The very simplest explanation or source of information would be
to read Riane Eisler's book called "The Chalice and the Blade". Or
perhaps read the account of Christopher Columbus first landing in
the Caribbean and the people that were living on the island of what
is now Haiti. They sound far more advanced than the Europeans in
living in a beautiful way; even though they were not as technically
advanced. Many more, long ago societies, were very clearly, peaceful
and cooperative; even pleasurable, joyous and deeply spiritual.
In fact, it is not that hard to find examples of cooperation and
simplicity in very recent history. And the truth of this may be a
shameful blemish on the image of United States as the symbol of
righteousness and goodness.
A great deal of the world, it certainly appears, perhaps out of
necessity because a lacking of technology, but nevertheless
were
living simple cooperative lives close to the earth. It's just the
way it's always been done when people have basically been not messed
with. And where am I talking about? Central America for one,
Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua; these countries when not messed
with by outside business interests (US corporations) or by oligarchy
domination from within, lived somewhat cooperatively I believe. And
it goes like that all over the world, whether in South America,
Asia, Africa and so on. People have always depended on each other,
not just for survival but for meaning. (You might
ask about the dominator Mayans; true, but look what happened to
them. The same thing, it might be argued, that happens to all
dominator cultures, they eventually self-destruct.)
The terrible tragedy is that because they (many indigenous cultures) were living cooperatively,
they were accused of being communists. They were no more
"communists" then we are "capitalists" who as capitalists would
condone the gross exploitation of others. The trouble is of course, that the people who call themselves capitalists, and the people who
call themselves Communists, lie. Neither one is truly about freedom,
democracy and justice.
Sure, one can find primitive societies warring on one another, or
being dominated by leaders or the "chief". But one would have to
ignore all the rest of history and evidence if one wished to
classify human beings as innately evil, or hopelessly competitive and
violent.
Many, upon learning that this is a
proposal for "intentional community" or even something that might
resemble the mostly denigrated and feared of all, the "commune", react as if one was
proposing we all live like Martians, or in some other way completely
alien to human life.
To this
I say, we simply are not being honest with ourselves! Just
look around at where we live, and what we do every day. I guarantee for
most of us (anyone who isn't incredibly rich and wishes to be alone, or
is living the life of a poor hermit)
life involves being in relationship, and in close physical proximity
with other human beings; both practically, as in our work or businesses,
or more simply, socially, as in sharing and maintaining one's home life
with a few others, or merely enjoying relationships for their own
sake, as in sharing common interests.
I think of
it in terms of agreements and expectations. A few perceptive
people, who can be honest with themselves, know quite well,
we are
already living in one big "commune", it's called society. I am merely
suggesting that some new expectations and new agreements are not only
required and possible, they are
highly desirable from both a personal, and societal perspective.
Or put another way, what kind of society or community is it that only
truly works well for a slight minority, or even a majority, and
not everyone, equally? It is a violent society, prone to crime and war;
it is an unjust society, and an exploitative and destructive society, plain and
simple. We cannot possibly help other societies become just, or
effectively deal with others nonviolently, if we cannot first create a
nonviolent and just society at home.
We human beings are tied to each other either because
of necessity, or by the fact that we merely enjoy being together. But
whatever the reasons, we move together; it is simply a fact of life,
even if we aren't conscious of this fact, or are unwilling to admit it.
The strange thing is, life really isn't all that great right now, or
at least for most. And yet we doggedly cling to it anyway, even though
it makes us ill and unhappy; probably just because we are too afraid, or
lazy to do anything differently. This proposal is neither some desperate
measure driven by fear......nor is it completely altruistic. It is a balance
between what is in our best interest as individuals, and what is best for
the "family of human kind".
