Dear cj,
I met Brian during my recent visit to California, as faithful readers will
recall. In December he took me along on one of his frequent activist
treks, where he drives from project to project giving guidance and support
to his network of collaborators. As we drove along he told many
fascinating stories from his experience and I was intrigued by his
philosophy and his perspectives.
When we met again in January I asked him if he had anything in writing
about his overall philosophy which he'd like to share with the list. His
response is below in the form of an essay, "THE NEW CULTURE". It may not
be to everyone's taste (it is long), but for those interested in "cycles of
civilization" and in sociological observations about our society it may
spark some interesting responses.
All the best,
rkm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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From: "Brian Hill" <•••@••.•••>
To: "Richard K. Moore" <•••@••.•••>, "Mountain" <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Brian's New Culture
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 20:27:10 -0800
Here's my thinking on some of the stuff we have been talking about. I
know I need more documentation, but my books and notes are not all in
one place yet. There is a more recent rewrite on one of my died
computers which I will try to find if you want.
Love,
Brian
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*12-15-90, revs - 4-92, 12-92
THE NEW CULTURE
A Global Macro-Culture of Bioregionally* Unified Tribes
(Presented at the National Conference on Social Ecology, 1991)
The phrase "New Culture" has been chosen because we are entering a
new stage of human cultural evolution. Cultures are distinct ways of
life practiced by different peoples. A simple definition is: A unified
system of beliefs and practices that is socially transmitted.
Until now human social development could be divided into primitive and
civilized cultures:
PRIMITIVE CULTURES (see especially. FOREST PEOPLE by Colin Turnbull)
live in harmony with their natural bioregion. Stanley Diamond has a
very important book called IN SEARCH OF THE PRIMITIVE. Diamond's book
and EST by L. Clark Stevens put the primitive in good perspective for us
today.
CIVILIZED CULTURES followed from the domestication of plants and
animals after the last Wurm deglaciation. Sedentary life, farming,
writing, surpluses, monumental public architecture, specialization,
hierarchically classified social structures, exploitation, competition,
male dominance, conquest and the development of mono-culture, e.g.,
monogamy, monotheism, monetary exchange are typical attributes of this
phase of cultural evolution.
The world views of primitive peoples are very benevolent and
everything has a spirit, and not an all-powerful monotheistic spirit. A
close friend of mine in a little village in the hills of Guerrero,
Mexico, by the name of Juan Flores (John Flowers) told me that in the
old days in his little village, when someone would trip over a rock in
the path, they would stop, pick it us, kiss it, apologize for kicking
it, and gently set it out of the [way.]
_________________________________________________________________
*Bioregion: A life region. A geographic area whose rough boundaries are
set by nature, not humankind, distinguishable from other areas by
characteristics such as flora, fauna, water, climate, rocks, soils,
landforms and the human settlements and cultures shaped by these
characteristics.
Bioregionalism: An awareness that bioregions are whole systems
operating by inherent principles. An awareness that humans, as one
species among many, must work in cooperation with the whole if there is
to be a sustainable future. An awareness that the whole forms the basis
for the design of all long-term human systems: economic, technological,
agricultural, political, cultural. (quoted from a bioregional flier for
the Turtle Island Bioregional Congress - V, 1992)
trail. He said that nowadays when someone trips on a rock in his
village, they pick it up, swear at it, and throw it in the bushes.
This, perhaps, most clearly demonstrates the difference between the
primitive and civilized world views.
The evolution of civilizations has been most empirically and
conclusively studied, as far as I know, by the field of archaeology, and
archaeology hardly ever employs itself or is employed nowadays in
attempts at understanding and dealing with contemporary issues.
Here is a beginning attempt at applying archaeology's understanding
of the evolution of civilizations to our present world: Civilizations
have very regular (natural) cycles of evolution. I found it necessary
to leave the study of Western history, and even the study of "history"
(that period of human life when written records are kept) in order to
understand the "nature" of civilizations. And, the problem with Old
World archaeology, like that used in THE CHALICE AND THE BLADE is that
there was never a continuous sequence of the evolution of civilization.
It was not until 1964 with the theory-shattering studies of Richard
McNeish on the domestication of corn in the Tehuacan Valley of Pueblo,
Mexico did archaeology really have a well documented stratigraphy of
the evolution of civilization from the origins of sedentary life to the
disintegration of the empire and rebirth of the next urban culture.
The best reference work on this sequence can be found in Univ. of
Texas Press, Austin, THE PREHISTORY OF TEHUACAN VALLEY. If one had to
learn the most about the evolution of civilizations as they could in one
study, these volumes would be at the top of the list as far as I am
concerned. THE HANDBOOK OF THE MIDDLE AMERICAN INDIANS, also University
of Texas Press explain the whole Mesoamerican culture area, so they are
helpful in putting the Tehuacan material into proper cultural
perspective. Authors to look for who are generally respected are
Ignacio Bernal, A. Caso, Jimenez Moreno, R. MacNeish, John Paddock, Eric
Wolf, Kent Flannery, the Coe brothers, F. Peterson, Robert Ekholm, and
Julian Steward as far as a model for the evolution of Mesoamerican
civilizations, e.g.,
1. Hunting & Gathering - Nomadic
2. Early agriculture - Sedentary - Formative
3. Classic Urban State - Fluorescent
4. Post Classic - Militarist - Disintegration
[5. Dark Ages - Revitalization of Tribal Cultures/New
Culture]
For the field of archaeology, these are generally accepted stages of
civilization that are qualitatively different and consistent from one
civilization to the next through time and space.
Archaeologists always theorize why civilizations crumble, e.g.,
invaders from the north, famine, earthquakes, disease,
overpopulation,... Recently, in Peru I had the wonderful opportunity of
seeing first hand why civilizations fall: The central government
becomes so greedy, corrupt, repressive, exploitative, alien from the
people that the apparatus of state ceases to work.
Karl Marx in Volume 1 of DAS CAPITAL expressed it another way in his
description of the development of alienated labor: When we produce
something, say a string of beads, for a gift ( as was the case in
primitive cultures), we put ourselves [our spirit] into it. When we
give it to the one for whom it was intended, we are joining ourselves
with the person receiving the gift. When we produce something for sale,
we separate ourselves or alienate ourselves from it. Then, when we go
to market and sell it, the object produced by us is exchanged for
something produced by someone else. The social relationship which was
formerly shared by two people through the material object (string of
beads) becomes a material relationship between the two people as they
exchange products in the market and the only social relationship is
between the two objects as the exchange is made.
In our craving today for a more natural, spiritual, less
male-dominated world we can easily overlook positive developments made
by the process of civilization. By becoming alien from nature the
civilized conscious mind is born; we become intellectuals, theorists,
priests, politicians, physicists, engineers...... Then, very, very
slowly and reluctantly, we begin to realize that our conscious
theories/cosmologies, etc. which we use to describe our world have, to a
great part, excluded natural processes, women, spirit.... A Zapotec
indian friend in Oaxaca once commented to me that "we all come from the
same tortilla".
Here is the beginning of the New Culture: We are finally becoming
conscious of our spontaneity. We have begun to realize that we are a
subject (not a controller) of nature's processes. We are beginning to
realize that women are equal to men, that our intuitive, spiritual,
emotional - whatever nonobjective term you prefer - selves cannot be
repressed. We are even beginning to say that we and the nature around
us are all one:
Let the woman in us
meet the man
and
become one.
When one part is abused it affects the rest of the total being - our
life/our globe.
I have found it useful to make an analogy between the evolution of
civilizations and the natural cycle of plants. Civilizations start with
a domesticated seed, grow into plants, flower, seed, and return to the
earth which nourished their life. The old civilization is the dying
plant, and the New Culture represents the seeds which have returned to
the earth and are now healthy young plants. Traditional concepts of the
evolution of civilizations do not see this cultural process as being
part of a natural cycle because most previous theories do not view
mankind as a part of nature.
The new qualitative, reciprocal culture which is beginning to
supplant the old, male-dominated civilization is doubtlessly embarking
us on a new phase of cultural evolution. At the risk of being
anthropocentric I will suggest that human consciousness may even be
becoming a part of natural process. Could it be possible that the
alienating process of civilization is permitting us to consciously
understand our place in the nature of things? Have we run out of time
and are we ready for the "now" that Ken Kesey spoke of in T. Wolfe's
ELECTRIC KOOL AID ACID TEST? Are "time" and "matter" finally becoming
"energy" for our global culture? Have we reached the end of
"pre-history"? Are energy and spirit related?
Isn't this what we have been waiting for?
Primitive Culture = Time
Civilized Culture = Matter
New Culture = Energy
Yes, there is no doubt that we are taking that quantum leap into the
existential "now" - "quantum existencia". Global democracy is as sure
as Spring. But, we must recognize this and act accordingly, i.e.,
facilitate the inevitable.
Our New Culture
is reborning history
and, thus, dissolving the future
into an eternal present.
If it is true that human consciousness is becoming part of global,
natural process, then it is our obligation as humans to realistically
understand how we fit into the globe's bioregions and then contribute
our energies toward the facilitation/stewardship of these life
processes.
This is the first time one civilization has been global. This is the
first time literacy, in the McLuhan sense, has been universal. It is
also the first time that our civilizations have destroyed so many of the
world's life systems - bioregions. If we follow all previous
civilizations back to nature and abandon our conscious understanding and
technology, life on earth may end, as we know it.
Earth Firsters, we cannot reject our civilized ways. It is our
obligation to restore the life we have destroyed. We must use the same
energy we have created with our science and technology to exploit
nature, to restore her. Technology does not have to be destructive. My
introduction of "ecological mining" is an attempt to exemplify the new
use of technology - "bioregional industries".
Or as Murray Bookchin says in the last chapter of RENEWING THE EARTH
(1990:Clark,ed.), [w]hether humanity recognizes that it is a fulfillment
of a major tendency in natural evolution or whether it remains blind to
its own humanity as a moral and ecological agent in nature becomes a
social problem that requires a social ecology".
Dan Chodorkoff says, "[t]he ultimate promise of social ecology is the
reharmonization of culture and nature". (ibid., p. 69)
Or, put another way, it is up to us to become aware of the
necessities of our present cultural evolution and to facilitate this
evolution, because the more we can smooth the transition, "paradigm
shift," the less suffering there will be, e.g., only we in the heart of
the beast could have stopped the sending of troops to kill 500,000
innocent people in Guatemala to protect United Fruit.
"The media is the message" (the process is the goal), global
literacy means universal consciousness. We all have some understanding
of each other for the first human time. This is the global
macro-culture, the world community of humans. Theoretically, at least,
when we reach a certain quality of global literacy, e.g., when lies and
deception are banished from the media, the macro-culture will slip into
balance with global life processes - unified bioregional tribes.
When Hollywood becomes the 6 o'clock news
the revolution will be won
(e.g., see movie, JFK)
* * * * *
As global literacy is providing for the development of a global
macro-culture there is also a "dynamic balance" (R. Theobald, THE RAPIDS
OF CHANGE & new one almost ready) taking place between the global New
Culture and the revitalization of local cultures. When empires
disintegrate and collapse previously autonomous cultures experience new
life.
The global ground-swell of organizing for the 1992 500 Years of
Resistance is a good example today of cultural revitalization. In the
SOUTH AND MESOAMERICAN INDIAN INFORMATION CENTER NEWSLETTER (Vol. 6, #'s
1&2, 1991) the Editorial states that "... a renewed energy is clearly
evident, one that is envisioning a new and better future".
Our job is
to shoot new life
into spiritually dormant bodies,
revitalize the cultures of the world
join with nature
and
regularly celebrate
the new balance for civilized peoples.
Feudalism is the most popularly known example of post-classic
revitalization for Western students. The world democratization
movements today will be the best examples once the dust settles.
Existentialists say that history is being reborn and is thereby
dissolving the future into a new "present" time perspective.
Independence and cultural revitalization movements are common today
around the world.
The dynamic balance necessary for us to advance to the new stage of
cultural development upon which we have embarked is the macro-micro
tension between the revitalization of traditional cultures and the
florescence of our new, democratic global culture.
On the individual level the dynamic balance is between the individual
and her/his culture. As Ernie Dillard, former assistant director of the
UAW's National Education Department, said some years ago in the DETROIT
FREE PRESS (7/7/82), I'm a union man first, then I'm black".
We are an integral part of global life
THINK GLOBALLY.
A small part -
ACT LOCALLY.
The revitalization of tribal, traditional and bioregional cultures is
necessary to provide the unified combination of diversities between
peoples so that a global macro-culture can function as a balanced
reality.
Following this perspective, nationalistic and even racist/anti-racist
movements are part of the historical (cultural) process we are involved
with today. It seems vital that we not polarize between nationalities
or revitalizing groups, nor between nationalism and internationalism,
rather we should now recognize diversities as new resources and combine
them into the colorful global tapestry of new culture.
The way I see it is that, traditional tribes and nationalities are
revitalizing as their repressive governments are disintegrating and
being overthrown. These renewed cultural groups will be joined by new
tribes which include professions, age groups, unions and people who live
and work together. People may be members of more than one
micro-culture.
* * * * * * *
The strengthening of independent cultural groups will succeed as each
people own their economy, government and land.
The socially conscious financial revolution which is presently taking
place is a great step toward people owning their economies. The
socially conscious financial community began in the early 1970's (for
more information see Social Investment Forum, 711 Atlantic Ave, Boston,
MA 02111) with such campaigns as the boycott of South Africa. This
investment community now manages $650 BILLION in assets. Anyone should
agree that this is a significant force in our present day economy.
However, the definition of socially conscious is being stretched to its
limit because of the lack of truly socially conscious industries.
Michael Silverstein of ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS thinks that these
socially conscious money funds are "... more interested in retaining
their own ethical purity than in actually putting bucks behind
earth-saving projects" (letter). His new book THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR
goes into this in more detail.
As I see it, socially conscious industries should be bioregional
industries, or those which complement their environment and should be
owned by people who are directly involved.
The underlying theme for socially conscious industries, should be
industries that simultaneously fulfill our human needs and contribute to
the health of the bioregion. Over the past decade and a half I have
introduced the theory and practice of "ecological mining". It is
possible to improve mining ground, esp. rivers and streams, in the
process of collecting metals, particularly precious ones. My company is
presently involved in ecological mining projects on the Columbian River
from Trail, B.C., Canada well into Eastern Washington State, the Madre
de Dios River (a main tributary of the Amazon) in the Inka Region of
Peru and on the Trinity River in northern California. There is also a
move in Redwood country to develop ecological logging. This may be one
of the most positive off-shoots from Redwood Summer (1990). An
interesting little group called "Mirth First" arose which consisted of
independent loggers and mature environmentalists, e.g., bioregionalists.
(Here's the feeling I had with the Amarakarei of the Inka
Region of Peru.)
Where some of us are doing our best to create community
out of the Hell-fires of a dying civilization,
Others of us are struggling to maintain our traditional
cultures in the face of this same civilizations's throes
of violence.
Here is where the new culture is being born,
in this timeless, spaceless spirit which is sparking
all who can be real to new life.
The benefits of ecological or bioregional industries are more than to
only help the local environment and economy: Politically/culturally,
bioregional industries transform the traditional polaric relationship of
rural labor and/or independent entrepreneur vs. the rural environmental
communities into new unities. Technologies of exploitation and
destruction can, through the application of the new world view, become
reciprocal and contributory. Grass roots right and left can be joined
into new political coalitions that have previously been impossible.
These new industries can exemplify the shift from quantitative to
qualitative economics, from economics of expansion and exploitation to
new systems of balance and reciprocity.
During civilized times we produce things according to conscious
plans. The contradiction central to civilizations has been the
conscious mind vs. our natural spirit. We are paid wages to produce for
someone else. Our labors, as such, are contradictory to our natural or
spontaneous selves, as well as our environment. These contradictions
which we must engage ourselves in daily are basic to the neuroses which
haunt and ultimately destroy civilizations. The fatal compulsion of
civilizations has been to attempt to deify the conscious mind/material
universe.
Looked at from a more personal perspective, bioregional or new
culture occupations de-alienate our labors by synthesizing our conscious
technologies with our natural or spiritual selves. Violence and abuse
are hereby transformed into harmony and love.
Nevertheless, these industries are in their infancies and will not
become mainstream without our conscious facilitation of the natural
evolution we are a part of now.
Here I think the most viable direction would be for the socially
conscious financial institutions to join with the struggling independent
entrepreneurial and labor classes, and direct their money toward
qualitative bioregional life. The independent farmers, miners, loggers,
ranchers, fishermen, revitalizing labor unions like the TDU (Teamsters
for a Democratic Union) and OCAW (Oil, Chemical, Atomic Workers), and
the host of independent industries which promise an ecologically sound,
economically viable future seem to be natural partners of the socially
conscious banking community.
Small, independent businesses, like logging and mining, are beginning
to appear. Wild Iris and Blue Ox forest products companies are examples
in the Shasta Bioregion. But, in order for them to be able to
successfully replace the large multinational industries they will have
to achieve the stage of becoming public corporations. In order for this
to happen, some of us are attempting to unify numerous small, ecological
industries under one corporate structure - i.e., "Bioregional
Industries" - which will become a new socially conscious industry and
attract investment funds from the socially conscious investment
community.
Frank Tsai, 1992 President of the Social Investment Forum (the
professional organization for socially responsible investing) has been
of great help (Paragon Consulting Group, (415) 564-5956).
There are also networks of people in this country as well as in other
countries that are bravely attempting to establish moneyless economies
and community based economics. The use of computer networking is
facilitating their efforts. For more information you may contact the
following representatives or groups: (1) R.S. Haulk, Rt. 2, Box 943,
Forest City, NC 28043, (2) Seikatsu Club Consumers' Cooperative, 3-13-13
Miyasaka, Setagaya, Toyko-156, Japan, fax (3) 3420-1450, (3) Global
Resource Bank, c/o John Pozzi, 126 S.E. 3rd St. Hallandale, FL 33009,
fax 305-458-0426.
* * *
A new political process is definitely in order. Only a very
democratic political process will make it possible to purge Washington
D.C. of the chronic corruption that presently infects every branch of our
government.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead
The many new political movements in the US and other countries are
examples of this.
Just as the world view of the New Culture is changing economies from
emphasizing material aggrandizement to quality of life, so too will this
consciousness take over governments - BUT, it will not happen by itself
as with previous civilizations. We must now recognize the necessity of
owning our respective governments, of establishing truly representative
democracies through conscious planning which is harmonious with our
spiritual spontaneity.
The terminal phases of empires, particularly those so obvious in the
many metamorphoses of Western civilization, are usually characterized by
disintegrated cultures. The old phrase that there is strength in unity
has never been more true. Only through the conscious and spiritual
unity of the people will we be able to gain control of our land and
governments and make the financial/industrial communities truly socially
conscious.
I am strongly in favor of crippling boycotts of multinationals such
as British Petroleum: By concentrating on one such transnational
destroyer/exploiter at a time (particularly when they are just getting
set up as is the case with BP in the US now) the strength of the unity
of the people will be felt most effectively by the people and the
multinational. If you are interested in a boycott of BP please contact
Matthew Bennett, POB 851, Athens, OH 45701, (614) 59 GREEN.
There may be ways for some transnationals to conform to the new
cultural changes that are so much a part of our life today. In the
northern Columbia River Basin in Canada and Washington State gigantic
concentrations of toxic metals and some toxic chemicals, e.g., dioxins,
have recently come to light, as well as serious health problems. We are
presently developing ways for the original polluters to participate in
the cleanup, assure that no more toxins will poison the ecosystem and
conform to the localization of industry in this bioregion.
