The story of Ernest Shackleton provides evidence that flawed humanity has the potential for unselfish good under tremendous adversity. It supplies proof of the existence of God. And it demonstrates that there is never an excuse for gross mistreatment of fellow human beings.

I do not see Shackleton as a great man. Rather, he is an ordinary man who demonstrated great qualities under adversity. Like all of us, he was imperfect, and made mistakes. His circumstance robbed him of all that he valued most, leaving him with only his life, and those of his men. Yet, in that condition, he stuck to the higher calling of his God-given conscience. While not claiming to be a particularly devout man, he demonstrated by altruistic conduct that he knew God. How so?

Shackleton was willing to make extraordinary sacrifices in an effort to help others. Such willingness to help others even if at great personal cost is seen in all races and cultures, and it argues against the claim that man evolved by the law of the jungle, “the survival of the fittest.” Francis S. Collins, a geneticist who led the U.S. government’s effort to decipher the human genome (DNA), said: “Selfless altruism presents a major challenge for the evolutionist. . . . It cannot be accounted for by the drive of individual selfish genes to perpetuate themselves.” He also said: “Some people sacrificially give of themselves to those who are outside their group and with whom they have absolutely nothing in common. . . . That doesn’t seem like it can be explained by a Darwinian model.”

Our inner sense of right and wrong, a sense of fairness that motivates altruism is guided by conscience. As geneticist Francis S. Collins concedes, man’s possession of a conscience cannot be explained by evolution. However, it is explained by God’s Word. The Bible writer Paul wrote: “People of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law. - Romans 2:14 The law they give evidence of having by “nature” is a God-given conscience.

Shackleton’s story furnishes proof that men posses a God-given, God-oriented conscience. And, in spite of our inherently imperfect, frail nature, we can choose to follow the dictates of a healthy conscience under the worst of circumstances.

When Hitler’s officers were put on trial in Nuremeburg after World War II for crimes against humanity, their primary defense was that they were simply following orders. However, International Military Tribunal law states that “Patriotic obedience in crime does not establish innocence.” This law recognizes that all men are obligated to follow the proddings of conscience when ordered to commit acts that they know to be crimes against humanity. As further stated during the Nuremberg trials; “The conscience of humanity is the foundation of all law.” Many of Hitler’s officers were judged guilty, and sentenced to death for ignoring the voice of conscience. Yet, one can find extraordinary examples of conscience among Hitler’s contemporaries in Nazi Germany. Oskar Schindler placed his life in great danger by sheltering more than a thousand Jews from Nazi extermination during World War II, and ultimately died penniless. Schindler made the choice not to follow “orders” due to conscience.

Shackleton faced adversity with conscience. Therefore, I, as a Christian, must face adversity with conscience. I must pay heed to scripture, an unambiguous written authority that reinforces and informs conscience. Although a daily victim of directed energy weapons and psychological attacks, my response must always reflect good conscience. I cannot retaliate, nor can I yield to corruptive influences. I cannot respond in a way that violates Christian principle or conscience. As Shackleton proved, following conscience is the choice all imperfect men can make. Imagine how human society would benefit if all men did!

Lets take a close look at a few qualities that enabled Ernest Shackleton to triumph over tremendous adversity. We may see ways to use these qualities to meet our challenges successfully.

Humility is arguably the single most important quality in effective leaders. A humble man is more likely to earn the affection and loyalty of others. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word humble as: “Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.” Humility is also essential to the survival of victims of directed energy weapons and gang stalking.

Humility is a powerful aid when faced with adversity. It causes a person to think, not just of himself, but of others in a similar plight, and to offer them aid and encouragement. At such a time humility will help one to be content when faced with setbacks and losses. It will help one to make the best of circumstances, being thankful for the good they are yet able to enjoy. Shackleton is a fine example of this quality in action. He lost everything he valued in short order; his mission to cross Antarctica, and his ship when it was destroyed by pack ice. He and his men were stranded on a bleak, remote island with no way to contact the outside world. In such conditions, most men eventually succumb to despair and madness. Shackleton humbly took each loss and disappointment in stride and focused on a new mission; keeping his men alive and getting them home safe. He kept up the morale of his men and never complained about all that he lost.

