self identification as a 'walking miracle.' Statements like "I know there is a hell for I have been there." Such statements within the confines of an NA or AA meeting are fairly innocent, if somewhat grandiose. However linger too long in this recovery euphoria and you start to see addiction itself as a form of superiority, the recovering addict as a superior form of human being. 
12-Step philosophy is also where the 'Buddhist' dimension to his revolutionary programme comes from. Brand however seems to have turned the essential quietism of the 12 step programme on its head, seeking to forge a recipe for ‘happy revolution.’ Of course linking revolution to play is not new, the situationists in France did so in 1968, though far more coherently than Brand. As for his nihilistic response to political structures nothing Brand produces can compete with the Dada movement.

But Brand’s brand, if you’ll pardon the pun, is not just stale and puerile it is phony and at its core dangerous, serving the cause of reactionaries everywhere by discrediting protest and trivialising important issues. For if young people follow this pied piper of infantile jest* he will lead them further to the wilderness of further disenfranchisement and impotence. Conservatives like Boris Johnson love him.  
Revolution on Hold During the West Ham Game


*And I do not believe he has any real traction with young people, most are far too sensible. 

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