Futudirection for Humanity? (was Don Davis article)

Hi,

Well Selvaraj, I don't agree with you in this point. Civilization
has bad things, of course. We all see that. But also bring good
things.

The "pristine myth" tells the original man was a innocent criature
that lived in harmony in the paradise. Then they reached the "tree
of knowledge" (civilization) and because of that sin they have to
leave the paradyse forever. That's what the story of "Adam and Eve"
in the Genesis is about. And is a myth that is very hard to refute.

However, anthropologists have find out the lives of the ancient
tribal peoples were not so happy as usually thought. Cruelty,
violence, rape, human sacrifices, killing of babies, abandoning the
elder people, hunger, survival of the fittest, were the daily
routine of ancient peoples everywhere. And harmony with nature is
not true either. See:

http://www.livestockweekly.com/papers/03/07/03/whlkay.asp

Yes, civilization is ambition, money and explotation, but is also
Jesus, Budda, Gandhi and Martin Luther King. People that has changed
mankind for good.

And westerners worry about western civilization. After all, it is
the only civilization we really know. We grew in it, and it is a
second nature for all us.

I am Latin American, so I am familiarized with local Native
civilizations besides Western, and I admire those ancient worlds. I
am fascinated with them and I collect art and every data I can find
on them.

However, if I have to choose, I preffer to live in our modern
western cities, speak an European language, and have the chance to
select the president like the ancient Greeks did, rather than living
under the control of an Inca despot that inherit his power from the
sun.

I also preffer people practise a christian religion instead of
making human sacrifices to the ancient gods. Free enterprise rather
than state controlled ayllus (communities). And freedom of chosing
who to marry rather than a burocrat decides for me.

Western civilization produced a lot of pain around the world (tell
me about it), however, it also contributed to improve the mentality
of mankind, and not only in the western sphere of influence, but in
all the corners of the planet. I know the impact of western
civilization in both India and China was very deep as well.

Western values, arts, codified law and science are spreading to the
whole world, and we are proud of them. That's the best the west has
to offer. The bad things, that are many, it is better to forget, and
perhaps some day forgive them too.

Regards,

Omar Vega

>
> In order to figure out what is wrong with western civilization, or
eastern
> civilization, or whatever, we will have to figure out how a baby,
one year
> old ( a product of raw nature, not that of any civilization ) is
converted
> into an inferior product after ten to fifteen years of education,
and in
> general rubbing shoulders with what we call civilization.
>
> This does not happen with any other creature in Nature. A soaring
eagle, a
> striking snake, a gracefully gliding dolphin, a butterfly, have
all lived up
> to their initial promise.
>
> Selvaraj
> Sorry to bring pessimism back into your life : - )
>
> From: "Russell Wallace"
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 1:50 AM
>
> > On 4/7/06, Omar E. Vega wrote:
> >>
> >> Well, as the matter of fact, the U.S. is not the only place
> >> where "the fire of western civilization" is carried. Europe,
Russia,
> >> Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel, and Latin
> >> America are also places where "Western Civilization" shine very
> >> strong. If you add territories you'll find out about HALF the
planet
> >> is dominated by western culture. Now if you add people, the 700
> >> million Europeans, the 300 millions of Anglo America, the 600
> >> millions of Latin America and Oceania, they make 1.600 million
> >> people, which is about 1/4 of mankind. It is not just a few
people,
> >> I tell you.
> >>
> >> I don't believe the western fire will extinguish so easy.
Moreover,
> >> many regions are becoming westernized, like India, for example.
Asia
> >> and Africa are following as well.
> >
> > The downside of being a pessimist like me is that we tend to get
caught up
> > in the problems we see in the news headlines and our own back
yard. A dose
> > of optimism - not just dreaming (though that can have value in
its own
> > way)
> > but sane, rational, pragmatic optimism like this - is a breath
of fresh
> > air.
> > So I just wanted to say thanks! and wishing you and your country
good luck