Humilty can also be a tremendous aid to victims of directed energy weapons torture and gang stalking. To avoid being overwhelmed by the attacks we undergo, we must not focus exclusively on our own concerns. It is vital that we continue to show an active and ongoing concern for others. Look for ways to benefit and support others. This will prevent us from isolating ourselves mentally and emotionally. Long-term isolation will destabilize us, and is a primary intent of the psychological attacks.

Humble individuals are flexible in adjusting to adverse conditions, whereas proud persons are impatient, quick to express rage. Humility enables us to make the best of changed circumstances. We can continue to be thankful for the good that we are able to enjoy while not allowing the adversity to dominate our outlook. Humility promotes a healthy mental disposition, the perfect antidote for the emotionally caustic effects of psychological attacks.

Even in small things, humility can help us to make decisions that preserve a positive mental outlook. Here’s an example from my own experience. One of the irritations the gang-stalkers among my neighbors employ is littering the area surrounding my apartment. I found it better to simply pick up the items (it takes only a couple of minutes) rather than engaging in a verbal tirade with someone who is purposely trying to provoke me. Granted, some may not consider that the perfect solution. Which do you think is preferable: To engage in a useless defense of my injured pride, or address the problem in a way that protects my mental health from self-destructive anger? That small action helps me to avoid the spite and pettiness of my surroundings. By constantly reminding myself to cultivate humility I avoid needless emotional “wear and tear”.

Whether it’s struggling to rescue a crew from certain death as Shackleton did, or coping with long-term injustice, humility can mean the difference between success and failure.

Failure Is Not Inevitable!

Interestingly, Shackleton’s triumph is a direct contradiction of the claim made in the CIA Human Resources Exploitation Manual regarding psychological regression (see Why Gang Stalking Works). This Manual, based upon the principles of Evolutionary Psychology claims that when a “superior outside force is brought to bear on a subjects will to resist, the subject will lose his learned personality traits, including his ability to cope with complex situations and repeated frustations.” In other words, under great pressure, we prove to be nothing more than trained dogs that abandon good behavior when threatened and cornered.

Ernest Shackleton faced a “superior outside force,” complex situations,” and “repeated frustrations.” Why didn’t he abandon noble principles and lose his “will to resist?” How was he able to keep his focus on the altruistic goal of rescuing all of his men in spite of overwhelming odds and hardship? Can victims of directed energy weapons and gang-stalking demonstrate the same resolve as Shackleton?

The answer can be a source of great encouragement for anyone who must endure long-term injustice. Failure under adversity is NOT inevitable. Like Shackleton, we can face a “superior outside force” and prevail. The Bible indicates that man was created in the “image of God” in the sense that we can cultivate and demonstrate the altruistic qualities of God such as love, justice, and mercy. And we can do so under great pressure and succeed! Shackleton’s example bears witness to that.

I was particularly touched by the kindness Shackleton showed his men. He expected much from them, yet, accorded each one dignity. He also demonstrated personal interest when they fell sick or became discouraged. Like most seagoing crews, the staff was comprised of strong and diverse personalities. Shackleton avoided pettiness and spite in dealing with his men and was never abusive. In fact, when one of his officers, a former boxer, began to bully his subordinates he was quickly demoted by Shackleton. He would not tolerate the abusive treatment of even the lowest ranked member of his crew. Such restraint is especially challenging during times of hardship when tempers are short and frustration high.

Shackleton’s example impressed upon me the need to always follow what is termed “The Golden Rule.” “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them” - Matthew 7:12 In other words, treat others the way you want to be treated, not the way they treat you. That excelling principle has affected my view of my persecutors and torturers. How so? I know that I do not under any circumstances have the right to speak or behave abusively toward them. My responses must always be respectful and dignified in spite of any suffering I may undergo. Injustice does not give me license to abandon that high standard. Shackleton’s example proves that it is possible for imperfect, average people like me to live by such high standards even when pressed to our limits by adversity.

