VLVL The Sisterhood: evil capitalist fascists?

[Ghetta Life]

>From: jbor <jbor at bigpond.com>
>
> >> By the 1960s the kunoichi, looking for some cash flow
> >> themselves, had begun to edge into the self-improvement
> >> business (107.22-3)
> >>
> >> At the outset Pynchon highlights the capitalist ethos of this 
>"ninjette" Sisterhood . . .

Any commune, monastery, ashram, cult, or whatever needs a means of support, 
whether from sales of goods or services or from donations freely or 
otherwise given.  It's really that simple.  Rarely, I suppose, one of these 
entities (corporations?) might produce enough to become a closed system.  
Otherwise some source of income must be found, some "business."

The specific "personality" of one of these entities is what makes the 
difference.  Some psychologically dupe or coerce their adherents.  This 
would include some who represent themselves as "The Way" to God, either to 
those within or without the order.  Hierarchy inherent in the 
master/disciple relationship makes them very susceptible to corruption and 
abuse, but that doesn't mean that some offer real good in some specific 
ways.  Sometimes that good coexists with corruption, and the corruption 
intensifies the closer one gets to the top:  access the upper levels brings 
knowledge of special secrets and privileges.  The most dangerous are those 
that are corrupt at the top but offer real good to the initiates, because 
they can slowly and insidiously enslave their followers.

>From all that I can see about the Sisterhood portrayed here, everything 
seems honest above board.

Ghetta

_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. 
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail