From: Virginia Bowen (vbowen@bowenconsulting.net)
Date: Sun 08 Dec 2002 - 19:42:51 GMT
I tend to be pessimistic for the same reasons Wade mentions. Wade's post
raises an interesting question - why is it that it is only the common
NEGATIVE that stands to unite large numbers of our species instead of a
common good? Or is that the case?
I can only refer to my own experiences that when a group comes together
united over a common interest, a hobby for instance, all is well while the
group remains small. Perhaps because they have all freely chosen each other
as members. But as new members join and the group grows larger, dissent and
disharmony also seem to increase. What was a unity of good now shatters
into sects or cliques. However, let an enemy of that hobby appear and the
various cliques will unite as never before! My neighborhood is an
equestrian area that is being shoved out by encroaching suburban
developments. Horse people are notorious for their snobbery over their
particular breed. But now that the ability to even ride or HAVE your horse
is being threatened, they've all united in a loud voice locally. People who
were not speaking to each other mere months ago are now fast allies.
On another point, IMHO religion is one HUGE blockade to achieving any kind
of mass unity, also. As long as people cling tightly to their religiosity
and identify their "self" with their religion, unless everyone adopts that
same religion, we're doomed to discord and disharmony.
I just don't think the sheer numbers of humanity at this time bodes well for
harmony. The tribe is too large.
Virginia
Murrieta, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk [mailto:fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk]On Behalf
Of Wade T.Smith
Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2002 11:01 AM
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: Re: Toward a new US-World dialogue
On Sunday, December 8, 2002, at 01:55 PM, Lawrence DeBivort wrote:
> Trends in the world today are working against it, but I am
> optimistic that it can be reversed.
Well, there are also trends working for it- atheism, humanism,
globalism, not to mention science and logic.
Having optimism that a significant (meaning necessary and sufficient)
number of people and peoples will see this place, this planet, as their
shared home and not a monopoly game of limited colors, is not without
some promise.
The very first Outer Limits usanian TV program had this as its theme-
and it is a long-standing motif in many fictions. This motif being- a
common enemy will unite otherwise embattled foes. If an extraterrestial
entity ever announces itself, and it proves to be hostile, then maybe,
maybe, all of us here will stand united against it.
And, indeed, in many ways, IMHO it must be shown that we have a common
enemy, and not just common goals or natures or planet.
Problem is, we have met the enemy, and they is us.
Problem is, getting all of us to know it.
Big problem.
- Wade
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