While countless lives were being sacrificed in Europe during World War I, an amazing effort was underway to save lives in Antarctica. Famed Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew suffered catastrophe when their ship, Endurance, was crushed and sunk by pack ice. Shackleton managed to get his men to a safe haven—of sorts—on Elephant Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. But they still faced extreme danger. Elephant Island was bitterly cold, barren, and composed primarily of rock and ice. It presented a major challenge to the survival of Shackleton and his men.

Shackleton realized that their only hope of survival lay in sending for help from a whaling station on the island of South Georgia. That was 700 miles away, and he had only a 22-foot lifeboat salvaged from the shipwrecked Endurance. Their prospects were not good.

Leaving his men with the promise that he would return and rescue them, Shackleton and a small party set off in choppy waters for South Georgia. On May 10, 1916, however, after 17 harrowing days, they reached their destination, but terrible sea conditions forced them to land on the wrong side of the island. They were faced with a 20-mile trek over uncharted, snow-covered mountains to reach their final destination. Against all odds—in subzero temperatures and without proper climbing equipment—Shackleton and his companions reached their destination, and he eventually returned to rescue all his stranded men. Why did Shackleton put forth such strenuous effort? “His one ambition,” writes biographer Roland Huntford, was “to get every one of his men out alive.”

Why is it that in the midst of World War I when millions of lives where being discarded on the battlefield, one man demonstrated such extraordinary concern for the lives of others? Why did he consider the lives of his crew to be worth such effort? His entire crew of 21 men, many of whom were ill, frostbitten and near starvation survived the four and a half months until Shackleton was able to find a way to return and rescue them. What saved them from complete despair in that bleak setting? Their confidence that their leader would keep his promise to rescue them.

At a time when many abuse and destroy the lives of others for selfish motives, it is rare to find men who adhere to high principles in their treatment of fellowmen. Shackleton greatly valued the life of each member of his crew. And he never abandoned the noble principles that drove him to expend any effort necessary to rescue them. In this true account, we can extract the secret of successfully surviving, and indeed, triumphing over psychological attacks that include directed energy weapons torture and gang stalking . . .

We will look at the qualities that enabled Ernest Shackleton to triumph over adversity in our next installment, and see how those qualities can help victims of directed energy weapons torture and gang-stalking to triumph over adversity . . .

In tropical forests, one may find the strangler fig. Its life begins as tiny seeds dropped by birds into the crevices of other large healthy trees. The strangler fig seed begin to germinate in the crevices. It grows slowly, its roots eventually surrounding the trunk of the host tree. Its leaf canopy begins to overshadow the leaves of the host tree, depriving them of light. The strangler fig’s multiple roots eventually absorb most of the nutrients in the soil at the base of the tree. Cut off from needed nutrients and light, the host tree finally dies, decays, and leaves behind nothing more than a hollow core. In a slow but certain process, the strangler fig has sucked the life from a host that was once healthy and vibrant.

In a similar way gang-stalking and related psychological attacks are designed to surround, isolate and eventually destroy its victim. Like the strangler fig’s growth, the gang-stalker’s routines may develop slowly over a period of months or years. The gang-stalker’s intent is to completely surround the victim, cutting him off from friends, family and other support systems. Eventually, the victims 24-hour daily routine is monitored and manipulated by gang-stalkers and other covert operatives. The psychological attack eventually overwhelms the emotions of the victim. He becomes mentally unbalanced. His emotional reserves are depleted, and, he is isolated from any support systems that can bolster him. Like a tree surrounded by the strangler fig, his demise is near. He will eventually react to these relentless psychological attacks in a way that results in incarceration, homelessness, suicide, or death.

This gang-stalking methodology falls under a system of psychological operations being developed and tested on American citizens by covert quasi-military law enforcement agencies. The basic process described above has been taught by the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) since the 1950’s. “The purpose of all coercive techniques is to induce psychological regression in the subject by bringing a superior outside force to bear on his will to resist. Regression is basically . . . a reversion to an earlier behavioral level. As the subject regresses, his learned personality traits fall away in reverse chronological order. He begins to lose the capacity to carry out the highest creative activities, to deal with complex situations, to cope with stressful interpersonal relationships, or to cope with repeated frustrations.” - CIA Human Resource Exploitation Manual

Gang stalking is part of a pattern of psychological warfare that includes torture by remote, through-the-wall, directed energy weapons. The weapons of this war are silent, attacking the mind and emotions while leaving the body unscathed. Yet, its effects are just as destructive.

Gang stalkers is a colloquial expression coined to describe the covert front-line foot soldiers in this psychological war. They are individuals and teams trained for the express purpose of harassing the target of psychological attacks. It appears that local community policing groups may be participating in this harassment. They are usually moved in as neighbors of the victim; commonly form a phalanx of cars surrounding the victim while in traffic; and may be employed in places that the victim works or frequents in his daily routine. Because they have the backing of Federal level agencies it is quite easy to gain the cooperation of neighbors, property managers, and business owners to make this possible. Each individual gang-stalker plays a small role in the harassment. For example, as the victim drives there may be numerous vehicles that track his movements. Some drive behind him with one high beam headlight on, others drive in front to slow his movement in traffic. Still others are assigned to drive in tandem with him and block his line-of-sight to other non-gang-stalking vehicles or pedestrians.

If the victim lives in an apartment, it is highly likely that in a matter of weeks all of his immediate neighbors will be persons participating in a pattern of abuse. Each plays a small role. Some may provide noise harassment timed to coincide with the victims movements in his home (this is made possible by through-the-wall surveillance tools and listening devices). Others may play a small role when the victim leaves for work or arrives home. It may include simply being in the same place providing obvious surveillance each time the victims arrives. Or it may be other small actions designed in some way to humililate the victim. Still others may be “actors” who try to befriend the victim while seeking to isolate him from genuine friends. As false companions, they subtly poison his thinking, or eventually betray him in some way. These events are well coordinated, relentless, and reflect a deep understanding of the limitations of the human psyche.

These irritations may seem like little things. However, they take into account a fact well known to students of human behavior. The more distress a person is put under, the less they are able to emotionally distinguish the difference between minor and major irritations. Their emotional response to both becomes the same. That is why gang-stalking routines are a continuous barrage of small humiliations. The victim pays a major emotional price each time he gets angry, frustrated and embittered. This attack wears on for months . . . years. Therefore, as the CIA Human Resource Manual so aptly observes, “He begins to lose his capacity . . . to deal with complex situations, to cope with stressful interpersonal relationships, or to cope with repeated frustrations.”

The final “coup de grâce” is committed by maneuvering the victim into a public setting with plenty of “witnesses” and, most likely, surveillance cameras. Because the victim has been thoroughly sensitized to react angrily to minor humiliations that appear benign to bystanders, his increasing pattern of tirades, loss of control, irrational behavior, becomes a matter of public record. He is viewed as dangerous, schizophrenic, out of control, which further serves to isolate him from workmates and friends. He may lose his job, be incarcerated, or diagnosed with a mental disorder. In any event, in the final analysis, without a bullet or a billyclub, he has been destroyed.

These psychological weapons are slow-kill. Like the strangler fig, they slowly choke the victims environment by cutting off healthy interactions and association. The covert agencies developing these strategies have spent the better part of the past century seeking ways to exploit our common weaknesses. They’ve become quite good at it. Modern Psychology had its beginnings in the armed services, and continues to be its largest funding source. As a science, it exists primarily to develop weapons that attack the mind. Can you see why gang-stalking is so effective?