* * *
Because of the homogenizing process of the now-obsolete mono-culture,
public sentiment in the forms of racism and anti-racism have denied
people's roots. Tribalism, nationalism, community, family... reach
their WEAKEST point of cultural evolution during the post-classic or
military stage of mono-cultural empires. Peoples hang their heads.
They have no pride, no hope. Their histories have been repressed, and
so too their spirits.
As empires flower then seed, peoples' dormant souls are germinated
and their roots are brought to life again.
Only a fool would say that this is not happening around the world
right now.
Peoples must revive their roots, their collective unconscious, their
cultures, communities, families, clans, traditional ceremonies - their
place in nature. Only then will we be able to engender the strength of
solidarity necessary to contribute our diversities to the global
macro-culture of democratic micro-cultures.
Pre-civilized families are almost always extended families -
children, parents, and grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. This is a
clan, and several clans make a tribe.
Today, our disintegrated civilization has made even the monogamous
family obsolete. Here is a good example of how we can use our conscious
understanding to facilitate the inevitable: We must have family or no
culture is possible. We must re-integrate the generations in order to
have traditions. And we must live together in order have community. We
can consciously plan and help facilitate these vital elements of
culture.
Because we are in perhaps the greatest cultural turning point in
Western history we must expect family styles to be varied and flexible.
At the same time, we should consciously understand and integrate the
elements mentioned above.
Emerging family styles should be expected to be structured so as to
correspond with the bioregion and culture of the people(s) in question.
Nevertheless, for those close to the mainstream of white culture there
may be general tendencies developing which will influence new family
patterns. I see the following ingredients combining to influence new
family patterns: Scott Peck's idea of community ( see DIFFERENT DRUM),
Deborah M. Anapol's "combination family" (see THE TRUTH SEEKER, Vol. 1,
No. 6, "The Future of the Family and the Fate of Our Children"), K.
Gough's studies of the Nayars of southwest India prior to the
destruction of their culture by the British, and the many new attempts
at forming "intentional communities" in the US.
The "combination family" described and practiced by Deborah Anapol is
a group of people living together in one large house or several adjacent
houses or apartments who share domestic and economic responsibilities.
The more frequent attempts at intentional communities are other examples
of this new tendency.
Scott Peck's idea of community fits well with Deborah Anapol"s
residence type: "... a group of two or more people who, regardless of
the diversity of their backgrounds ... have been able to accept and
transcend differences, enabling them to communicate effectively and
openly and to work together toward goals identified as being for their
common good." (DIFFERENT DRUM)
The Nayars were much like mainstream white culture in that they
regularly changed residences (more so among the men than women). Both
men and women normally had sexual relations and children with several
different partners, and without jealousy. It seems that we may be able
to learn how they were able to maintain social cohesion even though
they frequently changed sexual partners. Whatever family/residence
styles we choose, they should be flexible enough to maintain continuity
in changing times and stable enough to (re-)establish the roots of
tradition.
As our civilization shifts from a competitive, divisive, hierarchical
social structure to one that is more horizontal (egalitarian),
reciprocal, and community oriented so are the residence patterns of our
families, businesses, schools, health facilities, etc. beginning to
change. For years now I have envisioned residence structures that are
semi-self-sufficient, community oriented, and unify many of the isolated
institutions we know today under one place of the residence. I see a
state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly, socially conscious residence
that will accommodate some 12 to 24 (?) people with individual (nuclear)
living facilities, and community facilities for business, art,
education, health, communication, or whatever speciality each
groupfamilybusiness required. I am in the process of researching and
developing a proposal for a construction company which will build the
first of these residences as a prototype for the residence styles that
will fit with the changes our culture is undergoing today. I would like
the business part of it to be made of a cohesively diverse group of
people who would, ideally, be long-time friends and who would live
together whenever possible in this new residence as an example of the
future.
A people without roots is like a stray dog, cowering in an alley next
to a snow-swept dumpster. They know only desperation.
Racism and anti-racism today are both rootless tribes wandering the
wastelands of the Western Empire.
