Train wreck 121014

Civilizations emerged over thousands of years by merging of cultures.  Cultures began in families, flowed from villages, to regions and eventually became national beliefs, values and traditions.  Parents instilled cultural norms into their children who accepted an expectation of hard work and honor as their duty. 

From the Stone Age the process of enculturation was slow but flexible enough to accept change brought about by fire, the wheel and migrations.  Fires and wheels were technological advancements but immigration brought a human richness to cultures.  Immigrant enculturation is a two way street where they learn the traditions of the host while contributing to its culture and sharing the common duty of hard work and honesty bound by the axiom that their word was their bond.

While not exclusive, much of the melding of cultures took place in the Americas through the 19th century becoming more universal in the 20th century.  The universal culture of integrity and hard work beginning the century gave the world a technological whirlwind of advancement.  The 20th century was also one of almost constant universal warfare (colonial, global, national and cold) and a breakdown of traditional cultures.

Why is the thousands of years of cultural continuity suddenly heading for a global train wreck?  Early in the 20th century a new cultural dynamic began replacing the traditional parental enculturation.  It was slow off the block but as war accelerated advances in communication; advertising, mass marketing and spin rapidly gained control of cultural messaging.  Print requires a overt act of reading while radio and television are passive tailored to sell not only soap but also new cultural norms to everyone within range.

By mid century sociologist began to note that regional dialects were beginning to even out to a television standard.  By the end of the century they noted that new generations had a totally different beliefs and values than their parents.  The rich culinary heritage of merged cultures was disappearing under the weight of franchising where the same bad food can be eaten everywhere, all the time.  Advertising agencies were quick to normalize bad as the new good.  Poor quality production kept the factories feeding superstores where choices disappeared under marketing blitz.  Politicians joined the mass marketing culture of lie with style and are repeatedly reelected.  Youth sees through the misdirection of advertising, marketing and spin and is alienated to the point of developing their own cultural norms where hard work and integrity no longer exists.  An innovator becomes one who finds new ways to plagiarize new ways to deceive new ways to corrupt and new ways to gain unearned profits.

The cultural trains are already racing down the track to a cataclysmic wreck between traditionalist and futurist cultures.  Traditionalists are attempting to hold the track, but life being limited, the futurist will win.   That future culture is a feared unknown of eroding traditional values.  It's speculated about even demonized in popular fiction. Despite all efforts there can be little doubt that whatever it will become, it will eventually become the new reality. 

Holidays 112814

'Tis' the season, there is one common thing across religions and cultures, they all have holidays of some sort.  They aren't universal holidays but from the most primitive culture to the most sophisticated they celebrate something.  It is probable that a fast moving world traveler could find a celebration everyday of the year.  

Holidays are a time for reflection, giving thanks and thoughts of peace and good will. They tend to look at a nostalgic past, but seldom at an unknown future.  For the most part feasting is the tradition although some are noted for fasting or temporary sacrifice.

As the world wobbles on its axis honest reflection sees there is little peace in the world and a great many people have little reason to be thankful.  Large and small conflicts continue to send streams of refugees searching for a safe haven in forest, deserts, or their communities' rubble. Domestic riots abound where stores, homes and shelters are put to the torch adding to the stream, keeping the masses moving somewhere else.  Massive fires, snows, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes destroy more homes and lives sending even more homeless into the stream of homeless refugees.

Eventually the stream will begin to disperse, find new lives integrated into new cultures, those young enough to start their lives over.  With the exit of the young the stream loses its dynamic nature that attracts world attention.  What is eventually left in the wake of natural and manmade disasters are isolated elderly, dispirited and far to old to begin building again and to set in their ways to be part of new cultures.

They are depressed, often alone, without resources and to proud to beg for charity.  They worked hard all their lives, saved a little then suddenly through no fault of their own everything is lost.  Their world disappeared.  At best they were under insured so there is little replacement of lost homes and possessions.  Eventually, if they are lucky, they may end up warehoused in some State run "shelter" where the food is below subsistence levels and accommodations inadequate.  Shelter staff will relieve the elderly of their few remaining possessions and brutalize the defenseless.  Sooner or later some politician will see few votes or protests from the shelters but sees personal profit in privatizing.

Too harsh a view?  From earliest news reels to the present there are records of old people struggling in the stream with their few pathetic possessions.   Scenes from developed nations where some aid is possible.  There is little film of even worse conditions in the more remote regions of the world were the old and weak just disappear.  

Even the relatively well off must face the possibilities, as disasters by nature are often total; wealth, records and homes disappear in the blink of and eye leaving only despair and diaspora.  For the elderly there is no recovery, ever.

This holiday season reflect a little on the future. Work for peace in the streets and battlefields.  Consider recovery assistance, one dynamic is unchangeable, everyone who lives long enough is "old." and vulnerable.