References:
CIA Human Resources Exploitation Manual
The Enablers: Modern Psychology’s long and shameful history with torture - Mother Jones magazine

Some of the comments I’ve received on my article “Propaganda and Gang-Stalking Vocabulary” have taken issue with my assessment that the term “targeted individual” stems from propaganda shaping misleading impressions of victims of involuntary directed energy weapons testing/torture and gang stalking. Some feel that using the alternative term “victim” suggests that we have somehow been weakened by such “targeting.” Understandably, it is a function of human ego to proudly resist admitting that the injustices we face have harmed us. The truth is that psychological attacks leave behind real wounds and casualties.

The dictionary defines the term “target” as: “To make a target for attack or bombardment, to setup or designate as a target or goal.” The term “target” falls short of describing the experiences of victims of directed energy weapons and gang stalking. They are, in fact, not simply targeted, but, under attack, the victims of a full-scale war against their minds and emotions. We tend to think of an “attack” or assault as something done with physical weapons, i.e., a knife, a gun, etc. Proof of the attack is usually a physical wound or casualty. However, directed energy weapons do not leave behind any physical evidence of their use. Psychological assaults through gang-stalking do not produce physical wounds. Are they damaging? Perhaps the following will help us to answer that question:

Military and intelligence agencies have long viewed psychological attacks as a valuable component of warfare. “If properly employed, PSYOPS (Psychological Operations) are designed to lower morale and efficiency in their target audience, creating dissidence and disaffection, isolation and alienation. PSYOPS have the potential to serve as a critical nonlethal weapons system, as well as a force protector and combat multiplier.” - Psychiatry & Mental Health PSYOPS: Psychological Operations. Did you notice that the US Department of Defense (the source of this quote) considers psychological attacks a nonlethal weapons system!

The intent of directed energy weapons and gang stalking is not primarily a physical casualty, but an emotional one. This is a psychological war where victory is not measured in dead bodies but broken minds and hearts. It is unrealistic to assume that we can undergo continuous psychological attacks for years and not sustain some emotional injury. The psychosomatic effects of long-term distress can eventually result in death. However, as victims, we can minimize the damage, treat the psychological wounds and find ways to heal.

The propagandistic term “targeted individual” ignores the “nonlethal weapons systems” used in a psychological war against victims. It ignores the mental and emotional damage that such weapons cause. In doing so, it allows those who employ psychological weapons (such as gang stalking) to avoid feeling any personal accountability for the damage that results.

Worthy of Note: Interestingly, in the Doctrine for Joint Psychological Operations issued by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Military (issued July 10, 1993, revised September 5, 2003), guidelines on conducting military psychological operations are provided. This 125 page document consistently uses the terms “targeted individuals” and targeted groups” (or variations thereof) in describing the international targets of psychological warfare. Is it reasonable to conclude that online propaganda promoting the term “targeted individuals” is, at the least, influenced by this military vocabulary? Can we logically make the connection between misleading online propaganda behind gang-stalking / directed energy weapons torture and the military origins of these psychological “weapons systems?”

In view of the foregoing, I personally believe that the term “targeted individual” is part of the propaganda issued by quasi-military agencies covertly testing psychological weapons on American citizens.

References:
Doctrine for Joint Psychological Operations issued by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Military

I receive numerous comments on the various entries I add to badexperiment.com. As you may notice, I do not make those comments public. A few of the comments do come from victims of directed energy weapons and gang stalking. Although they are not posted, I do read and deeply appreciate all of them. I am grateful to those who take the time to respond. On the other hand, many of the comments I receive appear to be from malicious sources aligned with the agencies engaged in these abuses. They are part of a larger online propaganda war intended to alienate victims and misinform the public. There are specific clues that lead me to this conclusion.

Words have power. That power is often manipulated through propaganda by authorities to affect the view of the general public. If your enemy can choose the words that describe you, he has the power to determine how others view you. That power was expertly used by the Nazi’s to shape public perception of the Jewish community. By destroying the Jewish communities’ reputation through carefully crafted vocabulary and images, the Nazi’s convinced a nation that the Jews deserved persecution and extermination.

