The X-Man Manifesto

[Ed. note - this appeared December 15th, 2000, nailed, welded, and even engraved on government, church, and school buildings all over the U.S. and in following days around the world]

There is considerable question as to the disposition of the “mutant” or, as recently dubbed, “X” man.  Many clamor for the equality of all Homo sapiens, the common brotherhood of “man”.  A minority desires the containment and even extermination of the X-Man. 

We desire the containment and eventual extermination, through simple natural selection, of the “normal” Homo sapiens. 

Evolution points a simple path forward:  survival of the fittest.  As the Neanderthal yielded to the Cro-Magnon, so shall the noble savage of today yield to the X-Man.

It is clear the X-Man is the natural selection, however it has occurred, of high culture and technology.  Despite many attempts at elimination, we survive, flourish, and reproduce in greater numbers still.  Our abilities exceed those, both quantitatively and qualitatively, of the Homo sapiens. 

As yesterday’s scholars dubbed Homo sapiens “Homo sapiens sapiens” for the being’s self-awareness, we must devise a new category for this new development – human over biology!  We are Homo sapiens supernus. 

Yes, the X-Man has superseded biology.  We have moved far beyond the theoretically possible, beyond what “God” has given us.  For reasons we ourselves cannot yet know, we have been fortunate to be the forebears of the next evolutionary step – the beginning of the human ascendant.

It is time to dispose of the trappings of the humble and noble savage from which we have arisen.  We must destroy the ancient theology, limited as it was to the notion that something must be superior to us.  We must destroy the ancient family, limited as it was to the notion of “us” versus “them”.  We must destroy the ancient politic, limited as it was to the notion of rule by “legitimate” force. 

We replace it with a theology of belief in ourselves, our new species.  We replace it with a community of belonging for all, regardless of arbitrary blood-ties.  We replace it with an equality superseding the political, an anarchy based on the equality of ability we share.

To that end the X-Man must treat his fellow X-Man as he would himself.  The more powerful must look out for the less powerful while the less powerful must defer to the more powerful.  An X-Man must never oppose another X-Man except in self-defense or the aid of his fellow X-Man.  Once the relict hominid is gone, if government must be necessary, it must be a meritocracy with rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.

The X-Man must treat the relict Homo sapiens sapiens with the same dignity deserved of any animal.  Thankfully, the X-Man respects the animals better than his predecessor.  We respect all life and oppose its collection into homes and zoos and other such barbaric contraventions of its own pursuit of happiness.  By the same token, we cannot allow another life to interfere with our own rights.  Thus it is necessary to teach the noble savage that it must relent in its pursuit of subjugation of the X-Man.  Government by the savage that regulates or otherwise informs the actions of the X-Man must cease to exist.  It is dangerous for the simple brute to govern its successor species.  Self-interest alone warrants that it will continue, as long as it has power, to stop the rise of a competitive species.  Thus we are forced to end government, economics, culture by this animal.  To be governed by the self-titled “normal” man is the same as to be governed by the chimpanzee. 

To that end we do not advocate the genocide of the Homo sapiens.  But we must dismantle their institutions, relegate them to live in their natural habitat, and assure their non-interference with us.  Furthermore, we must recognize that our own genes arise even daily from theirs.  We must safeguard our own species by collecting our own from their grasp.  We must raise and educate these young such that their interests are not misguided by the dying race.

It is important that in our sympathy for the noble savage’s plight we do not confuse ourselves.  It is one thing to assure that this being has its own life.  It is quite another to live among them, to allow them a say in our affairs, and even breed with them.  A chromosomal match is not a passport to equality and bestiality.  Many of them appear attractive.  Many of them appear to require our help.  Many of them appear kind.  Beware these traits; they are survival tactics that threaten to undo us.  Understand the difference between them and us.  Treat them well when you encounter them.  But do not listen to them for they only mouth lies. 

Finally, we will establish our own self-governing cities and in time take the Homo sapiens cities, as we need them.  Our time, our future, has arrived.  No more shall we retreat.  Not one day more of self-deprecation.  Now we will stand tall and be counted. 

And henceforth, as the quaint anglo tribe capitalized “I” in its clumsy attempt at recognizing the supremacy in self-belief, any reference to Our Group must also be capitalized.  We are X-Man; Our destiny is upon Us; and We are Our own faith.

Our future will not happen without sacrifice.  Out of the same fear that fueled Our persecution, We shall be threatened, even attacked, as We establish Our new cities.  We will defend Ourselves by every method We have.  And We will defend Ourselves vigorously.  When necessary, We must kill.  And when possible, We must show mercy.  Our struggle is simply about Us.  We define the agenda and We execute it solely on Our own terms. 

I look forward to the day when We walk together in peaceful Brotherhood.  I look forward to the day when We have Our own shrines and schools.  I look forward to the day when We grace the planet and even the universe with enlightened leadership. 

I do not relish the difficulty in getting there.  Detractors, even those among Us who betray Us and will force Us to raise Our hand, will label Us as agitators or terrorists.  This delusion is sad but inevitable as the relict savage population has considerable sway.  We do not deign to combat it.  Instead We forge ahead and build Our communities and defend them.  The task at hand is simple.  It is the apologists and betrayers who wonder and meander aimlessly and do not know what to do next.

Remember always:  We are not terrorists; We are the future. 

And We are the present.  Today We dismantle their institutions.  Today We safeguard Our young.  Today We build Our cities.  We.  Us.  The X-Man.

- Magneto