War Against The Machine

In a different time and maybe a different place, in a universe much like ours, the life of the people was much easier. They didn’t have to work; hardship had lost its meaning. Everything was a given and none was any poorer. Capitalism and communism were unheard of; they didn’t compete, nor did they strive.

As long as you could fill a form and wait a while, your requests were granted. Simplicity however, was not an attribute that they could relate to. Those forms were scrupulous and every base had to be covered. “How did things get done?” one may ask. Filling forms didn’t create magical gifts to sustain their need! It was a different universe, but the populace was much like ours, greedy. How was that sustained? Well, a few generations ago, the last of the wise men built the world of machines. Now the machines catered to all of the people’s needs; and their greed.

Along came a rebel, a man discontent with this world. He despised the meaningless lives his fellows were leading. He spoke up and was ridiculed; he was glad they still possessed such mortal emotions. But how long could they mock him? He had heard from the fables of a different universe. “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”* These words were etched in his mind and he looked forward to the battle, the victory could wait.

Slowly but surely, he gathered support. Over years he transformed people, much like an evangelist. They believed him, he convinced them. He learnt the tricks and the trade through practice. He amassed a large following, hidden from the machines. He didn’t realize then, that the machines were merely servants and wouldn’t care for his visions of grandeur. The people were obviously clueless.

When the time was ripe, he gathered his troops. The eloquent speaker knew how to agitate and motivate his followers. “There is a tide in the affairs of Men”* he quoted. To thunderous applause and blind fury, he led his army to the old fort. A revolution of this scale needed planning. He summoned the wisest from his camp; well, truth be told, he summoned the first few men who were open to his idea. They spent days in the lair, planning every move and every step. There was no possibility left untouched.

The final decision was to set a chain of command. You cannot lead an army without ranks. He designated his followers as advisers and commanders. Every soldier and thinker was given a place in the grand scheme. Everyone was assigned tasks and responsibilities. There was no leeway and the men knew that. The gallant forces were now ready for his command.

The machine of war was now rearing for the war against the machine.

Epilogue:

The army returned victorious. They now had to decide the course of action. The machines were slaves anyway and forms were a set norm. So they decided not to change it. Maybe it wasn’t a different time after all, nor a different place or a different universe. Another wise man would join the ranks of the long forgotten shortly.

* Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi and Shakespeare (Julius Caesar) respectively.