Malicious propaganda dominates much of the online conversation regarding directed energy weapons torture and gang stalking. It is intended to misinform the public, and divert victim’s energies and efforts into worthless or harmful channels. I am convinced that just as directed energy weapons technologies have a military origin, so do the propagandistic efforts to shape public perception regarding them. Here are two words now common to the vocabulary of “gang-stalking” that appear to have origins in propaganda.

The first term is “targeted individual” or “TI”, its commonly used acronym. It is hard to believe that any genuine victim of gang-stalking and directed energy weapons torture would refer to themselves as simply a “targeted individual.” That term is crafted by the one who targets, not the victim. A genuine victim rightfully perceives him or herself as an injured party; he has suffered injury due to a cruel injustice that includes psychological and physical torture. Like any victim of gross injustice and human rights abuses, they are due justice and recompense. The term “targeted individual” sanitizes the injustices committed in much the same way that the military term “collateral damage” devalues the lives of innocent victims of war. When I see the term “targeted individual” or “TI” in any online writing it immediately raises a red flag. It reeks of an impersonal military mindset toward a victim. It is the way a soldier views his enemy. It is too simplistic to describe the cruelty and injustice of a victim’s experience. It is an invention of the military minds behind these abuses, not its victims.

The second term I find suspect is “perp”, a colloquialism used to describe individuals engaged in gang-stalking of victims. This slang term has roots in law enforcement vocabulary. The root word, perpetrator, is commonly used by police and reporters in describing someone who commits a crime. It use in casual speech is not common among the general public. A genuine victim of directed energy weapons in time becomes aware of the covert government agencies behind his persecution. These are not criminals (or perps) in the classic sense. They are agents hiding behind government authority. The term “perp” obscures this critical observation that a genuine victim would make. “Perp” cloaks the true origin of these abuses by suggesting that the abusers are common criminals. “Perp” is a lie. It is a part of the vocabulary of the hybrid military/law enforcement agencies behind these abuses and propaganda.

The intent of this classic form of “Black Propaganda” is revealed by its definition: “Black Propaganda is false material where the source is disguised. It is propaganda that purports to be from a source on one side of a conflict, but is actually from the opposing side. It is typically used to vilify, embarrass or misrepresent the enemy.” The American citizens forced to become involuntary victims of directed energy weapons testing, and gang-stalking are the enemy that must be vilified, embarrassed, and misrepresented. And, the covert agencies behind these abuses disguise themselves while engaging in a propaganda war against victims online, in blogs, forums and bulletin boards.

Because of the foregoing, I make an effort to choose my words carefully when telling my story. Commonly used expressions may be inadequate or misleading when describing my experiences. Hopefully, the reader can make the distinction between truth and propaganda.

See the related article: A Target Or A Victim? 

Continued from West Side Story Part I

The evening’s calm was suddenly violated by the drama that played before me. I watched as five police officers and two detectives leaped from their vehicles, rushing toward me with weapons drawn. Did my life hang in the balance at that moment? With only seconds to react what should I do? A number of factors guided my actions in those few critical seconds. First of all, I knew that there was no legitimate reason for this attack. I had no illegal substances, no weapons, had not committed a crime, had not conspired to commit a crime. There was nothing in my actions, or conversations, at any time, that would hint at criminal activity. I also knew that the Federal agents targeting me were well aware of this, having kept me under intense surveillance for three years prior.

However misguided their motives, there was another trait consistently characteristic of the Federal agents guiding this campaign of harassment. They were obsessive about keeping their identities and actions hidden. Therefore, I was certain that they were not going to purposely make a violent public blunder that would expose their actions and agencies to media coverage and public scrutiny. With this in mind, I quickly surmised that this encounter was not what it appeared to be.