Only by encountering their roots or putting down new ones will these
stray-dog nomads revitalize their spirits, find new pride and have the
strength of spirit necessary to contribute and combine their diversities
into the new global culture of autonomous democracies.
Traditions give culture. Traditions pass the learnings of one
generation on to the next. They are the glue of culture. Without
traditions, culture is impossible. We are creatures of habit. Old
cultures must be reborn and synthesized into the present.
The emerging global culture is stimulating the revitalization of
local cultures. Media/computer/music/art is fostering the florescence
of global literacy. Satelite-linked (viz., Earth Concert, below)
public events are steps in this direction. The 500 Years of Resistance
is an important step in this culture
From August 26-31 1993, probably, the Fellowship for Intentional
Community (co Alpha Farm, Deadwood, OR 97430) will sponsor an
International Celebration of Community, it promises to take another
giant step toward bringing the world together into harmony and
democracy.
Since 1989 there has been a global organization called "Earth
Concert" (contacts, Jean Hudon, 418-272-2931 & Brian Hill 916-623-6351)
whose goal is to present global festivals/public forums in which 3
billion people are a part of and witness together through global
satellite links. The networks are in place for the event(s) whose
spirit will make it real.
The dynamic interplay between strong local cultures and the new
global culture is contributing greatly to the establishment of a global
macro-culture of unified bioregional tribes.
* * *
As hierarchical cultures become civilizations, the universe is
materialized. Women and nature are increasingly segregated, exploited
and controlled, and spirit is repressed by the male dominated conscious
mind.
Now that we are returning to nature, and women are gaining equality
with men, it is time that we accept our spirit as having the same value
to us as our conscious minds.
Just as the alienating process of civilization has separated man from
nature, so to has it alienated men from women. Civilized men are
oriented toward material values, quantitative goals, competitive
techniques, rigid ethics and an objective world view.
The civilized role of women has become subjective, passionate,
spiritual, flexible - the opposite of men. Women, spirit, and nature
are analogous for civilized peoples.
The following quote is by a woman who is doing much to contribute to
this culture-building process: "Civilized women possess not only the
desirable traits which you mentioned, but have given up their power and
become passive and dependent. Dependent on their parents, their
husbands, their children. Draining energy from men rather than
exchanging it. Or else they have rebelled against their passivity and
attacked men, taking from them their power" (Barbara Rodgers-Hendricks,
Green Party official, letter, 3/8/90).
It should be made clear that in tribal or primitive cultures which
are more horizontal than hierarchical the roles of men and women are
quite equal and harmonious. It is only during civilized times (= 1% of
human existence) that the roles of women and men are so antithetical.
There is an interesting book by a Mexican physical anthropologist -
Santiago Genoves - entitled EL HOMBRE ENTRE LA GUERRA Y LA PAZ published
in 1968 in Mexico which speaks of this too often overlooked perspective.
As civilizations flatten and cultures re-integrate, our spiritual
illiteracy drones for supplication. At first gurus and monotheistic
saviours are entreated, but in vain - this is no longer their time.
We, instead, are beginning to discover spiritual fulfillment and
strength in what we have called the feminine, nature, non-objective
reality, proper drug use, asceticism, trust, community, openness,
harmonious celebration, love, unity, reciprocity, pre-civilized peoples,
balance, art, music ... quality of life.
How can we continue to discover the spirit of our present culture?
We must have faith in trust and give feelings an equal share of our
reality. Spiritual enlightenment should become a prioritized conscious
objective. When Abbie Hoffman said years ago, "if it feels good, do
it," he was begging the rebirth of our spirit. Conferences, retreats,
and public gatherings should be as subjective as they are objective.
If we were given a spiritual literacy test, most of us civilized
people would probably score less than 10%. Spirit is everywhere. Where
we find it depends on our individual diversities. If we don`t find it,
neurosis will haunt us to a cold grave. Let us feel the new Springtime
for humanity and plan for it accordingly.
Brian Hill
Trinity Alps Mining Company
P.O. Box 2119
Weaverville, CA 96093
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