So there is lots of calls for people to be civilized. Many people have different ideas of what civilization and civility look like. In the Victorian age, they tried to find virtue in conquering savage Nature and be more civilized than primitive peoples. Humans are not born civilized but learn civility. The association between primitiveness in savagery seems to only loosely fit. Many of the early naturalists believed that industrialization would lead to the deterioration of society. There is some evidence that this could be true due to all the manufactured single use plastics, electronic addictions, and drug abuse/problems. Its interesting that many of the problems of today arise from issues originating from industrialization. People have become less civil especially due to increased connectivity without consequences. The world is connected like never before yet somehow so disconnected (I probably have stated this before). The novelty of convenience has also added to this issue while adding the destruction of our homes, communities, and environments. One of the quotes that stuck with me and led to this introspection follows:
"The civilized man, Darwin was saying, cannot sever his ties with his biological past. Nor need he be ashamed to own up to his kinfolk, like some city slicker anxious to forget his uncouth country cousins; the despised relations are worthy of love and respect for what they are, though it may not be much by another's standards. But it is only the fully civilized human who can rise sufficiently far above the struggle for existence as to learn to love all beings and recognize their right to exist in their own way. Ultimately, that is what it means to be civilized and humane: not belligerently chauvinistic about one's own kind, but tolerant, gentle, and sympathetic toward the earth and all that lives."
Long quote but worth every word.
How does this apply to my Peace Corps service?
Well, there is always the way everyone treats each other no matter if they are from a different community, state, country, continent. Sometimes it is hard to be empathetic to one who thinks differently than you even tho they were raised completely different. Industrialization and sustainable development is always a hot button issue in all country especially developing countries. Plastics are a problem all over the world and no matter where I go or hike I always feel its a responsibility to pick up trash whenever I can. Its the beginning of the rainy season and trash starts to build up down in gutters from a lot higher in the watershed so there a lot more flies, bad smells, and nasty water. (I would like to point out that this was also a problem in Austin and San Marcos to a certain extent). Picked up some trash on my hike up Mt. Pimard, and around my neighborhood. Even though I didn't really do any of the cleaning for recognition or praise, several community members gave me fist bumps, said there need to be more people like me (wow that was praise I wasn't ready for....I suck haha), and some even helped me out or said they would help next time. It was a better feeling than I would have expected.
Beach Outside Windjammer hiking Mt. Pimard
Pool on Mt. Pimard
Pigeon Island from atop Mt Pimard
Rodney Bay from atop Mt. Pimard
Drain after a huge rain storm
Trash bags collected from around my neighborhood
The take home message: despite everyone's struggle to survive, compete, and find their place in society and/or the world, there is a niche for everyone and everyone deserves compassion. It can be difficult sometimes with all that is going on and the pre-built social constructs, however life is a journey with stumbles and we should always strive to better ourselves even through the stumbles. Let's be open to new adventures and not stuck in preconceived notions about people or individuals.
(I'll try to have a less philosophical and more hey look at all the stuff post next time)
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