As they leaped from the NYPD (New York Police Department) van, I visually focused on one of the five officers, and began to study every nuance of his actions. I invite you, the reader, to speculate with me for a moment. If five officers with guns drawn jump out of a police van to apprehend a dangerous suspect, the tension of the moment will be apparent in their faces, their voices and their actions. At the very least, they would maintain an intense focus on the suspect—not doing so could be deadly! Don’t you agree? However, this is not what I observed in the officer I studied. He seemed to purposely avoid looking directly at me, keeping his focus on the officer taking the lead. Also, he seemed emotionally uninvolved, his face lacking the adrenalin-induced tension a dangerous encounter would normally produce. His body language told the truth. This was not a genuine arrest. It was a well-choreographed act of intimidation, a. psychological ploy designed to instill panic and fear into me.

Here is something else that seemed quite odd in that moment. The officers and plainclothes detectives said nothing to me or to the shocked bystanders witnessing this sudden encounter. No shouted orders. . . not a word! Of course, I would have instantly complied with any orders they gave me. None were given. This critical omission confirmed my suspicions that this was a psychological assault.

As the officers rushed towards me, I calmly continued walking towards them, keeping a pleasant countenance, and never breaking stride. As the officers reached me, they broke into two columns, rushing past on my right and left as I strolled by. I heard them stop less than ten feet behind me. Without glancing back, I continued walking to the end of the block, waiting for the traffic to subside before crossing the intersection.

The bystanders who seconds before watched in horror were now laughing. I did not have to look back to know why . . .

” No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

The assault was over. I crossed the street and continued strolling without ever glancing back. You may wonder how I could survive this incident without losing control. Clearly, this was an injustice that should have provoked outrage on my part! Or, should it?

Keep in mind the true purpose of this assault. It was a psychological attack with a clear motive—to provoke an angered, irrational response. It was my potential response that could have done me the greatest harm, not their attack! They were prepared to exploit any anger and loss-of-control on my part. It would give them license to take control of me. An irrational public response would also have given bystanders the perception that I was a dangerous criminal. By controlling my response, in effect, I controlled the outcome of this incident—protecting myself from harm. If I had reacted emotionally, angrily, what would they have done to me?

As I strolled along 9th Avenue towards 52nd Street, my mind went back to choosing a restaurant for the evening. Here was a tiny Brazilian cafe I had never noticed before. I entered, was seated, and decided to dine on a Brazilian style hamburger with a mango chutney recommended by the waitress (it was delicious). As I was eating, an African-American woman in business attire, came in and sat at a table near the entrance, giving her a clear view of the entire dining area. She ordered a Coke and began sipping slowly as she kept her cell phone to her ear. Because the cafe was tiny, I could easily overhear her conversation. She was a plainclothes agent talking to her superior while keeping me under surveillance. By her responses, I could easily discern the full scope of her conversation.

“What is he doing?” the voice in her cell phone growled. “He’s sitting here eating food.” she replied. Moments later, the voice impatiently asked “What is he doing now?” “He’s still eating,” she replied. Less than a minute passed before she responded a third time–”He’s just eating food!” As I glanced at her, I could see that she was relaxed, and chuckling quietly. She seemed amused by the outcome of the street drama that occurred minutes ago.

However, all the agents / officers involved in this drama did not find it so amusing. I instinctively knew that some felt humiliated, angered by the repeated failed efforts to entrap me. Given the cruel hubris that has fueled so much of what I have endured, I would not need to wait long for the next attack to occur.

The Value of Emotional Intelligence
The ability to control emotions is of tremendous value when coping with injustice. Some experts in the field of psychology now feel that emotional intelligence (the ability to control emotions and deal empathetically with people), is more valuable than intelligence (or IQ) when facing crisis. My experience over that past six years has proved that true. I’ve faced an antagonist trained to exploit common emotional frailties. Therefore, it was not enough to be innocent, I also needed emotional defenses. My efforts to cultivate and apply positive qualities such as patience, reasonableness and humility have helped me respond appropriately to repeated psychological attacks. It has also helped me to endure torture by directed energy through-the-wall weapons.