Charles and his Darwinism
I was doing a little research yesterday, brought about due to my restless brain waves and reminiscing about my college days studying Anthropology. I recalled Social Darwinism– Charles Darwin’s ideas on evolution, natural selection, and the survival of the fittest– and how at that time I thought many of his theories to be racist. Well Yesterday, I couldn’t remember why I felt this way, so I decided to have a look. Much to my surprise, I was taken aback with how many of his ideas I actually now agree with, including his views on the institution of religion, as well as how different species survive and adapt. However, I can’t say that Darwin and I are soul brother and sister. His life of privilege is what I believe prevented his notions from being fully translated across human lines: social, ethnic/racial, or economic situations, as they were all relevant to his lifestyle and his understanding of the world, which were arguably limited. And I also don’t believe that Eugenics is the means of determining who is fit and who is doomed (as I know many of his ideologies were used to promote and support racist (among many other) theories about the “chosen ones”, and how to “clean up” the gene pool)). BUT I have to say that he was obviously on to something that is proving to have detrimental implications on societies today.
This book is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology.
My question is this: In today’s evolving world, who are the true [human] survivors? As I sit around watching “smart people TV” (Discovery, History, and Green Planet channels, oh, and sometimes CNN) as Dimitri Snowden likes to call it, I’m piecing together my own hypothesis, one that I’ve always believed in the depths of me, but could never truly express or even understand like I do today. This hypothesis is that the most marginalized communities of the world–the ones where very little technology is available, the natural world is a playground, and the knowledge of the earth takes center stage– are the ones most equipped to survive. This hypothesis has not yet been tested, but I’m not completely sure it even needs to.
It both excites and startles me when I think about getting back to the basics. What does this even mean for a person like me, who, although has never lived a lavish life, comes from very humble beginnings, and isn’t even exactly sure what the next chapter holds, is still determined to embrace a necessary, modest, and rewarding existence, honoring and caring for the earth before it’s too late. Sounds crazy right? Well not if you look at the all the zombies lurking in your backyard.
I wonder if Darwin knew that one day, natural selection would no longer be, natural?
Today, aside from the celebrity lifestyle options of designer drugs and botox, there are even more frightening concoctions on the market aimed at making humans not feel a thing. And we might need it for what Mother Nature has in store for us in the coming days.
I’m talking about prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies for everything! From headache and depression, to birth control and bleaching cream. The end result is a doped up population of look-alikes and feel-alikes, dangerous video game playing, gun carrying, cough syrup drinking, war praising, rape imposing, skin bleaching, tan craving, pill-popping, eyes wide shut, can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality synthetic human that is probably you or your next door neighbor.
Feel something? There’s a Drug for that!
Nowadays our children are born with disorder, and with disorders that are thought to be genetic, but were never even considered during Darwin’s day. I don’t know about you, but this thought, as bleak and dismal as it sounds, is the very society that we are living in. Walking, talking ZOMBIES! I often times find it extremely difficult to have meaningful conversations with even my closest counterparts because the awareness of what is happening to us as a species isn’t recognized. I don’t mean to be a pessimist, especially considering that I do believe there is hope, but I’m not sure if this hope resides in our current leadership (and I’m speaking beyond President Obama, and the United States of America). I think it will take the very people who fall victim to this confusion and illusion, to take a healthy dose of reality, perhaps having everything they’ve worked for (including their houses, neighborhoods, and schools) crumble before them. It may even take abandonment, loneliness, and the very things we call disorder(s) to destroy us, before we learn our lesson.
There is no hope for survival if we can no longer feel the pain. If we are numb to life, we will surely burn in the fire. It burns me up when I think about how genetically modified we are as humans. How synthetic our existence has become. As a child you don’t think about these kinds of things, you just do what you are told, believe what you hear, and take each day as it comes, until one day, you are programmed. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Those that are “marginalized”, humans that still have the knowledge of the earth, and live in ways that we in the “developed” world consider primitive, savage, or uncivilized hold a secret weapon that may be as natural as it gets. But this weapon isn’t attained by colonization, and it isn’t attained by participant observation (as Anthropologists would do). It’s a simple as making a decision to minimize your synthetic intake. That’s a start. Recognizing that depression isn’t something to be medicated, it’s something to work through. It’s related to a deeper issue, one that can be conquered by living. Synthetically releasing hormones that are supposed to occur naturally means we need to alter our situations, not dope up on drugs. Life is not supposed to be all roses. Things happen, people get sick, people die. And unfortunately, we experience things that may break us down. That’s the gift of being human. What purpose does it serve to live a long life if you haven’t felt anything along the journey?
This will work for YOU!
Now, I’m not naïve or jaded to believe that phenomena such as the cancer epidemic, global warming, and extinction of species are issues that we shouldn’t combat, or that education is indoctrination and all kids should be removed from school. I just think we need a new approach, and while many people are in no mood to change, it shouldn’t discourage others not to.
A few ways to get started:
1.) Know the issues– what is happening around you, in your world, and in someone else’s. You can’t turn on Fox and expect to know everything. Get the other people’s facts too, and make your own informed decision. Be curious and discover for yourself!
2.) A mind and body to do– If you hear it, and you think it’s terrible, do something. We often times flip on the news and say: “awww…” or “glad it’s not me”. But the reality is it could be you, and what a lonely reality if no one comes to your aid.
3.) Create your desired lifestyle- It’s one thing to say, “I wish I could look or feel like that”, and something completely different to start living. You don’t have to be rich to be healthy, be in shape, or help others. Want to live an organic lifestyle? Start with just buying organic eggs! Want a new dog? Adopt one! There are solutions to every problem. I didn’t know how to get my mom to fully understand that what we put on our bodies isn’t always safe, so I bought her a small care package: sulfate-free shampoo, natural crystalline deodorant (bye bye anti-perspirant!) and paraben-free lotion. And it’s all starting to sink in!
4.) Love yourself and others– As cliché as it may sound, it’s probably the most important thing you can do for the planet. Love inspires peace, peace inspires harmony. If there is harmony, then Zombies can’t exist! We have to be one with the universe if we expect to reap the benefits. We have to know that death is a natural part of life, and that we can’t erase age or outlive ourselves. This understanding will help us to live in the now. Love will give us back the life we’ve taken for granted…
5.) Prepare- somethings are out of our control, while others can be prevented. Have a plan, even if you never have to use it. It can be as simple as a fire escape route, or as elaborate as escaping an alien attack. I’m just kidding! But whatever your fear or anxiety is centered on, having a plan to survive it can definitely help. Especially if you live in an area prone to disaster. Your plan can simply be related to preparing for a great future. Simply put, having a plan of action often leads to significant gains. I think it has something to do with expecting of yourself:-)
and lastly
6.) Only bite off what you can chew- Excess of anything can lead to undesirable results. Too much alcohol= abuse and liver sorosis. Too much cursing= limited vocabulary. And Too much fishing= decline of sealife (which alters the ecosystem significantly and has horrible affects for humans too!). You get my point.
Perhaps I’m an ideologist, some might even call me paranoid. But one thing is for certain, I refuse to be a Zombie and risk my chances of surviving my so called LIFE!
What I’m talking about is the quality of the facilities within the gym – that means clean, functional and reliable equipment, pleasant changing rooms that offer everything you need such as lockers and changing cubicles as well as helpful staff who make it part of their job to boost the gyms environment as much as possible.
thesummary 