Why such a challenge?
The unpopularity of living like this is that
it simply DOES what religions, socio-economic
theorists, and environmentalists say we SHOULD do.
Say what? In "real life",
change, or at least the kind of fundamental change that would yield
substantial results, is exactly NOT .....what is desired. Most
"solutions" are "band-aid" solutions, carefully
designed NOT upset the status quo of exploitive, usury
based capitalism. This proposal simply does away with that
opportunity to take advantage of others in exploitive, usury based ways. When the
opportunity to take advantage of others is removed,
sharing major resources, living more simply, and cooperating in a few key
areas just seems logical.....if not essential. That is if one wishes to
live a quality life.
Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism,
well as New Age positivism typified by such individuals as Deepak Chopra
and Wayne Dyer, and even perhaps the so called "do good"
organizations aimed at partial change........ignore the most important
problems of all, as expressed in this proposal. Why? Because the
change required, demands action and practice, not money and talk. This
practice and action will not sell books and it won't line an
individual's pockets.
Even though the way of life proposed here would offer
a dramatically better life for ALL, and end so many of humanities
"problems", one can only imagine why the resistance. Is humanity
attached to having problems? Are we so caught up in our fears to the
point of paralysis? Are we so hopelessly and fatefully self
centered (and this characteristic seems evenly spread out, from the
"richest" to the "poorest") that we are incapable of any deep desire for fairness and
justice towards our fellow human beings?
Fundamentally, what is being put forth here makes sense
only
if one wishes those same opportunities and quality of life for ALL, not
just oneself.
We are the world; everything is
related
Many want to believe that somehow what we do as
individuals is not related to war, crime, environmental destruction and
the general quality of life for all. This simply is not true. The
world as we see it, is what it is exactly because of the
sum total of our individual actions. "But I'm responsible, I follow the
law" one might say. Yes, but
exploitive capitalism, the socio-economic system we support by
acquiescing to it, breaks major laws of common sense and of human
decency; and supports our common human weaknesses for seeking unfair
advantage, and engaging in excessive materialism. Exploitive capitalism
(which has nothing to do with the simple acts of providing of goods
or services) contrary to the hype about it equaling
freedom......is nothing of the sort; being a lot more about slavery and
oppression.
Some think self sufficient country living,
co-housing, eco-villages, living in "centers" or on organic farms is the
answer. These may be a little closer to the solution, but only in so
much as they are not about constant work and toil.......and
yet they are. (if one doesn't have ties to, or niches in the very exploitive
system they a supposedly an alternative to) They will never be a
viable alternative, except for a very few well placed individuals; and
even then, mostly for workaholics or people focused on
materialism.....not celebration of life, creativity, leaning, reaching
out to the world and a deep connection with the mystery of life.
Surely anything that would be thought to be desirable
about a "village" would not be what the building are built of, or how
close they are to one another, but rather the consciousness that the
village residents share with one another, or in other words the care,
compassion, relatedness, and a degree of egalitarianism about the
situation.
Individual responsibility; and
why do it?
It is amazing how harshly
conservative and uncompassionate even so called "liberals" can
be......when defending their reasons for going along with the
repressive, exploitive, materialistic, excessive, American
socio-economic system.
I fully recognize our individual responsibility in
life, yet the popular notion that LIFE is JUST about "the
individual" may sell a lot of books and videos, but in reality, just
isn't so.
If "making it"
depends on one having "marketable" talents or interests, uniquely in demand by this exploitive, destructive, repressive,
unsustainable, and
overly consumptive socio-economic system........or
personal inheritance, or political connections, or family
connections, or cleverness at usury and exploitation, or pure luck......or
through directly or indirectly spoiling the environment, or
through the
exploitation of people either close to home or that one doesn't even see.......and
I contend that a large segment of our society is in fact, "making
it" in these ways.
This hardly reflects a world where the esteemed
"individual"
can fairly participate and act responsibly. What it reflects is our
world as it is, with people desperate to take advantage of whoever, or whatever
they can; resulting in never ending wars, millions being in prisons, a
ravaged planet environmentally, and a greatly diminished life experience
for a great many, if not most.
I would contend that if all the uniquely personal
and negative advantages were removed from our participation in this present socio-economic system, we
would be begging to be allowed to live in communities such as is being
proposed here. Why? Because without unfair, destructive and exploitive
practices, the only avenue to a quality life would be through
simpler living, sharing
resources and cooperation.
I also believe we would be
highly motivated to live this way if we could see into the future. The
Weston A. Price foundation, http://www.westonaprice.org/ reports the average life
expectancy now in the U.S. has dipped below 70, almost 20th compared to
other nations. Despite all the hype, I expect many, if not most baby
boomers to not make 70, with the last ten years possibly being in poor
health. This is not what human beings are capable of. Rather, it is the
result of chemically grown and treated food, fast living, fast food,
living alone, stressful living, unhappy living, the war between the
sexes and not enough exercise.
It takes courage and pioneers
with a degree of selflessness
Or will we be content to sit back and let the
desecration of the earth, and the massive human tragedy continue?
Most try to find a "personal" safe refuge, which of course, is part of
and only exacerbates the problems. We have lots of whores and
mercenaries these days (those who do what they do for reasons of
money first and foremost); apparently the "everyone for themselves"
mentality is alive and well.
It is becoming obvious that nothing
short of a religious fervor (even though this isn't a religion) for the
proposed
ethics and goals, will be required for this vision to materialize. And even
though it isn't a religion, to live these ethics and accomplish these goals
would be (there is no doubt in my mind) a first class spiritual
experience, life enhancing, healing and transforming; both individually and for the
planet. This, even through "perfection" wouldn't be necessary, required or expected.
And its personal monetary cost would be minimal. And with conviction,
compassion, and the spirit of love and unity, would be in essence,
effortless.
