The Question Why

In this the 21st century, humanity is floundering in spite of the great strides made in the understanding not only of human nature but also in comprehending so many aspects of the natural environment as well as the wider universe. In spite of this knowledge, humans have crafted a way of living that is not only unsustainable but also may threaten the very future of this species-Homo sapiens.

Hence the question why

· Why is it that so many humans and human societies still do not comprehend that all humans are members of the same species-the same human family where everyone should be treated as having equivalent value?

· Why is it that so many humans and human societies fail to recognize that life on planet earth is fragile and depends on a thin atmosphere for its supply of life giving oxygen, and unable to grasp the overwhelming reality that the complex interrelationships of diverse life forms and natural habitats need to be sustained to ensure the continued viability of life on earth?

· Why is it that so many humans and human societies claim that climate change is a questionable reality in spite of the overwhelming evidence for its existence?

· Why do so many humans and human societies remain ignorant of the inescapable reality that the present collective behavior of humanity threatens the viability of their own species?

· Why is it that so many humans and human societies engage in warfare with the aim of annihilating members of their own species who are perceived as a threat in spite of the fact that there are alternative paths to peaceful coexistence?

· Why is it that so many humans and human societies have forged social orders that give primacy to individual wealth and power while understanding that establishing such a hierarchy invariably creates a great deal of unnecessary human suffering and will more than likely lead to an unsustainable future?

· Why is it that so many humans and human societies remain insensitive to the suffering of others and fail to value the power of kindness, compassion and love and recognize that healthy and vibrant communities are richly endowed?


These questions do not represent a complete list. Many of these questions are not new - they have been asked repeatedly throughout the ages, yet they demand answers like never before. Collectively, we cannot continue to ravage the planet with such reckless abandon without ultimately experiencing the necessary consequences of our behavior.

This is why I have chosen to catalog these queries to give them their appropriate weight. In my thinking, we must repeatedly ask questions like these of ourselves if we are to truly see a meaningful change for the better.

Thousands of Years of Civilization

 Thousands of Years of Civilization

Evil is Resident to Us All

In the modern world we often find ourselves caught up in what we consider to be the latest news. We also have quick access to the news that occurs all around the world almost as quickly as events transpire. We comfort ourselves in believing that the evil so evident and the tragedies it fuels are disparate from the lives we lead.

However, history teaches us that evil has been present since the dawn of human civilization. The evil that history clearly and categorically demonstrates through actual data and real evidence remains present to this day. It is convenient and somehow gratifying in choosing to believe that evil is perpetrated elsewhere and does not really impact us in any substantial way. Reality, which reflects the true nature of things, tells an entirely different story. Most nation states and sovereignties were founded and were sustained using violent means with the inevitable consequence of many lives lost, much blood spilled, and much grief endured - enfolded by actions and events shaped by evil intent. Here, I define evil as strategies envisioned and precipitous actions taken without concern for the usually disastrous consequences of these actions on the real lives of human beings. These actions are usually inspired by an insatiable quest for power and dominance with the real cost being ultimately born by the powerless.

A relatively unsophisticated search of the brief history of the United States readily demonstrates the evil that was perpetrated as an integral part of the development of the burgeoning nation – this of course includes the near genocide of the native populations, the enslavement of a people captured in Africa, compelled against their will and forcefully taken to America, the horrific wars against defenseless peoples around the world (Central America, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, Iraq, etc.) leaving millions of deaths and shattered lives in the nation’s quest for economic and political hegemony.

As a people, we cannot escape this history, but we are completely capable of recognizing our collective failings and purposefully fashioning a better world for not only ourselves but for future generations to come. We can do this by speaking out against evil and working towards a more equitable environment for all of us.

The Ultimate Issue Facing the Survivability of Homo sapiens

 

Currently, there are over eight billion humans populating planet Earth.  There are over eight billion humans - each one of us having a clear perception that we are individuals on our personal journeys.  Each of us has been shaped by our genetic inheritance (i.e. genes), our particular life experiences, our families, our historic perspective, our unique cultural worldview, our language, our religious and spiritual inclinations, our philosophical point of view and many other factors.  In other words, each of us is uniquely different.  Even within the same family, even among identical twins, everyone is different. 

As members of the same species, Homo sapiens, we share common characteristics directly related to the human brain. These include intelligence, language, our ability to make tools and with these, build civilization. We share the same panorama of emotions, wishes, desires and needs. This has been true ever since the beginning of our species; some estimates have determined this to be about 300,000 years. So far, we have survived quite successfully as our numbers attest. So, what is different about the current epoch

Due to the nature of the rapidly evolving technological changes that have transpired over recent human history, inspired and promoted by the Industrial Age, we now collectively face the prospects of a future living on a planet with a seriously degraded natural environment possessing a profoundly diminished capacity to support highly evolved species like our own.

Although our higher order brain capacity recognizes, understands and appreciates the nature of this present danger, the powerful and emotionally charged affiliation to tribe or nation, our ever-present fear and suspicions about those different from us, our collective affinity towards delusional states of being have clouded our judgment. This dilemma is of a profoundly serious nature, for our future as a species is irrevocably tied to the collective choices we make – reality is unforgiving in this regard.

Currently there is no clear or unambiguous way forward in meeting this ultimate challenge. From my perspective, since this is a dilemma that encompasses the viability of the entire species, a globally based solution is an absolute requirement. Unfortunately, there are forces operating in many human communities that are directing collective energy towards moving backwards to a more insular mindset that can exacerbate the underlying issues. In my mind, this tendency is wrong-headed and dangerous, for it interferes with the kind of communication between people that this kind of all-encompassing problem mandates.

What is required is a radical departure from collective action based upon irrational and delusional thinking and a movement towards a concerted effort to come together with the recognition that all humans are members of the same human family. After all, the science is clear and a multiplicity of tools are readily available to thwart the unrestrained progression towards planet-wide degradation of Earth, our extraordinary home. The teaching of science should be a fundamental part of any curriculum in early education; science is the gateway to an appreciation of reality. It is after all, in the best interests of everyone to find a global solution to the threat of an environmental catastrophe.

There are many young people with boundless energy, imagination, creativity and focused concern that are actively engaged in reshaping the future. My hope and optimism lie with them, for it will soon be their world to manage and sustain.